MA in Women's Studies

(Taught Full-time or Part-time)

Course Organization

MA in Women's Studies

The MA degree can be taken full-time over one year, or part-time over two years. In addition to the compulsory modules Approaches to Women's Studies I and II, and the 60 credit dissertation, students taking the MA in Women's Studies will select a programme of research training modules and option modules to make up the remaining 80 credits. This programme should be agreed with the supervisor and submitted to Chair of Board of Studies. You will be allocated a supervisor for your dissertation which must be submitted towards the end of your final year.

This programme aims:

to provide a solid grounding in interdisciplinary women's studies, emphasizing gendered aspects of social and cultural life, representation and textual enquiry
to expose students to an interdisciplinary range of conceptual, theoretical and methodological approaches to and debates within women's studies
to familiarize students with the epistemological and philosophical underpinnings of research methodologies, the politics and ethics of research, the principles of research design and to enable them to evaluate and apply a range of methodologies to women's studies research questions
to foster the development of a critical, self-reflexive and independent approach to research and scholarship, as well as the acquisition of transferable skills

Module Credits Weekly teaching Assessment

Approaches to Women's Studies I 20 1 x 2 hr seminar assessed essay

Approaches to Women's Studies II 20 1 x 2 hr seminar assessed essay

A selection of 1 or 2 options from;

Options 20 1 x 2 hr seminar assessed essay

A selection of research modules from;

Interdisciplinary Methods for Women's Studies 10 1 x 2 hr workshop assessed portfolio
Debates in Feminist Research in Humanities 20 1 x 2 hr seminar assessed portfolio

Introduction to Social Research Methods 20 1 lecture + 3 hr sem critical review

Quantitative Methods & Data Analysis 20 1 lecture + 2 hr workshop assessed exercise

Qualitative Methods 20 1 lecture + 2 hr workshop assessed exercises

For the Dissertation either a) or b);

a) Research Design & Implementation workshops 10 1 x 2 hr workshop dissertation proposal

b) Dissertation Workshops 10 1 x 2 hr workshop non-assessed

Dissertation 60 5 x supervisions 15-20,000 words

For further Programme Specifications click here (PDF file)
Entry Requirements

Candidates for the MA will normally be required to have a good first degree (an upper second class degree or its equivalent), although applications from those with other qualifications may be considered on their merits. Applications are also welcomed from mature students and those returning to education.

Module	Credits	Weekly teaching	Assessment
Approaches to Women's Studies I	20	1 x 2 hr seminar	assessed essay
Approaches to Women's Studies II	20	1 x 2 hr seminar	assessed essay
A selection of 1 or 2 options from;
Options	20	1 x 2 hr seminar	assessed essay
A selection of research modules from;
Interdisciplinary Methods for Women's Studies	10	1 x 2 hr workshop	assessed portfolio
Debates in Feminist Research in Humanities	20	1 x 2 hr seminar	assessed portfolio
Introduction to Social Research Methods	20	1 lecture + 3 hr sem	critical review
Quantitative Methods & Data Analysis	20	1 lecture + 2 hr workshop	assessed exercise
Qualitative Methods	20	1 lecture + 2 hr workshop	assessed exercises
For the Dissertation either a) or b);
a) Research Design & Implementation workshops	10	1 x 2 hr workshop	dissertation proposal
b) Dissertation Workshops	10	1 x 2 hr workshop	non-assessed
Dissertation	60	5 x supervisions	15-20,000 words