MA Gender Studies
Duration: One calendar year (full-time). Two or three years (part-time, daytime only).
Overview
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Minimum Entry Requirements: Minimum upper second class (II.1) or above honours degree (or equivalent)
Start of programme: September intake only
Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time
SOAS MA in Gender Studies is unique in that it refocuses issues of Western Gender Studies on the complex specificities of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing on the expertise of staff across all SOAS faculties, it offers the specialised study of gender in relation to Asian, African and Middle Eastern cultures, together with rigorous training in and questioning of contemporary gender theory.
Students will have access to a wealth of study resources available in the SOAS Library and in nearby institutions such as the British Library, University College London Library and Senate House Library.
The MA in Gender Studies will be administered by the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences. Like the MA Area Studies programmes, it will not have a specific departmental home, reflecting its academic structure as an interdisciplinary degree.
The SOAS MA in Gender Studies will appeal to students with a variety of backgrounds and objectives:
- those coming from Women's Studies or Gender Studies who wish to engage more deeply with gender theory in relation to regional specialisation, especially, but not exclusively, the societies of Asia, Africa and the Middle East;
- those coming from Asian, African or Middle Eastern Studies who wish to incorporate the study of gender into their own areas of expertise; and
- those having previously trained in particular disciplines, such as Anthropology, Cultural and Media Studies, Religious Studies, Comparative Literature, History, Politics, etc.
By selection of courses to suit the academic needs of each student, this programme can provide:
- Specialised research training MA in Gender Studies, perhaps including a relevant language. This pathway is suitable for students contemplating advanced postgraduate research in Gender Studies with regard to regional specialisation.
- A broad MA programme for students with some background in Women's Studies, Gender Studies, and Area Studies etc. who wish to enhance their knowledge of gender in relation to cross-cultural issues, with or without language study.
- A special interest MA, which enables students to study in depth gender issues in relation to a particular regional or disciplinary specialisation.
Prospective students should contact the Programme Convenor (Nadje Al-Ali) at an early stage of their application in order to seek advice on the most appropriate options for study.
Email: n.s.al-ali@soas.ac.uk
Phone: 020 7898 4247
Structure
The programme is structured in the same way as most SOAS MA degrees: students take three taught units and complete a dissertation.
All students take the compulsory course Gender Theory and the Study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Further options include a wide range of gender and gender-related courses from a comprehensive list offered by the Faculties of Languages and Cultures and Arts and Humanities. Students will write a 10,000 word dissertation based on either the compulsory course or one of the component courses.
Core Course
- Gender theory and the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East - 15PGNC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
List 1- Optional Course
At least one unit (one or two courses) must be chosen from this list.
- Gender in the Middle East - 15PGNH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Queer Politics in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - 15PPOH020 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Gendering migration & diasporas - 15PGNH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Gender and development - 15PDSH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Issues in the Anthropology of Gender - 15PANH024 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not to be combined with 15PDSH010 Gender & Development.
- Feminist legal theory - 15PLAH027 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Genders and Sexualities in South East Asian Film - 15PSEH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
- Migration, gender and the law in South East Asia and beyond - 15PLAH023 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Gender and Christianity - 15PSRH033 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
- Judaism and Gender - 15PSRH029 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Orthodoxy and Gender in Indian Traditions - 15PSRC002 (1.0 Unit) - Not Running 2012/13
- Gender, Armed Conflict and International Law - 15PLAH035 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
UCL Optional Course
The course unit offered this year at UCL is Gender Policy and Planning (Development and Planning Unit, terms 1&2, 0.5units).
List 2- Optional Course
Remaining units must be taken from this list.
- Civil society, social movements and the development process - 15PDSH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Comparative politics of the Middle East - 15PPOC026 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- African and Asian Diasporas in the Contemporary World - 15PANC012 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- African and Asian Diasporas in the Modern World - 15PANH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- African and Asian Cultures in Britain - 15PANH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Culture and Society of China - 15PANC089 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of East Africa - 15PANC084 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of Japan - 15PANC086 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of the Near & Middle East - 15PANC097 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of South Asia - 15PANC087 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of South East Asia - 15PANC088 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of West Africa - 15PANC083 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Food, Body And Society - 15 PAN H041 (0.5 Unit) - Cannot be taken with Food Development and the Global Economy
- Food, Development and the Global Economy - 15PANH042 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Cannot be taken with Food Body and Society.
- Law and society in South Asia (MA/LLM) - 15PLAC129 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Law and society in the Middle East and North Africa - 15PLAC130 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Law, human rights and peace building: the Israeli-Palestinian case - 15PLAC133 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Modern Trends in Islam - 15PNMC228 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Travelling Africa: Writing the Cape to Cairo - 15PAFC139 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Cinema, Nation and the Transcultural - 15PMSC001 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Indian Cinema: Key Issues - 15PSAH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
- South Asian Cinema and the Diaspora (MA) - 15PSAH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Theory and techniques of Comparative Literature - 15PCSC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Social and Political Dimensions of Modern Arabic Literature - 15PNMC347 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Literatures of South Asia - 15PSAC284 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Violence, justice and the politics of memory - 15PPOH019 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Language Optional Course
One language acquisition course may be taken. Please see Faculty of Languages and Cultures for options.
Programme Specification
Teaching & Learning
How to apply
How to apply
- How to Apply
- Online Application
- Funding options
- English language requirements
- Tuition Fees
- Admissions Contacts
Scholarships
For further information visit the Scholarships section
D.G.E. Hall Scholarship
Application Deadline: 2013-03-22 00:00
Felix Scholarships
Application Deadline: 2013-01-31 00:00
SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Law and Social Sciences
Application Deadline: 2013-03-22 00:00
A Student's Perspective
Franziska KornI will remember great and long-lasting discussions, helpful and open-minded people and teachers who have time for their students.
