This programme interrogates gender in global politics and global governance. The emphasis throughout is critical reflection on the relationship between theory and practice. Students will acquire extensive knowledge of how gender is interrogated within the academic discipline of International Relations and how this is, in turn, related to concrete institutions and institutionalised practices at the global, regional, national and local level, including specialist agencies with a remit to promote gender equality and women’s human rights and gender mainstreaming practices. The course also covers academic discourse on non-governmental organisations, transnational activist networks and social movements, in relation to the practices, politics, political strategies and advocacy work of a broad range of civil society actors.

Issues examined include:

• Norms, institutions and mechanisms of governance.
• Gender as discourse / ideology.
• Gender as a category in policy-making.
• Gendered subjectivities in global politics and governance.
• Social reproduction, production, consumption and economic development
• Security, conflict, conflict resolution and peacekeeping
• Human rights

One of the real strengths of our masters programmes is the wide range of available modules, giving students the ability to tailor their course of study to their own academic interests

More information on: International Relations MA (with specialist pathways)

Learning and teaching

A variety of learning and teaching methods are used, including:

• Independent study
• Preparatory reading for participation in seminar activities and assessed work.
• Student-led discussions in seminars
• Seminar activities including structured and unstructured debate, text-based exercises, role play and debate, analytical exercises
• Research design
• Assessment methods include oral presentations, essays, literature reviews and research papers.

Skills gained

You will develop the following skills through this programme:

• Critical awareness of the relationship between theory and practice as applied to the study of governance.
• In-depth knowledge of the norms, institutions, networks and mechanism of gender and governance at international, regional, national and local levels.
• The ability to analyse debates and issues relevant to the analysis of gender, globalisation and governance, and to articulate that analysis both concisely and persuasively.
• The ability to analyse debates and issues relevant to the analysis of gender, globalisation and governance, and to articulate that analysis both concisely and persuasively.

Enhancing your Student Experience

In the School of Government and Society we offer much more than a degree. As a student here, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, you have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events, with some or all of the costs paid for by the School.

Some of these are targeted to help you build skills and experience for your CV, others are more open events designed to expose you to high-level speakers on current debates relevant to all G&S students. 

Facilities

Departments from across the School of Government and Society are all based within the recently refurbished Muirhead Tower. Following a £50million refurbishment, Muirhead Tower offers state-of-the-art teaching and research study facilities including free wifi throughout the building and dedicated study areas for postgraduate research students.

Muirhead Tower comprises 12,000sq.m of floor space between two towers. The tower includes a number of sustainable features including solar shading (known in the trade as brise soliel) to control temperatures, as well as low energy fans; timed lighting to reduce energy waste; natural ventilation systems and a heat source taken from the University’s combined heat and power generator.

The space has been designed to create modern, attractive spaces for teaching and research accommodating 150 academic offices, 230 "hubs" for post graduate research students, teaching rooms for up to 100 people and a 200 seat lecture theatre.

Internship module

A workplace placement/internship (Politics in Action) is currently in the process of validation. This should be available to students taking this module from 2012 onwards. However, you should check availability on application. The internship module enhances employability skills in the following areas:

• The application of theoretical and conceptual literatures to concrete practices and engage in deep reflection on the relationship between theory and practice.
• The ability to accurately record your reflections on day to day working practices and experiences within governmental or civil society organisations.
• The ability to critically reflect upon and record the specific employability skills developed during the placement.
• An awareness of the practical issues and legal and ethical considerations that arise in the workplace. 

Careers

This programme will act as a foundation for an academic career in the same way as any other taught postgraduate programme. However, there is a range of national and international organisations (both government and non-governmental) that have dedicated gender advisory units and this MA would significantly enhance the application of a candidate to any of these institutions. These include, but are not limited to: Oxfam, International Alert, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, Amnesty International, the United Nations, the World Bank Group, the International Committee of the Red Cross.