School of Politics and International Studies

MA Global Development and Gender combines a broad interdisciplinary insight into development theories and strategies with a specialisation in gender issues.

This course gives you the opportunity to examine alternative theoretical approaches in the analysis of developing countries, and combine this understanding with theories relating to gender. You will focus on theories of development, development strategy and project appraisal, and examine key issues in globalisation from a gender perspective.

You will explore the different gender and development approaches within development assistance, and study the history of global women and development initiatives, including the UN-Beijing process. You will look at population sex ratios, employment and migration, and analyse new economic policy approaches, including structural adjustment.

You will also study key gender and development issues, such as gender-based violence, climate and environmental change, and education and literacy.

Compulsory Modules

Gender, Globalisation and Development critically examines key issues in globalisation from a gender perspective. You will examine industrialisation, employment, livelihood strategies, migration and key development issues such as gender-based violence, climate and environmental change, education and literacy, from different regional perspectives.

Global Inequalities and Development provides you with an understanding of why and how the world’s inequalities produce advantages and disadvantages in development. You will cover economic, social, and political inequalities to lay the foundation for discussions about poverty, dispossession, food, environment and aid. You will also explore how social movements in the global south claim rights and thereby challenge global inequalities.

Dissertation: Global Development and Gender leads you through the process of developing a deeper understanding of a particular topic in development studies and gender through independent research and the preparation of an extended piece of writing. You agree a research topic with your supervisor and write a 12,000 word dissertation that demonstrates your research skills, your ability to assess information, and appraise relevant concepts and theories.

Optional Modules

You will also be required to study between two and four of the following optional modules:

• Africa in the Contemporary World
• Conflict, Complex Emergencies and Global Governance
• Democracy and Development
• Democratisation and Multi-Party Politics in Africa
• Education in Development
• Famine and Food Security
• Political Economy of Resources and Development 
• Capitalism and Crisis
• Political Transitions in South East Asia
• Development Management Techniques
• Research Methodology for Development
• Contemporary Issues in Religion and Gender

Or a module approved by the Programme Director.

Please note module options may be subject to change.