Postgraduate: Course rule and topic information

Master of Arts (Women's Studies)

(MA(WomSt))

Program of Study

INTRODUCTION

The Master of Arts (Women's Studies) is a 72-unit program which incorporates the graduate program(s) available in Women's Studies. There are two levels of entry into the program - basic and advanced.

The course is offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences and can be taken by coursework or research and is offered on a fee-paying basis only for students in the coursework stream.

COURSE AIMS

The course is designed to develop an appreciation of the rich, diverse and rapidly growing field of Women's Studies; to extend students' critical understanding and practice within the boundaries of a discipline area; to develop the capacity to apply interdisciplinary approaches to feminist questions; and to develop the conceptual and analytical thinking, and the research and writing skills, necessary to complete a successful thesis.

COURSE RULE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Basic entry - offers a 72-unit program of study comprising the program for the Graduate Diploma in Gender and Development plus an additional 36 units as set out for advanced entry. This program would normally be available to applicants who hold an approved degree or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature. Credit may be granted, on application, for comparable prior studies.

Advanced entry - offers a 36-unit program of study to suitable qualified applicants who have successfully completed one of the following:

• an honours degree in Women's/Gender Studies;
• a four-year bachelors degree in Women's/Gender Studies;
• Graduate Diploma in Gender and Development, or an approved equivalent.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [January, 2008]

To qualify for the Master of Arts (Women's Studies), a student must complete a 72-unit program with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

• the 36 units required for the Graduate Diploma in Gender and Development (advanced entry students receive 36 units of credit);
• an additional 36 units of core and elective topics as set out below.

Candidates undertaking the advanced entry program may choose one of the following streams:

Coursework stream
Independent, supervised study leading to a 12- or 18-unit thesis;
12 units of core topics as set out below;
6 or 12 units of elective topics.

Research stream
Independent, supervised study leading to a 24-unit thesis;
12 units core topics as set out below.

Core topics

WMST9000	MA (Women's Studies) Thesis	12/18/24
WMST9003	Feminist Questions	6
WMST9009	Women's Studies Research Strategies, or	6
WMST9009A	Women's Studies Research Strategies	3
	plus
DVST9020	Research Induction	3

Elective topics*

ASST9012	Women in Asia	6
DVST9041	Gender, Public Health and International Development (distance education via Web)	6
DVST9043	Gender Analysis	6
DVST9044	Gender Mainstreaming	6
INTR9007	Contemporary Issues in Gender and Development	6
WMST7014	Feminist Political Perspectives: The Challenges to Political Theory	6
WMST8045	A Walk on the Wild Side: Gender and International Politics	6
WMST8046	Engendering Justice, Rights and Representation: Gender, State and Citizenship	6
WMST9005	Critique and Construct in Feminist Knowledge#	6
WMST8041	Indigenous Women's Voices: Negotiating Differences	6
WMST8048	Women in World Religions	6
WMST9007	Women's Studies: Reading Topic	6
WMST9013	Women's Studies: Critical Theory	6
WMST9014	Sisters in Law: Sex Gender and the Law**	6

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

• no topic may be attempted more than twice;
• the program must be completed full-time within three consecutive semesters or part-time within six consecutive semesters.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in 12 or more units may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

* Candidates should consult the postgraduate convener for the list of topics available in any one year.

** Students who have undertaken WMST7012 may not enrol for WMST9014.

# Students who choose the two 3-unit option of Women's Studies Research Strategies and Research Induction will not be eligible to enrol in Critique and Construct which also contains a research induction component.