This course introduces Masters' students to key debates, theories, and methodologies in gender studies. It provides a lively exploration of key issues relating to contemporary transformations in gender relations, considering the intersectionality of gender with other forms of social inequality. It will provide students with a solid grounding in gender studies, addressing gendered aspects of social and political life through an interdisciplinary focus.

One hour lecture and one hour seminar per week for ten weeks, semester to include a reading week.

None

4000 word essay. This requires students to apply and demonstrate their critical understanding, skills of analysis and argumentation in the consideration of a particular issue in relation to current research and literature.

Students will be able to choose between

a) A question set by the course convener, focussed on a debate, issue or theory specifically explored in the lectures/seminars

b) An appropriate question developed by students individually, in consultation with the course conveners; this would allow students to tap into their own interests and encourage independent learning.

To enable students to understand how gender shapes institutions, social relationships and identities, in order to develop their ability to critically evaluate, compare and apply key debates, theories and methodologies in gender studies to the study of contemporary societies.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ demonstrate thorough knowledge of key theories and debates in gender and feminist studies

■ critically utilise relevant theoretical frameworks and conceptual models from sociology and related disciplines to deepen their understandings of how gender shapes institutions, social relationships and lived experiences in different social contexts

■ critically evaluate different types of empirical data to integrate the perspectives of different social actors on gendered practices, identities and relationships

■ critically appraise the methodological and ethical issues associated with conducting research on gender

■ structure ideas effectively both orally and in written form, to work effectively independently and in groups, and to manage time effectively.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.