Programme Specification: MSc Gender (Research)
1. Awarding Body
2. Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body, e.g. ESRC;
BPS etc
3. Name of final award
4. Programme Title
5. Duration of the course
6. Based in the Department/Institute:
7. Relevant QAA subject benchmark
statements
8. Application Code
9. First written/last amended
LSE
This is an approved programme of the ESRC
1+3 competition scheme (UK/EU only).
MSc
Gender (Research)
Full-time 12 months; part-time 24 months
Gender
N/A
Y2U4
April 2009 / November 2012
10. The programme aims to:
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Provide advanced postgraduate training that is both generic to social science
research and specific to gender research;
Give students proficiency in the most important current debates in gender theory
and research practice;
Enable students to develop the necessary analytical and theoretical
sophistication, and breadth and depth of understanding, within this field;
Prepare students for employment as gender specialists with a research training
aspect;
Prepare students for independent research leading to an academic career.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
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A critical understanding of the main theoretical and policy debates within the field
of gender research;
A critical understanding of the main methodological, epistemological, and ethical
problems arising in gender research;
Knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative research skills;
The capacity for critical analysis and precise argument in both written work and
oral presentations;
The ability to employ library and internet resources to generate relevant material
in their chosen fields of research;
The ability to design and independently execute a dissertation on an approved
subject of their own choice;
A sound basis for Doctoral research.
Information relating to careers can be accessed here
12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved
and demonstrated
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Students take a core course in Gender Theories in the Modern World, which
provides them with a critical understanding of contemporary gender theory;
Students also take a compulsory course titled ‘Gender, Knowledge and Research
Practice’ which is designed to acquaint them with epistemological and
methodological practice in gender research;
Students take generic courses on quantitative and qualitative research methods
that provide them with a firm grounding in social research skills;
Students are supported in their choices of options by their academic advisor;
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Students are required to write essays and make oral presentations in their core
courses, where they will be assessed by a combination of course work and
unseen examination. The assessment for their research methods core course
consists of a research proposal and an essay, both of which have an equal
weighting;
Students will write a 10,000 word dissertation, designed to test their capacity to
carry out independent research and analysis. This will be supported by a ten week
dissertation module held in the LT, and by individual supervision.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See MSc Gender (Research) programme regulations
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
A first degree from a UK university or the international equivalent in a subject appropriate to
further study of the programme at postgraduate level at 2.1 level or above. Students from
countries using the GPA system will normally require a 3.5 or above. In addition, students
should be able to demonstrate their interest in gender studies, and/or its relevance for their
future goals. All students whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of
competence in the English language.
15. Indicators of quality
In the 2001 Review of Educational Provision in the Gender Institute, the Institute’s teaching
programme was commended for the quality of its lecturing, seminar facilitation, and feedback
to students and the positive co-ordinating structures of its inter-departmental programmes.
The majority of the teaching team have been commended for teaching excellent both within
and outside the LSE.
The LSE Careers Centre website provides data on career destinations of LSE graduates.
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and
learning
This programme will be administered within the Gender Institute and will follow our own
systems of quality control. These include:
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MSc teaching meetings (1 per term), which discusses teaching issues and reviews
assessment methods. This is in addition to continuous communication between all
teaching and admin staff within the Institute. MSc course review, Teaching
Committee meeting held in the summer term to review all GI courses;
Programme specific MSc Staff/student consultative forum (1 per term);
The Teaching Learning and Assessment Committee which regulates all aspects of
teaching quality;
TLAC review of the Institute once every five years;
The Graduate Studies Sub-Committee which oversees all graduate programmes and
ensures that significant changes to programmes and courses pass through a
sequence of formal stages, so that curricular changes are appropriate and compatible
with other developments;
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Course teaching surveys by TQARO;
Periodic peer observation/review of teaching;
The Institute’s system of periodic review for its own programmes.