Master of Arts in Women's Studies

Description

The Master of Arts (Women's Studies), launched in 2009, builds on an earlier experience of teaching and research in Women’s Studies at TISS. Women’s Studies has had an organic link with the women’s movement along with struggles of all marginal groups in society, and is engaged with various academic disciplines to evolve a critical perspective on gender in society as well as in knowledge production.

Students in this programme are exposed to debates and areas of inter-disciplinary feminist research, and relevant methodologies. At the same time they will learn a range of analytical and field-based skills, which will equip them for professional careers in academic as researchers and teachers; in journalism; in culture and the arts; as development workers and activists; in civil and administrative functions of the government, especially in women and gender departments; and in national and international organisations working on women and gender issues. In fact, this course will be useful to people from all fields who would like to us feminist knowledge to question, critique and make
changes in whatever area of work they may be involved in.

The faculty come from a range of disciplinary backgrounds in economics, anthropology, medicine, science studies, sociology, political science, legal studies, education, philosophy, language and literature, always incorporating a critical feminist approach.

Programme Objectives

• To cultivate a critical understanding of gender and its interlocking structures—including caste, class, tribe, sexuality, and violence—through an interdisciplinary lens that connects feminist theory with lived experiences and diverse socio-cultural contexts.
• To develop methodological and analytical skills by integrating quantitative and qualitative research approaches, equipping students to engage with Indian knowledge systems and global feminist perspectives.
• To foster engagement with diverse themes and frameworks such as gender and science, poverty and livelihoods, health, education, governance, media, environment, and feminist critiques of development, enabling students to address complex social issues with a gender-sensitive perspective.
• To enhance practical understanding through fieldwork and internships, encouraging students to connect theoretical knowledge with on-the-ground realities and challenges, thereby promoting experiential and reflective learning.
• To emphasize collaborative and participatory pedagogies that bridge theory and practice, promoting collective learning, critical thinking, and the construction of new feminist frameworks for social transformation.
• To inspire students to transcend disciplinary boundaries, encouraging knowledge production and equipping them to contribute towards achieving social justice, equity, and sustainable change.

Programme Outcomes :

• Comprehensive Knowledge of Gender Issues: Graduates will possess an in-depth understanding of gender as a critical category of analysis, with the ability to address its intersections with caste, class, tribe, sexuality, and other social markers.
• Interdisciplinary Competence: Students will develop the ability to integrate perspectives from multiple disciplines such as sociology, political science, economics, history, and anthropology to create holistic analyses of social issues.
• Research and Methodological Expertise: Graduates will be skilled in applying both qualitative and quantitative research methods to conduct feminist and gender-focused inquiries, contributing to knowledge creation and policy advocacy.
• Practical Problem-Solving Skills: Students will demonstrate the ability to apply theoretical frameworks in practical contexts, addressing gendered dimensions of social issues such as health, education, governance, media, and environmental sustainability.
• Critical Thinking and Reflexivity: Graduates will exhibit the capacity to critically analyze social phenomena, challenge dominant paradigms, and construct innovative frameworks for gender equity and social justice.
• Advocacy for Social Change: Equipped with feminist theories and grounded fieldwork experience, students will actively contribute to transformative practices that promote inclusivity, sustainability, and equity in society.
• Ethical and Value-Based Leadership: Students will uphold commitments to ethical leadership and sustainability in their academic, professional, and community engagements.

Distribution of Credit Hours:

Note: #IFCL-Internship/ Fieldwork/ Capstone/ Lab; *Non-credited Compulsory Component

Semesterwise Courses:

Students should opt for a total of 8 credits, out of which 4 credits are to be opted from the list of courses in this table. The remaining 4 credits are to be opted from the list of CBCS Courses (2 credits from Foundation Electives and 2 credits from Open Electives) offered in Semester II.

*DS 08 isl for M.A. Women's Studies students and is connected to the DS 03 and DS 23 courses.

Note: The total number of credits, list of CBCS courses, and semester-wise listing of courses is provisional, and may undergo some changes.

Note:The curriculum structure is tentative and subject to change.

Fee Structure:

 *Institute reserves the rights to revise the Fees Structure of programme if necessary.

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