Research Studies

The AUD-CWDS collaborative MPhil/PhD programme in Women and Gender Studies was launched in 2012-13 and completed five years of this successful collaboration in 2017. The MoU between CWDS-AUD was renewed last year. In the light of our experience of having run the programme as well as the change in AUD Research Guidelines for the MPhil/PhD programme in 2017, we have revised our course structure. The revised course structure provides the necessary grounding for MPhil students who must complete both the course work and the thesis within the two year period stipulated by the new guidelines. It also caters to PhD students from outside AUD who may not have the requisite background in the field of Women and Gender Studies, and who can avail of these courses being 3 offered in the first year of the proposed 5 year period available for completing the PhD.

The first semester of the programme would provide the necessary orientation to students both at the theoretical level and in terms of research methodology. The first semester has two course compulsory courses, Feminist Theories (4 credits) and Research Methods with Exemplary Works (4 credits). Another Elective (2 credits) will be opted for by the students from among the electives offered within/across the Masters/research programmes in the University. The second semester again gives the option of choosing an elective (4 credits) from other programmes across the University. This is to fully avail the range of expertise among faculty and also to cater to the different interests of students. A compulsory Guided Study course (2 credits) will also be offered in the second semester based on the specific research interests of the students so as to effectively guide them towards a fully worked out research proposal before the end of the second semester. The weightage of dissertation/thesis in the new programme structure is 16 credits.

M.Phil. Women’s and Gender Studies Programme Structure

Semester 1:

Semester 2:

Semester 3 & 4:

M.Phil. Dissertation: SHS301107

Students who complete the M Phil and Ph.D Program in Women’s and Gender Studies should be able to:

• Demonstrate a sound ethical, social, political and self- aware approach to the context that they are located in enabling them to make meaningful and democratic interventions.
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of recent developments in feminist theory and the literature in gender and development, gender and health, women’s movements in South Asia and global developments, complexities of caste, tribe, religion, disability and race, questions of gender in the context of the ‘north east’, debates on the body and nature of masculinity, family in a changing context and research methods. Students have a thorough understanding of the Indian state and citizenship and the provisions of the Constitution of India, while also gaining a sound understanding of the nature of global challenges.
• Develop sound critical skills enabling them to engage with data, statistics, policies, art and literature, performances and cinema and the digital arena with confidence and understanding.
• Develop the important skill of connecting with people and creating teams and leading groups to make translate the ideals of democratic citizenship into reality.