M.St. in Women's Studies
| At a glance | M.St. in Women's Studies |
|---|---|
| Length | 9 months (Oct-June) |
| Course structure | A core course on Theory and Methods, one Option (chosen from a large range of options) and a dissertation |
| Assessment | 13,000-15,000 word dissertation |
An interdisciplinary course
Supervision
The Theory and Methods course
The Option courseHandbook
Apply onlineFor the following documents, go to:
https://weblearn.ox.ac.uk/portal/hierarchy/humdiv/modlang/graduates/womens_studiStatement of provision for graduate teaching
Programme Specification
An interdisciplinary course
The M.St. is an interdisciplinary course spanning five faculties: Classics, English, Modern History, Medieval and Modern Languages and Philosophy.
Whilst students are pursuing the Women’s Studies course, they are also encouraged to go to lectures and seminars organised by individual faculties, which might help them to frame their immediate or future projects.
For more information on the Women's Studies M.St. see the Women's Studies website
Supervision
All students will be assigned to a general supervisor by the Standing Committee at the time that they are admitted to the course. The supervisor oversees the student’s work, providing specific guidance and help in the first term on framing and developing a Theory/Methods essay, and arranging teaching and supervision for the subsequent terms. The supervisor will meet regularly with the student, especially in the first term, and at least at the beginning and end of the other two terms (if not involved directly in teaching or supervising the student); and will be available to offer pastoral support where required.
The Theory and Methods course
The course on Theory and Methods aims to provide familiarity with a wide range of theoretical issues raised by women's studies, mastery of research skills, and ability to use both traditional research aids and the aids being developed by information technology.
It is taught in the Michaelmas (autumn) term and there will be two lectures and one seminar each week on Theory, and seven weekly seminars on Methods. Attendance at these is obligatory. Every student should expect to write a number of different pieces of work in connection with the Theory and Methods seminars, with a view to producing one 6,000 word submission (excluding footnotes and bibliography) which will be examined. This essay should make use of theoretical or methodological insights drawn from the course.
The Option course
The Option course allows an opportunity to explore further areas familiar from undergraduate degree experience or to branch out into a new field. It is taught in the Hilary (spring) term, although relevant lectures may also be given in other terms. Students should expect to see the option tutor for their chosen option weekly or fortnightly and to produce a number of pieces of written work, one of which will then be worked up to be examined. The word limit for the option course is 10,000 words, excluding footnotes and bibliography.