IGNOU’s new courses in gender studies and development

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will start five new courses on gender and development in July 2011. All the five courses will be offered by IGNOU's School of Gender and Development Studies (SOGDS) of which two will be on-campus programme and the rest three will be offered through distance learning.

The admissions are open for masters in (i) gender and development studies and (ii) women's and gender studies; postgraduate diploma in (i) women's empowerment and development  and (ii) gender and development as also a certificate programme in gender and development studies.

"The master's programmes will equip students with the ability to deconstruct the complex power hierarchies and relationships operating in society, from the perspective of women and gender," said SOGDS director Savita Singh.

Some of the issues discussed in the courses include concepts and theories in women's and gender studies, queer studies, gender through film and visual arts, history of women's movements and women and social sectors among others.

The eligibility for the programmes is graduation in any discipline with a minimum 50 percent and the last date for applying is July 15 for the full-time course and July 29 for the distance-learning course.