Gender and Women’s Studies is an emerging and growing area of academic inquiry today. Worldwide several universities and colleges are now offering programmes in these areas at all levels. In India, too, a few universities are beginning to initiate programmes in this discipline. Currently, no university in Delhi offers such programmes although optional and elective courses/papers are available in disciplines under humanities and social sciences. UGC, in its eleventh plan guidelines has emphasised the need to develop women’s studies as a thrust area, in line with the MHRD policies. There is also an urgent need to address issues related to gender questions in India from an academic perspective.

The programme is on offer in the face-to-face mode from July 2010 at IGNOU headquarters, New Delhi, and is being simultaneously developed through ODL.

The programme will be developed and launched in modular form with an exit point at the PG Diploma level after successful completion of coursework prescribed for first two semesters. The PG Diploma will consist of core foundation courses in Gender & Women’s Studies.

The focal areas for the programme may include the following:Concepts and Theories in Gender & Women’s Studies, Gender and Power, Constructing Gender through Literature, Film, Visual Arts, Gendered Bodies and Sexualities, Women and Social Institutions, International policies and programmes, Advocacy, Research Epistemology.

Students completing the Master’s degree will be able to pursue careers in the areas of higher studies and research programmes, advocacy through national and international non-profit organisations, or opt for other appropriate career options.
 

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• Additional fee charges may apply as per University norms

Teleconferencing

Teleconferencing is a one-way video and two-way audio facility. Teleconferencing will be held every month. During teleconferencing session, you will get an opportunity to interact by phone in facility or fax with the resource persons/experts who participate in teleconferencing session and clear your doubts immediately. The teleconferencing facility will be available at the Regional Centre and Selected Study Centres. The teleconferencing schedule will be sent to the Programme In-charge and Regional Director who would inform the students. Teleconferencing is done through Gyan Darshan Channel. You must regularly attend these sessions. These will help you to clarify doubts and interact with other learners all over the country.

Radio Counselling

Radio counselling will be held through F.M. and you can ask questions free of cost with phone in facilities right from your home. A toll free telephone number 110012345 has been provided for this purpose.

Telecast

The programme will also be telecasted through D.D. metro channel and schedule will be informed to students in advance.

Audio-video Programme

Audio and video programmes for each course have been prepared to support your learning. These Audio-video programmes in the form of cassettes are available at all Programme Study Centres. These Audio and video cassettes will be provided for viewing and listening. You can also hire the cassettes for viewing and listening.

Attendance

You will be required to complete 75 percent attendance in theory counselling to become eligible for appearing in Term-end Examination. Similarly, you will be required to complete 90% attendance in practical contact sessions to become eligible for appearing in practical examination.

Continuous Evaluation of Theory Component

Assignments

Assignment is a means of continuing assessment of theory and practical. Assignments will help you to recapitulate the theory and go back to the text again in case you are unable to answer a particular question. Thus assignments also help to reinforce learning in distance learning system of education. These assignments consist of a set of questions and activities that you will answer at your own place by referring your blocks. The assignments will cover all types of questions (long answer type, short answer type, objective type, multiple choice questions and case studies). The assignments will carry 30 percent weightage. You will be required to obtain 50 percent marks as pass percentage in each assignment separately. Each assignment will carry 100 marks. In the final result assignments will carry 30 percent weightage.

Term-end Examination

As stated earlier, term-end examination is the major component of the evaluation system and if carries 70% weightage in the Final result. The University conducts term-end examination twice a year i.e., in June and December. You can take the examination only after completion of the course, failing which you can take the same in December or June of subsequent years years within the total span of the programme. In case you fail to get a pass score in the Tern-end Examination, you will be eligible to reappear at the next Term-end Examination for that course as and when if is held, within the total span of the programme.