Course Code: C140

Course Title: Gender & social development

College: SOAS CEDEP

Course Director: Andrew Dorward

Course Description: Gender and social development are important spheres of academic study and analysis, and also of development and poverty reduction policy. Gender and social relations within and between different groups of people are critical to people's wellbeing and to the processes by which people's well-being changes. They are both critical determinants of people's ability to influence, participate in and benefit from social, economic, and material change, as well as intrinsic to people's sense of identity.

This course examines gender and social development from both an analytical and a practical perspective. It explores the historical roots of academic and policy interest in these matters and considers why social development and gender matter. It examines different ways of analysing social and gender relations, and the relationship between academic and policy work in this field. It then investigates current thinking and concerns relating to the practice of social development and to the promotion of gender equality and women's empowerment, and describes tools and frameworks to inform policy making and practice.

The course is aimed at students and researchers from the academic world and at development practitioners - from government departments, international development agencies or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) - who work to promote development and poverty reduction. The course aims to assist students to understand how social relations, and particularly gender relations, affect people; how they can be analysed; and how they have influenced development policy and practices and the outcomes of development interventions. The course also aims to assist you to develop your practical skills in addressing gender and social development in analysis and in policy design and implementation.

On successful completion of the course you will be able:

• To understand the importance of social development, and particularly gender relations, in development and poverty reduction processes, and different ways in which these have been addressed in development policy and practice.

• To understand critical concepts and theories regarding social and gender relations and change.

• To critique aid and development policies from social development and gender relations perspectives.

• To use specific tools for social and gender analysis in the design, implementation and evaluation of development policies and projects.

• To understand the challenges facing gender and social development in specific aid and development situations, policies and interventions.

Assessment: Exam 100%

Course Credit: All SOAS CeDEP short course students receive a certificate of completion. Students of SOAS CeDEP Short Courses who may wish to transfer credit to Certificate, Diploma or Masters-level programmes are advised to select short courses which also act as Core Modules on CeDEP's various programmes.

Course Study Hours/Duration: 240 hrs over 35 weeks

Schedule of Availability: Feb - Oct (Enrolment deadline prior to Feb start - 30th November)

Delivery Mechanisms: Print; CD-Rom; Online Discussion

Cost: £960

How to apply: To enquire about applying for this course, or for any other information, please contact the Course Administrator using the online Enquiry Form below