Master of Arts in Women, Society and Development

Graduates of this program will be equipped to:

• engage in local and regional knowledge production, and enhance their skills in understanding and responding to women’s issues that are specific to the Middle Eastern context.
• pursue careers in different fields and entities such as research, higher education, consulting, media, diplomacy, and national, regional, and international non-governmental organizations.
• pursue advanced research at the PhD level.

Applicants seeking admissions to the MAWSD program should have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a strong academic record (minimum 3.0 GPA out of 4) from a recognized university.

Applicants are required to submit an IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 79 in order to demonstrate their proficiency in English. Applicants can be exempt from this requirement if they meet one of the conditions listed below:

• The applicant completed their studies at an institution in a country where English is the official language.
• The applicant provides an official letter from the university where they completed their studies, confirming that they obtained their degree from an institution where the medium of instruction is English (if not otherwise exempt).
• The applicant’s first language is English.

First Year – First Semester

ME 611 – History, Politics and Cultures of the Middle East – 3 Credit Hours
WSD 621 – Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies – 3 Credit Hours
SS 612 – Research Methods – 3 Credit Hours

First Year – Second Semester

ME 613 – Social, Economic and Development Theory – 3 Credit Hours
WSD 622 – Women, Work and Economic Development in the Middle East – 3 Credit Hours
WSD 623 – Research Methods in Women’s and Gender Studies – 3 Credit Hours

Second Year – First Semester

Elective Course 1 – 3 Credit Hours
Elective Course 2 – 3 Credit Hours
Elective Course 3 – 3 Credit Hours
DHS 691 – Internship – 3 Credit Hours
OR
DHS 669 – Independent Research Project – 3 Credit Hours

Second Year – Second Semester

WSD 695 – Master’s Thesis Hours – 6 Credit Hours

Non-Course Requirement

699 – Thesis Defense

Program Overview

A two-year full-time program requiring 36 credit hours, including five core courses, three elective courses, an internship (or an independent research project), and a thesis.

All courses are taught in English.