Applied Gender Studies

Applied Gender Studies - full-time MA programme lasting 4 semesters

University of Opole

Enrollment
from 2017-04-24 to 2017-07-17  

English

The master's programme is based in the Faculty of Philology at the Institute of English. The linguistic and humanistic expertise is supported by the social science approach of the Institute of Sociology. The complementary structure allows for the interdisciplinary and multilevel approach to the gender related issues of language, communication, culture, society, identity etc.

Since the very nature of the topic is performative or is communicated visually, the artists contribute to the course as well. Both theoretical and practical classes in the visual culture are provided by the Institute of Art of Opole University.

Several classes are to be carried out by experts outside of academia for more practical and applied perspective. These include the local but recognized in Europe theatre, regional governing bodies or transnational corporate business that in turn act also as training venues or case studies for the students.

The idea of the master's programme is based on three assumptions: interdisciplinary work is enriching, the mobility creates new intellectual opportunities, the theory has to be practical or the practice ought to be theoretical.

The category of gender constitutes the organizing idea of the master programme addressed to graduate humanities or social sciences and arts students willing to critically engage in the theoretical and practical discussion of the discursive power relations galvanized by inequalities regarding gender in contemporary, diverse European society.

The 2 years’ programme is carried out in Opole, Poland for 3 semesters, in Thessaloniki, Greece for another semester (optionally), and there is a 2 months’ long internship organized in the area of Trier, Germany if chosen. This will create miscellaneous opportunities for new experiences to the students travelling across Europe from the east to west and beyond.

The master's programme is structured so that the universal issues of gender relations could be vividly experienced in different cultural contexts hence the course includes intensive optional mobility (funded by Erasmus+ programme), both eastwards and westwards from Poland. One semester is to be spent in Istanbul for studying and living in oriental, yet metropolitan context. The extended semester break in the second year is to be spent on professional training in the organizations, institutions and other venues, possibly in the area of Trier, Germany at the very center of the ‘old’, western, European Union for a very different experience.

The four semester joint programme features courses in the fields of language studies, cultural anthropology, sociology, economics, women’s studies or law as well as arts theory and history or social science research methodologies and also provides the students with a range of chances to exercise the knowledge and skills at public institutions of local governments, culture or education. The 2 years’ programme is carried out at three European universities for the students to gain an intercultural perspective.

The first semester of the intensive training is carried out in two education paths: the language and gender theories. The aim of the first one is to level the skills in academic reading, writing and speaking in English as well as to get to know the language structure and basics of linguistic studies to acquire the understanding of the role the language plays in the gender order. The introduction to gender theories and more broadly to sociology of body or social stratification and inequalities completes the second path of initial education. The classes are taught in English in at the Institute of English and the Institute of Sociology of the University of Opole

In order to get a completely different cultural perspective and exercise sociological imagination the second semester takes place (optionally) in Thessaloniki, Greece. A sociological education continues there and the students immerse into big city life in intercultural contexts. Those who would not be able to travel abroad will join international students at the University of Opole for respective courses.

At the beginning of the second year, stress is put on action. Students learn to exercise the acquired theory in the fields of communication, visual communication, visual arts, performative arts or participatory community action as well as the basics of social science research. They are taught at the institutes of Art, English and Sociology of the University of Opole as well as in the Opole Puppet and Actor Theatre. Regular classes finish at the end of December in order for the students to enroll at internships taken in the area of Trier (optionally).

The University of Applied Sciences in Trier constitutes the departure point for the students who are expected to take the three months’ training at selected institutions, companies, NGOs. The students work for the host institutions to get the experience but also to develop their master projects whether practical or theoretical. They are in constant contact with their supervising professors in Opole, but simultaneously they encounter the social order of the West.

During the fourth semester the emphasis is put on the master projects. Using the connections made, skills gained and different perspectives students conduct the research or action and write up the thesis and prepare for the labor market. During the last semester various substantial courses are offered for the ultimate follow-up to the programme. Some of them are taught by scholars and practitioners in the fields where gender relations matter.

The final thesis seminars are based on the master-disciple relation and students can choose supervising professors from the fields of sociology, literature, linguistics or visual arts and develop their projects within one of the fields with special focus on the meta-topic of gender relations.

Besides the proper education and the interdisciplinary training, the students gain the intercultural experience (and instant understanding of it) and the tools to shape their career paths, i.e. internships and the courses outside the university walls.

Since (at least) three semesters are to be spent in Opole, Poland, an extra course of Polish language is offered to the students, although the education is entirely in English. The education starts at - at least - B2 level of English (required at the admission) and is meant to finish at C1 level of excellence.

The students are trained in gender theories but the stress is put on the practicalities of gendered perspective in future professional life.

The classes in English will create an opportunity to mix with other Polish and international students (on Erasmus+ programme in Opole) since the courses are open to join for certain Polish majors of the University of Opole.

The alumni are meant to work for public institutions, culture organizations, NGOs, corporate businesses, education sites or various media outlets being conscious and well equipped gender theorists well prepared to challenge inequalities, discrimination, limited life chances, symbolic violence or biased legal regulations and both official and everyday practice of gender performances that lead to the former.

1160 EUR per year.

For further information and enquiries please contact:

Institute of English

Pl. Kopernika 11,

45-040 Opole, Poland

Tel. +48 775415923

E-mail: ifa@uni.opole.pl

The BA diploma grade constitutes the basic admission criterion.