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The Institute of Women’s Studies offers an academic program that leads
to a master’s degree in Gender and Development Studies. This program
aims at expanding and deepening students’ knowledge of existing theory
and concepts related to gender and development on the international,
regional and Palestinian levels. In addition, this program aims at
developing students’ analytical and critical abilities when dealing with
and evaluating policies and developmental programs from a gender
perspective.
Furthermore, the Program aims at developing students’ abilities to
conduct research that contributes to the identification of the need for
integrating gender in developmental sectors, and obstacles hindering it.
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1. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in one of the social
sciences from a university recognized by Birzeit University.
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in other fields may also be
admitted in this program.
2. Applicants must take the English language test specified by the
program.

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1. A grade of 80% in the English language test specified by the
program
2. Students who receive a grade of less than 80 % in the above
mentioned test are required to take GADS 600 (English Readings
in the Social Sciences), and pass it with a minimum grade of 70%
(students are not allowed to take any other courses from the
program when enrolled in this course).
3. All students are required to pass GADS 630 and GADS 631 before
taking any other courses offered by the program.
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Students are required to complete no less than 36 credit hours
distributed as follows:
1. Core Courses: (18 credit hours)
Course
Number
Course Title PPPrrreeerrreeeqqquuuiiisssiiittteee(((sss)))
GADS
630
Concepts and Issues in Gender and
Development
GADS
631
Historical and Theoretical Introduction to
Gender and Development Studies
GADS Theoretical Approaches to Gender and GADS 630

3. 632 Development GADS 631
GADS
633
Quantitative Research Methods for
Gender and Development
GADS
634
Qualitative Research Methods for Gender
and Development
GADS
635
Gender Analysis and Gender Planning
Note: All students are required to complete either GADS 633
or GADS 634 within the first 15 hours of their registration in
the program.
2. Elective Courses (12 credit hours)
Course
Number
Course Title PPPrrreeerrreeeqqquuuiiisssiiittteee(((sss)))
GADS 636 Legal Frameworks for Gender,
Citizenship and the State
GADS 630
GADS 631
GADS 637 Gender and Economic Relations
GADS 638 Special Topics in Gender and
Development
GADS 639 Development Policies

4. GADS 730 Non-Governmental Organizations and
Gender
GADS 731 Applications of Modern Approaches to
Gender and Development
GADS 732 Legal and Gender and Development
Issues in the Palestinian and Arab Society
GADS 733 Theoretical Approaches to Gender and
Law
 Students can substitute two of the above mentioned elective
courses with two courses from another graduate program, after
the approval of the Program Council
3. Track “A” or Track “B”: 6 credit Hours; Thesis or two
seminars
Track Track Title Track
Number
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Track A Thesis GADS 860 Complete no less than 18
credit hours from the
program, including GADS
633 and GADS 634
Track B Seminars GADS 830
GADS 831

5. Course Descriptions
GADS 600: English Reading in the Social Sciences
Selected English Readings in different fields of social science to develop
students’ reading and comprehension skills (analysis of the linguistic
structure, looking into meaning of words and texts from the provided
context defining main and secondary ideas in the text and extracting
information, differentiation between facts and personal opinions,
understanding and following the structure of the text) as well as
acquiring a glossary of academic and scientific terms.
GADS 630: Concepts and Issues in Gender and Development
Introduction to concepts and issues related to gender and development
through selected academic texts in English (related to the family and
household, the state, civil society organizations, globalization, formal and
informal work, structural adjustment, legal reforms and other concepts)
through which students will develop and exercise advanced skills in
reading and analysis.
GADS 631: Historical and Theoretical Introduction to Gender and
Development Studies
A historical review of the development of women’s and gender issues
(social, educational, economic, legal, political and cultural issues) and the
development of feminist theories (liberal, socialist, Marxist, radical and
postmodern). Main concepts necessary for studying and analyzing issues
related to gender, society and development. Developing the necessary
skills for critical and analytical reading of texts related to this field, as well
as developing basic skills necessary for conducting scientific research.
GADS 632: Theoretical Approaches to Gender and Development
The main theoretical and methodological approaches to development.
Main theoretical approaches in recent decades, concerned with
integrating women, and later gender, in the developmental process,

6. including: integrating women in the development processes, women and
development, and gender and development. Concepts and analytical
tools to understand and analyze gender relations, and their overlap in the
development process.
GADS 633: Quantitative Research Methods for Gender and
Development
Quantitative research methods in gender and development and their
applications in social policy and planning. Study of gender on a macro-
level using quantitative research methods and the examination the
extent to which they can be relied on to reveal the details of gender based
discrimination. Critical analysis of research based on quantitative surveys
and local statistical data. Designing a quantitative research project in an
area related to social policy and planning in Palestine such as the
economy, education, labor, social welfare and support.
GADS 634: Qualitative Research Methods for Gender and Development
Exploring qualitative research methods for the purpose of studying the
different aspects of the status of women and gender-based discrimination
in society, as well as the origins of the study of gender as a concept and
analytical tool on the partial level (the household, organizations and local
communities) using qualitative research methods. Examination and
analysis of international and national studies using field research about
gender relations.
GADS 635: Gender Analysis and Gender Planning
Introduction to gender analysis and planning through a close
examination of concepts, instruments and mechanisms developed to
assist workers in the field in taking gender into consideration when
preparing policies, plans, and in the execution of projects and
developmental programs.
GADS 636: Legal Frameworks for Gender, Citizenship and the State

7. The role of constitutions and basic laws in the construction of a
democratic state. The international legal framework related to human
rights and citizenship, and it’s influence on women’s social and political
rights.
GADS 637: Gender and Economic Relations
In-depth study of the participation of both men and women in the labor
force. Analysis of the roles of men and women in different labor markets,
both in the formal and informal economics, the role of law in enhancing
or obstructing change in the economic roles of both men and women.
Basic focus on Palestinian and Arab societies.
GADS 638: Special Topics in Gender and Development
Study of a specific topic related to gender and development. Topic is
determined by the instructor and approval by the Program Council.
GADS 639: Development Policies
Main theoretical approaches and emerging issues in the secondary fields
relating to developmental policies. Limits of political agents and
organizations in the evaluation of existing development issues and their
reform. Gender as an overlapping and intersecting dimension.
GADS 730: Non-Governmental Organizations and Gender
The role of non-governmental civil society organizations since the 1980s
in developmental discourse and the practice of development the view of
these organizations as a substitute for the state, and the general progress
of development. An overview of the history and the increase in the
number of civil society organizations, and related concepts and issues
such as welfare, civil society, pressure groups, lobbies, and litigation in
the framework of understanding development and democracy,
overcoming poverty, an d empowering women in society. Focus on the
global South and its relationship to the Global North, concentrating on
the Middle East and Palestine.

8. GADS 731: Applications of Modern Approaches to Gender and
Development
Applying new approaches used in analyzing gender in developmental
issues such as poverty, means of livelihood, population and fertility,
political participation and representation, the agricultural issue, and
structural adjustment policies.
GADS 732: Legal and Gender and Development Issues in the
Palestinian and Arab Society
Basic issues related to development and social justice. Main challenges
facing Arab and Palestinian societies under prevailing regional
agreements and legislative policies such as the Cairo Agreement and the
Gulf Cooperation Council agreements.