Department of
Women and Development Studies
The Department of Women and Development Studies (DWDS) aims to provide a historical and comprehensive perspective to the study of gender and development in the context of the South and the Philippines. It aims to provide theoretical and practical knowledge, frameworks and strategies in the advancement of gender and development.
The main feature of the DWDS programs is the division of the curricula into clusters, each is designed to attain specific objectives. The first and last modules, namely; core courses and fieldwork, are common to diploma and master’s programs, while the electives and cognates are selected by master’s students depending on their needs and interests:
- Required General Courses provide a firm foundation in terms of basic theories, approaches and strategies essential to development work with a gender perspective and towards gender equality and women’s empowerment.
- WD Elective Courses are focused on the development of specific knowledge and/or competencies in the areas of feminist pedagogy, counseling, policy advocacy, and gender-related national and international development work.
- Cognates provide in-depth analyses of problems and issues related to gender and development from the perspective of related or allied disciplines (e.g. social work, community development, sociology, anthropology, psychology, etc.)
- Field Work Courses serve as opportunities for direct field experience and practice to test and enrich their classroom-gained knowledge.
History
The Department of Women and Development Studies (DWDS) was formally established upon the approval of the UP Board of Regents on March 29, 2000. It originally began in 1987 as the Women and Development Program. It is the pioneering program in women and gender studies in the Asia-Pacific and remains the only one being offered in the region.
Graduate Courses
Diploma in Women and Development
The Diploma in Women and Development (DIP WD) is designed as an intermediate program for individuals interested in women and gender studies. It bridges students to development practice and actual field experiences. Students may proceed to the Master of Arts in Women in Development program after completion of DIP WD.
Master of Arts in Women and Development
The Master of Arts in Women and Development (MAWD) is designed as an advanced training for women and gender advocates, educators, development practitioners, and other interested individuals, both women and men aiming to be better organizers, educators, trainers, researchers, project and program planners and managers, policy formulators, and extension workers by situating their activities in the context of feminist and development theories.