Studies

The studies in Gender Studies comprise basic and intermediate studies and advanced studies. It is possible to pursue basic and intermediate studies only as a minor subject (25 ECTS + 35 ECTS). The advanced studies can be taken either as a minor subject (40 ECTS + 20 ECTS) or as studies belonging to the Master’s Degree Programme in Women’s Studies (120 ECTS). The extent of studies is measured in terms of ECTS credits: 60 ECTS credits corresponds to one year of full-time studies.

The basic studies consist of compulsory courses only, while at the intermediate level the students can select, in addition to the compulsory theoretical studies, study modules organised thematically or by discipline. During the master’s programme and advanced studies, the students are supported in writing their thesis by strengthening their grasp of theories and methods. In addition to these, it is possible to pursue studies completely in English.

The two-year Master's Degree Programme in Women's Studies is aimed at students who have completed basic studies in gender (or women’s) studies as part of their bachelor’s degree and who wish to focus on and further specialise in a particular area of gender studies and feminist theories. The first master’s degree students in Women’s Studies began their studies in the autumn 2003. Further information on the Master’s Degree Programme.

Interdisciplinary Gender Studies

We offer a minor study programme in English called Interdisciplinary Gender Studies. This study programme is designed for international students and exchange students with special interest in gender studies. Study programme consists of Basic Studies (25 ECTS) and Intermediate studies (35 ECTS).

Basic studies consists of 5 different study modules, 5 ECTS each. Students can choose between courses in English or individual study through faculty examinations or forming a study groups.

We offer 3-4 courses in English every year. Number of courses may vary.

Teaching in English Spring 2011

Feminist Science Studies
FT Venla Oikkonen
FRI 10–12 U38 B114, 21.1.–15.4.2011

This course introduces the students to the field of feminist science studies, its history, research questions, and methodologies. The first half of the course examines science as part of larger social and cultural structures, focusing on the question of gender and knowledge (feminist epistemology) and the ways in which the history of science is implicated in discourses of gender, sexuality, and race. In the second half of the course, we investigate assumptions of gender, sexuality, and race underlying scientific practices, explore the role of visual representation in science, and analyze the gendered languages of both professional science and its popularization. Throughout the course, we approach these issues through a selection of set texts (scholarly articles, book chapters) and a range of examples from popular discourses of science (news media, magazines, television shows, science documentaries, advertising). While the course focuses on the natural sciences, we also reflect on the production of knowledge in the humanities and social sciences in general and gender and women’s studies in particular. The course provides the students with a critical conceptual framework that helps them situate the theories and practices of academic disciplines within a social, cultural, and philosophical context, and is therefore useful for students writing their Bachelor’s thesis or planning their Master’s theses. The course also aims at improving the students’ analytical skills through in-class exercises that examine different types of science texts. The requirements for the completion of the course include regular attendance, participation in in-class exercises and discussions, reading the set texts before each class (ca. 10-30 pages/week = altogether ca. 200 pages), and writing two 4-page analytical assignments. No prior knowledge of feminist science studies is required. However, the students are expected to be familiar with the basic concepts of gender studies (for example, having completed a gender studies introductory course or an equivalent).

Registration to the course in WebOodi 7.12.2010-16.1.2011.