Program


MASTER'S DEGREE
GENDER(S), THEORIES OF DIFFERENCE AND THE
SOCIAL RELATIONS OF SEX



Fields of study and research

Anthropology
Visual Arts
History : Gender, Feminism and Women
Foreign Languages and Cultures
Literature
Philosophy
Social Psychology
Psychoanalysis
Educational Science
Political Science
Sociology





Aims

The Master's Degree "Gender(s), theories of difference and the social relations of sex" at Paris VIII is one of the only programs in France to confer degrees in this field. It aims to question the construction, representation and indoctrination of identity and sexual difference in societies, cultures, institutions, discourses and texts. The question of the relationship between the sexes affects every social practice and intersects every field of thought. Therefore, the degree "Gender(s), theories of difference and the social relations of sex" favors a transdisciplinary approach, corresponding to the subject matter.

Women's and gender studies have a transnational history and purpose. The global reach of research in this field is linked to the political and theoretical need to consider the articulation between specific cultures and their gender constructions, as well as between national or colonial politics and gender politics and policies. New cultural arrangements and the new dynamic of relations between the sexes caused by postcolonial circumstances lend an urgency to the study of gender relations in a postcolonial context.

The Master's Degree "Gender(s), theories of difference and the social relations of sex" is a multidisciplinary program which draws from the following fields of study and research: anthropology, arts, history, foreign languages and cultures, literature, philosophy, psychology, psychoanalysis, educational science, political science, social science.


The Master's Year 1 allows for:

- research training for the Master's Year 2

The Master's Year 2 allows for :

various jobs and recruitment competitions (See Job Opportunities)
- preparation for the Ph.D. in Women's and Gender Studies from Paris VIII, as well as specialty Ph.D.'s, in the various disciplines involved in the coursework (in particular, history, literature, psychology, educational science, political science, sociology).


For any questions regarding the articulation between the Master's program and the Ph.D. program, please contact the secretary of the Center for Women's and Gender studies, (fzenati@univ-paris8.fr) and enquire with the professors responsible for the individual disciplines (See Supervisory Staff).



Job Opportunities

The Master's degree " Gender(s), theories of difference and the social relations of sex" can lead to a career in education, research, women's rights, humanitarian and social work (national and international private companies and NGOs), politics (national, regional or local government task forces), international relations, culture, journalism, communication.


Entry Requirements

General conditions:

The candidate must hold an undergraduate degree.
The Master's program is open to several different disciplinary backgrounds. There are two conditions:
- either the Master's candidate has a background in one of the disciplines represented in our program (anthropology, history, foreign language and culture, literature, philosophy, psychology, educational science, political science, sociology)
- or the candidate's background would allow him or her to pursue a research project in one of our fields of study (i.e. studio arts, film, law).

Entry Requirements for the Master's Year 1 (M1) :

The candidate's admission is not automatic and is carried out in two steps :
a) review of the application files (diplomas, research project) by the equivalence committee for foreign candidates and by the general admissions committee for all candidates.
b) after acceptance by the equivalence and/or admission committee, the student will choose a research advisor from a list of faculty suggested by the commission according to the proposed project. The research advisor makes the final admission decision after a meeting with him or her.
The candidate can appeal the research advisors decision to the admission committee.

Entry Requirements for the Master's Year 2 (M2) :

The application consists of the same components (diplomas, research project and, if possible, examples of work carried out by the candidate).

Acceptance is possible with an "ancien regime" Master's degree ("Maîtrise") or an M1. (At least 6 EC core courses are required as well as a preparatory thesis. The student must have received a distinction of "Assez Bien" or higher). All acceptances are subject to the decision of the admissions committee.

Requirements for passing from M1 to M2 :

The student must have received a distinction of "Assez Bien" after adjusting for the grades received in EC courses and for the research thesis.

The application file may be downloaded from the Paris 8 University website (http://admission.univ-paris8.fr), and then sent to the Center's admission committee for consideration.

For any questions about the application procedure or the application documents, please contact Anne Bourse (anne.bourse03@univ-paris8.fr) or the research directors in charge of admissions, Marie-Dominique Garnier (Marie-Dominique.Garnier@univ-paris8.fr) and Nadia Setti (nadia.setti@neuf.fr).