Gender and Development Studies (GDS)

The Gender and Development Studies (GDS) program provides an interdisciplinary and critical understanding of gender relations in development processes. It examines how power, inequality, social norms, and institutional structures shape development outcomes across diverse contexts.

The program equips students with theoretical foundations and practical tools to analyze gender dynamics in public policy, governance, economics, migration, climate change, and social justice. GDS integrates feminist political economy, intersectionality, human rights approaches, and gender-responsive policy analysis, enabling students to contribute meaningfully to inclusive and equitable development. The curriculum emphasizes research skills, critical thinking, ethical engagement, and applied practice in both local and global development settings.

Areas of Specialization

Gender, Governance & Public Policy
Policy & Institutions
Gender, Rights & Social Justice
Human Rights & Inclusion

Core Areas of Study

  • Gender Analysis
  • Rights & Human Security
  • Migration, Work & Care
  • Gender & Development Practice
  • Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice
  • Institutions & Social Change

Preferred Background

The GDS program welcomes applicants from diverse disciplines and professional backgrounds, especially those interested in gender equality, inclusive development, human rights, governance, migration, labor, social policy, and development practice.

Course Structure

Required Courses

  1. Gender and development: Principles and concepts
  2. Science, technology and gender
  3. Gender, culture and human development
  4. Gender and human rights

Elective Courses

  1. Gender and labor migration in Asia
  2. Gender and the economy
  3. Forced migration and human trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region
  4. Design, Data, and Justice in a Digital World
  5. SOGIESC and Inclusive Development
  6. Gender, power and politics
  7. Gender analysis and gender responsive development planning
  8. Gender, peace and security

Career Prospective

Graduates develop analytical and practical competencies to work as gender specialists, policy analysts, program managers, researchers, advocates, and practitioners across governments, international organizations, NGOs/CSOs, research institutes, and the private sector.