Women and Gender in Global Perspectives

Gender Relations in International Development (GRID)

Interdisciplinary Minor for Graduate Students

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

During the last half century, profound changes have taken place in the lives of women all over the world. Today women live longer, have fewer children, are more likely to be literate, to work outside the home, and to possess political and legal rights. At the same time, women still comprise 70% of the world’s 1.3 billion poor, 2/3 of the world’s illiterate population, and own less than 1/10 of the world’s property. In this age of global economic transformation, it is especially necessary for researchers and practitioners to examine who gains and who loses from new policies, to assess the disparities in the impacts of reforms on women, men, and children, and to study the successful strategies and policies that appear.

The WGGP Program coordinates an interdisciplinary graduate minor for students: Gender Relations in International Development - the GRID program. The GRID minor is available to graduate students enrolled in any of the more than thirty participating departments at the University (each department has a GRID representative who coordinates the minor with the WGGP Program). Arrangements can be made for students in non-participating departments by contacting the WGGP Program. The students satisfy their department’s requirements while also developing competence in issues of gender and development relevant to that discipline. Upon completion of their studies, they are awarded the GRID minor certification as well as their disciplinary degree.

ADMISSION TO GRID PROGRAM:

All graduate students at or entering the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are eligible to sign up for the GRID interdisciplinary minor. Contact the WGGP Program at the address below and come by to fill out the one page admissions form or you can download the GRID minor form here. We can also arrange for you to talk to a GRID representative or student participating in the program.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GRID INTERDISCIPLINARY MINOR:

Core Seminar on Gender Relations in International Develoment (cross listed as HCD 495G/GWS 380 with the Departments of Human and Community Development and Gender and Women’s Studies; offered annually in the spring semester).
Two courses from the approved GRID core electives

Additional related courses on women, gender, and development are offered by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Advising for the minor is done jointly by the student’s home department, which assigns a GRID advisor, and the Director of WGGP.

RESOURCES

Faculty: The program draws upon an internationally recognized faculty representing a wide range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds.
Library Resources: The Women and Gender Resources Library is a major resource for international research on women. The unit provides professional reference assistance and has the capability to generate computerized annotated bibliographies upon request. The WGGP Program provides a small collection of policy-related reference materials available for use in the research room, 323 International Studies Building.
GRID Students: The program facilitates contact with current and former GRID students who constitute a network of support and expertise.
The Women and Gender in Global Perspectives Program: The WGGP Program is an academic and research unit that engages in, encourages, and facilitates the development of research, teaching (runs the GRID minor), and service activities focused on the role of women in developing countries and the impact of international development on women, men, and children throughout the world. A free newsletter, Perspectives: Research Notes and News, is available online or in print by contacting the WGGP Program.