The first semester (17 weeks) will focus on theories, and methodologies in Women’s Law and inter-related human rights. The first semester will be comprised of lectures, seminars, fieldwork and research methodology practicals. The courses in this semester, which are all core courses are:

Theories and Perspectives in Women’s Law                 MWL 501       20 units

Research Methodologies and Methods in Women’s Law  MWL 502       20 units

Practical Paper                                                      MWL 503       20 units 

Human Rights and Women                                        MWL 504       20 units

The first semester will normally be conducted from January to May in the year in which the programme begins, although the University reserves the right to vary the time when the programme commences.

The second semester which will run for 15 weeks, normally commencing in mid June of the year in which a programme commences. In this semester candidates will take two options from the list of optional courses offered in the MSWL programme, which are:

Women, Access to Resources and Law                MWL 511    20 units

Masculinities, Gender and Law                           MWL 512    20 units

Women, Commerce and Law in Africa                 MWL 513    20 units

Women, Law Reform and Social Justice Strategies MWL 514    20 units

Women and the Criminal Justice System              MWL 516    20 units

Women, Family, Social Realities and Law             MWL 517    20 units

Gender, Law and Sexuality                                MWL 518    20 units

Woman, Labour and Social Security Law              MWL 519    20 units

The SEARCWL shall determine which optional courses will be offered in each programme.

The SEARCWL may prescribe the maximum number of students who may take an optional course, the normal upper limit per optional course being 10 students. The SEARCWL may also prescribe the minimum number of students required for the mounting of a course, which would normally be not less than 4 students.

During the second semester candidates will determine their dissertation topic for the third semester and develop their dissertation proposal and field work methodology and methods under the guidance of supervisors approved by the Departmental Board of the SEARCWL and appointed by the Director of the SEARCWL.

In the third semester each candidate shall conduct field research and present for examination a 20 000-25 000 word dissertation in a selected field in Human Rights and Women’s Law (see 3.2.2.1 above). The research for the dissertation should be carried out in the candidate’s home country, the writing up will, normally, be conducted at the SEARCWL, University of Zimbabwe.

SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT/EXAMINATION

The scheme of assessment for each course in the course work components of the degree shall be a combination of different forms of assessment:

Semester 1

Theories and Perspectives in Women’s Law                                       MWL 501

Human Rights and Women                                                              MWL 504

In each of the above courses candidates will be required to submit one or two written assignment which will constitute 35% of the total marks for the course. And write an eight (8) hour research examination which will constitute 65% of the total marks for the course.

Research Methodologies and Methods in Women’s Law              MWL 502

There shall be two components to this course:

1 Exploring research methodologies and methods which shall be assessed as follows:

By two written assignments which shall constitute 25% of the marks for the course; and

A six hour research examination which shall constitute 50% of the marks for the course

2 ILS/ITC which shall be assessed as follows:                

By practical/course work component which shall constitute 10% of the marks for the course and a two hour examination which shall constitute 15% of the marks for the course.

Research Examinations

Candidates will be given the question paper for the research examination at 9.00 on the morning of the examination and will be required to hand in their completed paper by 17:00 on the same day.(Provided that in the Research Methodologies and Methods in Women’s Law the research paper shall be of six (6) hours duration.)  Candidates may write such examinations anywhere designated by the Director of the SEARCWL as an examination venue within the SEARCWL premises.

Practical Paper                                                         MWL 503

The Practical Paper shall be comprised as follows: 75% of the marks shall be awarded based on assessment of the candidate in the fieldwork component of the first semester programme, 25% of the marks shall be determined by a two hour practical examination at the end of the first semester in the planning of a research or funding proposal or similar document.

Candidates in the Practical shall be required to submit with their field report a consolidation of their findings and a recommended action plan, which together shall not exceed in length one thousand (1000) words in length and which shall comprise 10% of the marks awarded for the field report.

Semester 2

In each optional course offered the mode of assessment shall be a combination of assessment of seminar presentations, written assignments, practical exercises and an eight (8) hour research examination. The research examinations shall follow the format prescribed in 4.1.1.

The Departmental Board of the SEARCWL shall advise candidates, in writing, at the end of the first semester what form the assessment for each of the optional courses on offer in that academic year in the second semester shall take.  However, normally, the assessment will be constituted as follows:

Seminar Presentations -      15%

Written Assignment    -       20%

Practical Exercise       -       15%

Research Examination -       50%

4.1.3 Evidence of Independent Work

In all presentations, assignments and practical exercises, regardless of the course being pursued, each student shall be required to submit a separate written assignment or separate evidence of work carried out for presentations or practical exercises even if the initial preparation and consultations were carried out in the form of group work.

Semester 3

Dissertation                                                                      MWL 560

Candidates shall submit a dissertation between 20 000-25 000 words on an approved topic (see 3.3 above), normally, not later than 30 April in the year after that in which they enrol for the Masters in Women’s Law. Provided that where the timing of the course is altered an alternative submission date will be set for the dissertation. Candidates shall be required to submit with their dissertation a consolidation of their findings and a recommended action plan which together shall not exceed in length one thousand (1000) words in length and which shall comprise 10 % of the marks awarded for the dissertation.

Candidates shall submit one printed copy of the dissertation and an electronic copy of the dissertation. The dissertation and the electronic copy shall be prepared using such word processing programme/s as is, from time to time, prescribed by the Director of the SEARCWL