Master of Population, Gender and Development (MPGD)

Master of Population, Gender and Development (MPGD)

The Master of Population, Gender and Development (MPGD) is a two-year graduate program offered by the School of Development and Social Engineering (SDSE), Pokhara University. SDSE is a constituent school under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Pokhara University, located in Dhungepatan, Pokhara.

MPGD places development at the center of the curriculum while treating population and gender as cross-cutting areas of study. The program combines development theory, demographic analysis, gender studies, economics, governance, research methods, policy, internship, and dissertation work.

Quick Highlights

What MPGD Focuses On

The program studies development through the connected issues of population and gender. Rather than treating these areas separately, MPGD examines how demographic change, gender relations, poverty, environment, migration, governance, human development, policy, and social conditions interact.

Its academic purpose is to develop theoretical understanding alongside technical and research skills. Students work with demographic and gender analysis as well as broader development questions, giving the course both an analytical and research-oriented character.

Eligibility

Applicants can enter the MPGD program through either of the following academic routes:

• a three-year bachelor’s degree in any discipline; or

• a two-year bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least two years of professional or teaching experience.

All applicants are required to take an entrance examination as part of the admission process.

Admission and Selection

Admission involves more than the entrance examination alone.

Eligible applicants attend a written entrance examination followed by an interview. The final merit list is prepared from a combined assessment of:

• entrance examination performance;

• interview performance; and

• academic records.

Applications are screened before candidates proceed to the selection stages. Under special conditions, provisional admission may be granted when required documents are incomplete, with the remaining documents required within one month from the beginning of regular classes.

Credit Structure

MPGD carries 63 credit hours distributed across five academic components.

The research component is a substantial part of the degree and includes internship-related work, guided readings, and dissertation study.

Subjects by Semester

Semester I

The first semester establishes the conceptual and analytical base of the course.

• Introduction to Population Studies

• Fundamentals of Economics

• Evolution and Development of Gender Studies

• Principles of Development Studies

• Statistics and Mathematics

• Migration and Urbanization

• Research Methodology

Semester II

The second semester places greater attention on the relationship between gender and wider development processes.

• Gender, Environment and Development

• Gender, Poverty and Development

• Decentralization and Local Governance

Semester III

Study moves toward applied population analysis, development policy, planning, and field experience.

• Economic Development and Planning

• Contemporary Population, Health and Gender Issues

• Development Policies and Programmes

• Demography of Nepal

• Methods of Population and Gender Analysis

• Internship

Semester IV

The final semester combines development-oriented subjects with independent academic work.

• Human Development

• Project Management

• Fundamentals of Human Rights

• Guided Readings

• Information Technology for Social Sciences

• Dissertation

Research and Analytical Work

Research is embedded throughout MPGD rather than appearing only in the final dissertation.

Students first encounter Research Methodology and Statistics and Mathematics, then move into Methods of Population and Gender Analysis. Internship, guided readings, and dissertation work add applied and independent research components in the later semesters.

This structure can help students build abilities in:

• demographic analysis;

• population and gender research;

• interpretation of development issues;

• research design and methodology;

• policy and program analysis;

• quantitative and analytical work;

• academic reading and writing; and

• independent dissertation research.

The level of skill developed depends on coursework, research practice, internship participation, and individual academic performance.

Internship and Dissertation

The third semester includes an internship, giving students a field-based component within the graduate curriculum.

The fourth semester includes guided readings and a dissertation. These components allow students to move from taught coursework toward more independent study of an issue related to population, gender, or development.

Together, the internship and dissertation account for the program’s emphasis on connecting academic analysis with research practice.

Academic Schedule and Completion Period

MPGD normally takes two years to complete, with two semesters in each academic year.

The academic schedule generally follows:

• Fall Semester: November to March

• Spring Semester: April to October

The semester dates may vary slightly in a particular year.

Students are normally expected to complete the program within two years but are allowed up to four years from admission to complete the course. Where coursework has been completed within that period, an additional year for thesis completion may be granted in cases meeting the specified extension conditions.

Academic and Professional Direction

MPGD is oriented toward students interested in population, gender, development, policy, and social research. Its stated academic purpose includes preparing development professionals and academics with theoretical understanding and practical research knowledge.

The curriculum is particularly relevant to work or further academic study involving:

• population studies;

• gender and development;

• development policy;

• demographic research;

• social research;

• governance;

• development planning; and

• population and gender analysis.

Career outcomes depend on a graduate’s research ability, experience, academic performance, additional qualifications, and the requirements of individual organizations or positions.

FAQ

How long is MPGD at Pokhara University?

MPGD has a normal duration of two years and is organized into four semesters.

How many credits does MPGD carry?

The program carries a total of 63 credit hours covering core, multidisciplinary, analytical, specialized, and research components.

What is the eligibility for MPGD?

Applicants need either a three-year bachelor’s degree in any discipline or a two-year bachelor’s degree with at least two years of professional or teaching experience.

Is there an entrance examination for MPGD?

Yes. Applicants take a written entrance examination followed by an interview. Academic records are also included when preparing the admission merit list.

Does MPGD include an internship?

Yes. Internship is included in the third semester as part of the program’s research and applied study component.

Does MPGD require a dissertation?

Yes. Dissertation is included in the fourth semester together with guided readings and other final-semester courses.

What are the main areas studied in MPGD?

The course covers population studies, gender studies, development studies, economics, migration, governance, demography, research methodology, human development, policy, project management, human rights, and population and gender analysis.