Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, M.A.

Our M.A. program offers innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to the study of gender, sexuality, race, class, and nation. The Institute for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies’ cutting-edge academic program focuses on four crucial areas of study: Black Feminist Thought, Transnational WGSS, Sexualities, Queer and Trans Studies, and Social Change and Applied WGSS. The interests of our core faculty members span the globe, including the African diaspora, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and North America, with an emphasis on issues related to globalization, sexualities, and culture, as well as local and transnational articulations of feminism. The M.A. prepares students for doctoral work in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and other disciplines, as well as careers in non-profit organizations, the social service sector, the political arena, and private enterprise. Some of our students pursue work in creative fields as artists, musicians, poets, journalists, or filmmakers.

To prepare for these career possibilities, WGSS provides the option to choose between two culminating project options:

Thesis Research: Examples include empirical research and theoretical inquiry.
Capstone Project: Examples include internships and community organizing or creative pursuits, paired with a structured academic paper.

Applicants may obtain additional information about the Institute for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies by contacting the Director of Graduate Studies at the addresses above.

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Institute for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies has the following requirements:

Three letters of recommendation addressing the ability of the student to undertake graduate study.
A statement of educational and/or career goals.
A writing sample of up to 30 pages in length.

Students seeking an M.A. degree are admitted to the program once a year (to begin in fall semester). Applicants seeking graduate assistantships must submit all application materials to the Office of Admissions-Graduate Programs by April 15^th, with a March 15^th priority deadine to be considered for the first decision-making process. Later applications may be considered. All applicants are considered for graduate assistantships.

Degree Requirements (36 Hours)

Students must receive a B minus or above in all core and elective WGSS courses, and maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.

Required Courses (15 Hours)

WGSS 8001 - Feminist Theories 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 8002 - Globalization and Gender 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 8004 - Feminist Methodologies 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 8005 - Proseminar in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 1 to 2 Credit Hours (taken twice for a total of 3 hours)
WGSS 8007 - Advanced Black Feminisms 3 Credit Hours

Elective courses (15 Hours)

Select 15 hours of coursework with the WGSS prefix, including WGSS courses cross-listed with other departments or approved courses in other departments.

Areas of Specialization

The following list of classes should be treated as a menu of options in the course catalog. This means the classes have been taught previously, but students should know that they are not necessarily offered every semester and may not be offered during their coursework.

Thesis or Capstone Courses

• For Academic Thesis: WGSS 8999 - Thesis Research 1 to 9 Credit Hours (6 Hours required for degree)
• For Capstone: WGSS 8500 - Capstone 1 to 9 Credit Hours (3 Hours required for degree) AND one additional course from the elective courses area above (3 Hours required for degree)

Thesis or Capstone Pathways

Students must declare thesis or capstone track plan. A completed thesis or capstone project approved by the student’s committee is required for graduation.

Thesis Requirements

• A thesis committee with a minimum of 3 faculty members. A minimum of two (2) shall be WGSS faculty members (Core or Affiliate). At least 1 member must be Core Faculty.

• A thesis proposal and proposal defense

• An academic thesis and thesis defense

• Final submission of the thesis that adheres to CAS rules

• WGSS 8999 - Thesis Research (at least 6 Credit Hours Required)

Capstone Requirements

A capstone committee consisting of 1 primary advisor and 1 additional ancillary member. Primary advisors should be WGSS faculty members (Core or Affiliate). Students are encouraged to find Affiliate Faculty for their additional mentor.
A structured academic paper.
WGSS 8500 - Capstone (at least 3 Credit Hours Required).
A public presentation of capstone projects.

Graduate Assistants Requirements

Graduate assistants are required to enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours each for the fall/spring semesters and 9 credit hours for the summer semester. These credit hours will consist of courses required for the prescribed program of study, as well as additional hours of WGSS 8999 - Thesis Research and WGSS 8990 - Directed Research .

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, M.A.

Additional Admission Requirements

Degree Requirements (36 Hours)

Required Courses (15 Hours)

Elective courses (15 Hours)

Areas of Specialization

Black Feminist Thought

Sexualities, Queer, and Trans Studies

Transnational WGSS

Social Change and Applied WGSS

Additional Electives

Skills/Methods Courses in Other Units

Thesis or Capstone Courses

Thesis or Capstone Pathways

Thesis Requirements

Capstone Requirements

Graduate Assistants Requirements