Listed below are the requirements for the Women’s and Gender Studies major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all university and college general degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. We encourage you to consult your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track towards earning your degree. You can read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages. 

Women's and Gender Studies Major Requirements

The Women’s and Gender Studies major requires 30 credits drawn from Women’s and Gender Studies and cross-listed classes. The WGS major requires that 18 credits be taken in WGS courses. Completion of , , or satisfies the L&S research requirement.

At least 15 credits in the major must be taken upper-division courses in residence at 51����. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 in 51���� major courses attempted. In addition, the College requires that students attain a 2.0 GPA in all major courses attempted, including any transfer work.

Majors should consult regularly with their advisor in Women's and Gender Studies about their course of study.

The major requires completion of the following:

¹

Students may not receive credit for both and . Only one of these courses can be taken for credit. 

Electives

Students must take 18 credits of approved elective courses to reach a total of 30 credits. Of these, 6 credits must be in WGS subject area courses; 12 credits may be taken in WGS courses or from approved electives offered by other programs and departments. See the list of approved courses below and contact the WGS advisor with questions.

Numerous courses in a wide variety of disciplines have been approved as electives for the WGS major. For information about whether a special topics course in another program might be approved as an elective for WGS, please contact Women's and Gender Studies.

¹

and are jointly offered. In other words, they are the same course offered under different subjects. Only one can be taken for credit.

²

and are jointly offered. In other words, they are the same course offered under different subjects. Only one can be taken for credit.

We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.

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Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

Eligibility and Admission

To pursue this certificate, students must be enrolled in a graduate degree program or already hold a graduate degree. Acceptance to this graduate certificate also requires a minimum 2.75 GPA from the undergraduate degree as well as a letter of intent explaining the applicant's reasons for graduate study.

Application

• Admission to a graduate certificate program requires formal student application through the Graduate School admissions application system, including the required admissions application fee.
• Certificate programs will inform the Graduate School of their admission recommendation for an applicant. The final admission decision is made by the Graduate School.
• Early application to the certificate program is recommended; late application is possible, but may incur delays for certificate conferral related to time required for credit tracking.
• Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted into a certificate program.

Credits and Courses

The Graduate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies requires completion of 15 credits in approved courses with an overall GPA of 3.0. The following are required:

No more than 6 credits in U/G courses can apply toward the certificate, and a maximum of 3 credits in independent study may count toward the 15 credits required for the certificate. Thesis and research credits may not be counted toward the certificate. 

Approved Electives outside of WGS

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

The Women's and Gender Studies MA Program accepts fall admission only. 

Admission

In addition to satisfying  for admission, applicants must apply online via the 51���� Graduate School Admission Application. Additionally, the following materials must be submitted to be considered for admission:

• Official or unofficial transcripts for all work done at higher education/post-secondary institutions
• Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional work
• A sample of the applicant’s written work that demonstrates the applicant’s critical thinking, research, and writing skills
• A letter of intent (reason statement) explaining the applicant’s reasons for graduate study

scores are not required for application to the WGS MA Program. However, 51���� may require GRE scores for fellowships or awards. 

Applicants may be admitted with course deficiencies provided that the deficiencies amount to no more than two courses. Students are expected to satisfy deficiency requirements within three enrolled semesters. The deficiencies are monitored by the Graduate School and the program. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted toward the degree.

Credits and Courses

To earn an MA in Women’s and Gender Studies, students must complete 30 credits. Fifteen credits are in required Women’s and Gender Studies courses (15 with thesis option):

¹

Excluding �³ҳ���497,�³ҳ���700, WGS 990, and WGS 999. 

No more than six credits may be in undergraduate/graduate (U/G) courses, and no more than six transfer credits may apply. Students may not count more than three credits of WGS 999 toward the degree.

Electives

Application to all graduate programs are completed through the 51���� Graduate School. Please see their website for detailed information about the application process and contact them with questions. 

Teaching and Research Assistantships are the primary form of financial support for women’s & gender studies graduate students. These positions provide a salary and tuition remission. Some small scholarships are also available. Click below for more details.

Women's and Gender Studies MA Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Women’s and Gender Studies MA program will be able to: 

• Demonstrate an understanding of feminist, women's, and gender issues in local, national, and/or global contexts. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of the interrelatedness of gender and other identity categories such as class, race, sexuality, age, or ability status. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of relevant perspectives within feminisms and feminist theory. 
• Properly apply theoretical terms and concepts of feminist and gender analysis.
• Demonstrate mastery of relevant theoretical terms and concepts of feminist and gender analysis. 
• Productively analyze complex material using gender as a framework. 
• Write a well-structured, well-argued paper using relevant academic sources. 

Admission Requirements

Effective Spring 2026, admission to the Women's and Gender Studies, MA/Library and Information Science, MLIS coordinated program is suspended. 

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

The Women's and Gender MA Program accepts fall admissions only. Applications received by January 15 will be given full consideration. 

Admission

Students are admitted to both graduate programs separately, and admission requirements are consistent with those specified by the 51���� Graduate School, the Women's and Gender Studies MA of the College of Letters and Science, and the Library and Information Science MLIS of the School of Information Studies.

Application to all graduate programs are completed through the 51���� Graduate School. Please see their website for detailed information about the application process and contact them with questions.

In addition to the standard requirements for a graduate school application, the Women’s & Gender Studies program will require three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional work and a sample of the applicant’s written work that demonstrates the applicant’s critical thinking, research, and writing skills. 

Credit and Courses

The MA in Women's and Gender Studies (WGS) normally has a minimum requirement of 30 credits from Women's and Gender Studies courses. For the coordinated MA WGS/MLIS degree program, however, students can substitute 6 credits in Information Studies for 6 credits of WGS courses. This program, therefore, requires a total of 54 credits. Students must complete the 30 credits required for the MLIS component and the 24 credits in WGS courses as specified below.

Women’s and Gender Studies

¹

Excluding �³ҳ���497, �³ҳ���700, WGS 990, WGS 999.

Total WGS credits: 24 (maximum of 6 U/G cr; and maximum 3 cr of WGS 999)

Library and Information Science

Total MLIS Credits: 30 (min of 33 with SOIS thesis option)

Total Credits for Coordinated Program: 54 (57 with SOIS thesis)

The credits for the coordinated program would typically be completed in both programs at the same time, rather than one program after the other. A student not completing the requirements for the coordinated degree program would need to complete all requirements for an individual program in order to receive a degree.

Important

You must refer to the catalog pages of both individual master's programs to ensure that you meet all requirements for both degrees.

Teaching and Research Assistantships are the primary form of financial support for WGS graduate students. These positions provide a salary and tuition remission. Some small scholarships are also available. Click below for more details.

Women's and Gender Studies MA Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Women’s and Gender Studies MA program will be able to: 

• Demonstrate an understanding of feminist, women's, and gender issues in local, national, and/or global contexts. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of the interrelatedness of gender and other identity categories such as class, race, sexuality, age, or ability status. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of relevant perspectives within feminisms and feminist theory. 
• Properly apply theoretical terms and concepts of feminist and gender analysis.
• Demonstrate mastery of relevant theoretical terms and concepts of feminist and gender analysis. 
• Productively analyze complex material using gender as a framework. 
• Write a well-structured, well-argued paper using relevant academic sources. 

Admission Requirements

Effective Spring 2026, admission to the Women's and Gender Studies, MA/Social Work, MSW coordinated program is suspended. 

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

The Women's and Gender Studies MA Program accepts fall admissions only. Applications received by January 15 will be given full consideration.

Admission

Students are admitted to both graduate programs separately, and  are consistent with those specified by the 51���� Graduate School, the  program in the College of Letters and Science, and the  of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare.

Application to all graduate programs are completed through the 51���� Graduate School. Please see their website for detailed information about the application process and contact them with questions.

In addition to the standard requirements for a graduate school application, the Women’s & Gender Studies program will require three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional work and a sample of the applicant’s written work that demonstrates the applicant’s critical thinking, research, and writing skills. 

Credit and Courses

The MA in Women's and Gender Studies (WGS) normally has a minimum requirement of 30 credits from Women's and Gender Studies courses. For the coordinated WGS MA/MSW degree program, however, students can substitute 6 credits in Social Work courses for 6 credits of WGS courses. Similarly, the Social Work master's program will accept 6 credits of WGS course work to satisfy the 6 required elective credits for the MSW degree. Because the MSW degree has a distinction in the number of credits required depending on bachelor's degree type, the total number of credits required to complete the Coordinated WGS/MSW program will range from 52 credits (24 from WGS and 28 from MSW when holding a bachelor's in social work) to 76 credits (24 from WGS and 52 from MSW when a bachelor's degree is from another discipline and needing to complete the Foundation Curriculum in addition to the Advanced Curriculum).

Women’s and Gender Studies

¹

Excluding �³ҳ���497, �³ҳ���700, WGS 990, and WGS 999. 

Total WGS credits: 24 (maximum of 6 U/G cr; and maximum 3 cr of WGS 999)

Master of Social Work

Minimum Total Credits for Coordinated Program: 52 (for those admitted to the MSW Social Work Advanced Curriculum - Advanced Standing).

For students without a social work baccalaureate or otherwise needing the Foundation Coursework, the total credits will sum to 76.

Teaching and Research Assistantships are the primary form of financial support for women’s & gender studies graduate students. These positions provide a salary and tuition remission. Some small scholarships are also available. Click below for more details.

Requirements

Students who minor in Women’s and Gender Studies are required to take 18 credits drawn from Women’s and Gender Studies and cross-listed courses, at least 9 credits of which must be completed in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in residence at 51����. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA in all minor courses attempted, including any transfer work. The following courses are required for the minor:

¹

Students may not receive credit for both and . Only one of these courses can be taken for credit. 

Electives

Students must take an additional 9 credits of elective courses to reach a total of 18 credits. Approved electives include WGS courses and courses offered by other programs and departments; see the list below.

Numerous courses in a wide variety of disciplines have been approved as electives for the WGS major. For information about whether a special topics course in another program might be approved as an elective for WGS, please contact Women's and Gender Studies.