Graduate Certificate in Women and Gender Studies

The Graduate Certificate in Women and Gender Studies is designed as a complement to a graduate disciplinary degree program. The Certificate provides graduate students with opportunities to think in an interdisciplinary fashion about women and gender, and to learn from a variety of scholarly and methodological approaches such as critical feminist, race, and legal theory, cultural studies, political economy, queer theory as well as traditional disciplinary methodologies.

Students who are currently enrolled in a graduate disciplinary degree or a professional degree program are encouraged to apply for the Women and Gender Studies Graduate Certificate early in their course of graduate studies. 

Requirements:

" Six semester hours of required course work in the Women and Gender Studies Program. Neither of these may be taken as an independent study.

WMST 5090: Feminist Theories
WMST 5190: Feminist Methodologies

" Two additional courses approved by the student s advisor focusing on women, gender, race, sexuality, class, nation, and/or feminism. While it is advisable that both courses be taken outside the student s home department, students may, with prior approval of their advisors in Women and Gender Studies, take one of these courses within their home departments, provided the course has a strong interdisciplinary focus.

" A scholarly paper of approximately 15 pages or a creative project along disciplinary lines accompanied by a short explanation of its relevance to Women and Gender Studies. Students must turn in their papers or projects to their advisors by November 15 or April 1 of the semester in which they receive their certificate. A copy of the paper or explanation of the creative project must be placed on file in the Women and Gender Studies cottage.

" Independent study courses taken with faculty not affiliated with Women and Gender Studies will not count for the graduate certificate. Independent study courses taken with faculty members who have a formal association with Women and Gender Studies may count only in exceptional circumstances. 


Procedures:

To be accepted in the Certificate program a student must:

1. Fill out the Graduate Certificate Application.

2. Write a statement of approximately 500 word indicating interests, plans and objectives within the field of women and gender studies, what work the student has already done in the area of women's studies/gender studies, and if applicable, any undergraduate work the student has done in this area.

3. Submit the application along with the statement and a copy of a current transcript to the Graduate Certificate Committee at the Women and Gender Studies cottage, for approval. The Graduate Committee consisting of graduate faculty from a variety of disciplines meets to review proposals in October, February and May.

4. Once accepted students must locate a Women and Gender Studies advisor from the on-line list of graduate Women and Gender Studies faculty, Senior Scholars and Affiliated Faculty. In selecting an advisor students should consider the faculty's area of expertise and how well this matches the student's interest. It is advisable to select a graduate advisor earlier. Also, the Graduate Certificate Committee or the Director of Women and Gender Studies can help applicants locate an advisor.

5. The faculty advisor is responsible for approving and seeing that the student completes their course work and writes an acceptable final paper. Download the Graduate Certificate Worksheet form here. Students should meet with their faculty advisor at least one during the academic year. A student will receive the Graduate Certificate when the faculty advisor has signed the final approval form, which is available in the Hazel Gates-Woodruff Cottage or on-line. Typically certificates are awarded during the spring graduation ceremony.

6. Students should check with the Women and Gender Studies Program for a list of additional courses that fulfill the requirements every semester.

Students interested in the Graduate Certificate in Women and Gender Studies can call 303-492-8923 or visit the office at the Hazel Gates-Woodruff Cottage on Broadway. 

 

Graduate Certificate Forms

Graduate Certificate Courses
Graduate Certificate Application
Sign Off Sheet
Advisor Verification Form