Women and Gender Studies

The Women and Gender Studies certificate program meets the needs of graduate students interested in a wide variety of careers that require them to be well-rounded citizens and critical thinkers by 1) requiring research concerning under-represented and under-studied populations; 2) encouraging feminist praxis by requiring students to participate in professional development activities; and 3) educating students through course material and experiences related to topics, issues, theories, methods, and/or research about women and gender.

To be admitted to the WGS Certificate Program, the applicant must be a current degree-seeking student in a graduate program at an educational institution of recognized standing, with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Submit a short statement of purpose (no more than two double-spaced pages) indicating 1) reasons for pursuing a graduate certificate in WGS, 2) the experiences you’ve had (e.g., informal, academic, professional, volunteer) that are related to this graduate certificate, and 3) your professional goals and how this graduate certificate program will help you accomplish those goals.

To apply, please go to the Admission Information page. Decisions will be made on an ongoing, rolling basis.

Course requirements for the graduate certificate in WGS will build upon existing graduate curriculum, most of which are accessible to all disciplines. This program requires 9 credit hours of coursework (may be combined with coursework for your primary degree program); 1 credit hour of professional development; a research component worth 1 credit hour; and a community project or grant application worth 3 credit hours, for a total of 14 credit hours.

Current List of Graduate Courses that are suggested by WGS (list is not all-inclusive, and some programs are restricted to their enrolled students):

Alison Bertolini, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English and Women and Gender Studies
Louisiana State University, 2009
Research interests: Contemporary American literature, gender studies, ethnic literature, postcolonial literature, women’s studies

Ann Burnett, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of WGS
University of Utah, 1986
Research Interests: Gender and communication, interpersonal communication, legal communication

Allied Faculty

Ashley Baggett, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies
Louisiana State University, 2014
Research Interests: Women’s History/Gender Studies, 19th century U.S., Southern History

Kelly Cameron, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer, English
Texas Christian University, 2012
Research Interests: Feminist approaches to rhetoric and cultural rhetorics

Kristen Fellows, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
University of Pennsylvania, 2013
Research Interests: Feminist archaeology and anthropology, ethnohistory and oral histories

Holly Hassel, Ph.D.
Professor, English
University of Nebraska, 2002
Research Interests: Feminist pedagogy

Christi McGeorge, Ph.D.
Professor, Human Development and Family Science
University of Minnesota, 2005
Research Interests: Influence of heterosexism and homophobia on clinical practice and training, gender equity in therapy, gender equity in higher education

Carrie Anne Platt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Communication
University of Southern California, 2008
Research interests: Rhetorical approaches to emerging technologies and identity in public culture as well as digital media and communication pedagogy

Christina Weber, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
State University of New York (Buffalo), 2005
Research Interests: The sociology of memory and trauma, photography's impact of the historical understanding of the Great Depression, women and the dust bowl