Program Overview

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Master of Arts / Doctor of Philosophy in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies / Sociology

Program Highlights

This dual MA/PhD program provides a foundation in sociological theories and methods that intertwine with studies in women's rights and gender and sexual identities.

Sample Course Titles

• Situated Sexualities and Transnational Activism
• Global Politics of Women's Bodies
• Transformative Storytelling and Black Diasporas, Feminisms, and Sexual Politics

Applied Learning

In this combined MA/PhD program, you collaborate with faculty in both the sociology and women's, gender and sexuality studies departments.

As you complete your requirements, you gain practical skills in quantitative, qualitative, and historical comparative methods that you'll use in your own research.

Because the department maintains partnerships with many mission-based community organizations, you can gain real-world experience working in areas such as reproductive justice, independent media, citizen political participation, LGBTQ issues, gender violence, and policy making.

Program Requirements

MA in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies

• Graduate Orientation
• Feminist Theory
• Research Seminar
• Elective courses in a coherent field of study
• One course related to intersections of race, class, sexuality, and/or nationality
• One course in an unfamiliar area of study that broadens your interdisciplinary perspective
• Final Project

For the master's final project, you may count the directed reading and comprehensive exam for your Sociology PhD requirements toward this option, provided you include an exam topic relating to women's, gender, and sexuality studies.

PhD in Sociology

• Research Methods
• Sociological Theories I and II
• Intermediate Statistics
• Orientation to Sociology
• Multivariate Analysis
• Teaching Tool Requirement
• Supporting courses as advised

Career Paths

Earning two degrees automatically expands the number of job opportunities you'll have after graduation.

The master's part of the program immediately prepares you to work with women's and LGBTQ community organizations.

Sample Non-Teaching Job Titles

• Human Services Administrator
• Domestic Violence Advocate
• Women's Health Clinic Counselor
• Communications Consultant

With the doctorate in sociology, you can also pursue academic fellowships and teaching positions at universities and liberal arts colleges, and senior research positions with employers like those listed below.

Sample Employers

• Social justice think tanks
• Public health organizations
• Policy research institutes
• Federal agencies like the U.S. Census Bureau

Admissions Requirements

Deadlines

• Departmental Assistantship Consideration:
  • Fall: January 15
  • Spring: Not Available
  • Summer: Not Available
• No Departmental Assistantship Consideration:
  • Fall: May 1
  • Spring: Not Available
  • Summer: Not Available

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official GRE test scores (GRE scores greater than 5 years old will not be accepted)

To request a GRE waiver, please first initiate the application process and then complete this GRE Waiver Request form.

• Statement of Goals
  • The statement is generally one to two pages discussing what you have to offer the program and what you wish to get out of the program. It should include a brief description of the applicant's field of interest, related background, desired area of study and research emphasis or career goals.
• Writing Sample

Supplemental Degree Programs

Graduate students can typically request a supplemental degree in one or more subordinate degrees without needing to go through the full admissions process again.

Supplemental programs available with this degree:

• Africana Studies CGS
• Community College Leadership CGS
• Demography CGS
• Geospatial Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics CGS
• Global Gender Advocacy CGS
• International Education Management CGS