Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies (MA)
Master of Arts in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (GA)
Department: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): WGSTMA; WGSTMA_ACC
Program Information
Master of Arts in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
The Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Master of Arts degree program is open to qualified individuals with a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Any undergraduate major is acceptable for admission; however, students without some Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies background may be required to take preparatory courses before beginning the MA curriculum or in addition to the MA curriculum.
The 37 credit hour interdisciplinary degree program is organized around a 19 credit hour core of two, introductory seminars, a one (1) credit hour research/writing course, and a selection of courses in four areas. In addition to the core, students complete a concentration area and either a thesis or culminating project.
Faculty in the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department, as well as faculty in other departments of the university, offer courses in the MA program.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Core | 19 | |
| Concentration | 9 | |
| Thesis/Project Option | 9 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 37 | |
The Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies MA may be completed in four semesters (fall/spring). Most courses are offered in late afternoon or evening. Limited summer offerings are also available.
Accelerated BA-BS/MA in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies majors who are already thinking about pursuing an MA in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master's degree. The basic idea is to take three graduate-level courses/nine (9) credit hours (either 500-level with the additional graduate-level assignments, or 600-level) while still an undergraduate, and then have those credits apply both toward the undergraduate degree and towards an eventual master's degree from the University of Louisville.
Students in the accelerated Master of Arts in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies program may take a maximum of nine (9) credit hours for graduate credit, which will also apply to the requirements for the baccalaureate degree. To be considered for admission to the Accelerated Master of Arts in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies program, students must:
- Complete an application for admission to the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Master of Arts program (including transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a writing sample) no later than the end of their junior year.
- Have a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.35, a Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies GPA of 3.35, and meet all other requirements for admission to the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Master of Arts program.
Students must retain a 3.35 GPA in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies during their senior year to remain in the program. Once admitted to the accelerated BA/MA program and starting the graduate work, students are expected to maintain a full graduate load of nine (9) credit hours.
Students in the accelerated BA/MA program must meet all of the MA requirements including receiving at least 18 of their 37 credit hour program in 600-level, courses.
Dual MSSW/MA in Social Work and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
The dual Master of Science in Social Work/Master of Arts in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies program recognizes the value of professional education in two interrelated fields and encourages students who have an interest in both Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Social Work to pursue these degrees simultaneously. Social workers and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies scholars often seek to address identical or related societal concerns, albeit from different perspectives; understanding both disciplines enhances one's effectiveness in both the analysis of and engagement with contemporary social and cultural issues. Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies courses strengthen the social worker's understanding of the historical foundations for policies and structures that have an impact on social institutions and human conditions; Social Work courses help Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies scholars or activists to better understand human behavior, conflict resolution and social welfare institutions. A Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Social Work combination provides the tools of social change for an historic problem of gender inequality and injustice.
The curriculum leading to a dual degree is a 79 credit hour program which combines credits in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies and the Kent School of Social Work. Students take the core curriculum in both programs, but substitute elective credit hours with MA and MSSW credit hours. In addition, the Kent School has tailored its second year-long practicum to focus on issues of gender and women, adding that content and experience for the student.
Students must apply and be admitted to both programs in order to pursue the dual degree.
Admission Requirements
Master of Arts in Women's Gender Sexuality Studies
Students wishing to be admitted to the MA in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies must meet the following requirements for admission:
- Students must meet the admission criteria established by the Graduate School. Submit a complete graduate application, submit official transcripts verifying the receipt of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, and pay application fee.
- Students must have a 3.0 GPA in undergraduate work. Provisional admission is possible for students who do not meet this requirement.
- Students must submit two letters of recommendation (submitted to the Graduate School). Letters of recommendation must be current (written within the last year), and letter writers must be familiar with the applicant's academic preparation for graduate study. Members of the Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies Graduate Admissions Committee may not be letter writers.
- Students must submit one academic writing sample of at least five pages (a paper written as part of the requirements of a university or college course), which should be mailed directly to the Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. The Graduate Admissions Committee will determine whether the student has the necessary level of competence in written communication to enter the MA program.
- Students must submit a personal statement of one-two pages discussing how the MA in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies relates to the student's professional or personal goals (mail directly to the Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies).
Any undergraduate major is acceptable for admission; however, students without Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies background may be required to take preparatory courses before beginning the MA curriculum or in addition to the MA curriculum. This will be determined by the Graduate Admissions Committee.
Up to six (6) credit hours of graduate level coursework, A- or B- graded work in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies done at another institution may be applied toward the student's University of Louisville degree, upon approval of the director.
Students enrolled in the University of Kentucky or Western Kentucky University graduate certificate programs may transfer up to twelve (12) credit hours of graduate-level A- graded or B- graded work, upon approval of the director.
Students must maintain a 3.0 average in order to be in good standing.
Admission Requirements: Dual MSSW/MA
Students must apply and be admitted to both programs in order to pursue the dual MSSW/MA degree program. Admission requirements for the Kent School of Social Work can be found on the MSSW page.
Program Requirements for MA
The Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies M.A. curriculum includes:
- 13 credit hours of Foundation courses; and
- a thesis, non-thesis, or exam option
At least 18 of the 37 credit hours must be in courses at the 600 level.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| WGST 600 | Research/Writing in Women's and Gender Studies. | 1 |
| Select 4 from the list below | 12 | |
| Queer Performance | ||
| Transnational Feminism | ||
| U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century | ||
| African American Women and the History of Reproductive Justice | ||
| Black Lesbian Lives | ||
| Feminist Theory | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select electives, not chosen in another category (6-21 credit hours based on thesis, non-thesis or exam option) | 6-21 | |
| U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century | ||
| Women in Developing Countries - WR | ||
| Francophone Women Writers - WR | ||
| Women in East Asian History | ||
| Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences (recent example: Postcolonial Bodies) 1 | ||
| Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Humanities 1 | ||
| History of U.S. Feminisms | ||
| Queer Performance | ||
| Women and Medicine | ||
| Gender, Race, Work, and Welfare | ||
| U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century | ||
| Seminar in the Sociology of Disabilities | ||
| Women's Personal Narratives | ||
| The Body in Popular Media | ||
| Art and Trauma | ||
| Feminism in Western Civilization | ||
| Women in the Twentieth Century in Europe and the U.S. | ||
| Women in 19th-Century America | ||
| History of American Sexualities | ||
| Women's Health in Africa | ||
| Feminism and Science Fiction | ||
| Black Women's Voices | ||
| Southern Women: Black and White | ||
| Feminist Theory | ||
| Health and Social Justice | ||
| Independent Study: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Humanities | ||
| Independent Study: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Social Sciences | ||
| Advanced Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Social Sciences (recent example: Postcolonial Bodies) 1 | ||
| Advanced Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Humanities 1 | ||
| Thesis, Non-Thesis, or Exam Option | 3-6 | |
| Select the thesis or non-thesis option | ||
Thesis Option | ||
| Thesis | ||
Non-Thesis Option | ||
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Practicum (or elective, which need not be in WGS) | ||
| Master's Degree Project | ||
| Exam Option (requires completion of 37 credit hours, plus an exam) | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 22-40 | |
Up to six (6) credit hours of graduate level coursework, A- or B- graded grade work in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies done at another institution may be applied toward the student's University of Louisville degree, upon approval of the director.
Students enrolled in the University of Kentucky or Western Kentucky University graduate certificate programs may transfer up to twelve (12) credit hours of graduate level coursework A- or B- graded work, upon approval of the director.
Students must maintain a 3.0 average in order to be in good standing.
| 1 | As approved by the director of graduate studies |
Program Requirements for Dual MSSW/MA
The Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies MSSW/MA curriculum includes:
- 13 credit hours of Foundation courses;
- 15 credit hours of WGST electives at the graduate level;
- 51 credit hours of courses at the Kent School
Total 28 credit hours in WGST graduate-level courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| WGST 600 | Research/Writing in Women's and Gender Studies. | 1 |
| Select 4 from the list below | 12 | |
| Queer Performance | ||
| Transnational Feminism | ||
| U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century | ||
| African American Women and the History of Reproductive Justice | ||
| Black Lesbian Lives | ||
| Feminist Theory | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 5 electives, not chosen in another category: | 15 | |
| U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century | ||
| Women in Developing Countries - WR | ||
| Francophone Women Writers - WR | ||
| Women in East Asian History | ||
| Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences (recent example: Postcolonial Bodies) 1 | ||
| Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Humanities 1 | ||
| History of U.S. Feminisms | ||
| Queer Performance | ||
| Women and Medicine | ||
| Gender, Race, Work, and Welfare | ||
| Seminar in the Sociology of Disabilities | ||
| Women's Personal Narratives | ||
| The Body in Popular Media | ||
| Art and Trauma | ||
| Feminism in Western Civilization | ||
| Women in the Twentieth Century in Europe and the U.S. | ||
| History of American Sexualities | ||
| Women in 19th-Century America | ||
| Women's Health in Africa | ||
| Feminism and Science Fiction | ||
| Black Women's Voices | ||
| Southern Women: Black and White | ||
| Feminist Theory | ||
| Health and Social Justice | ||
| Independent Study: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Humanities | ||
| Independent Study: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Social Sciences | ||
| Advanced Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Social Sciences (recent example: Postcolonial Bodies) 1 | ||
| Advanced Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Humanities 1 | ||
| Kent School Hours | 51 | |
| See Kent School for requirements | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 79 | |
Up to six (6) credit hours of graduate level coursework, A- graded or B- graded grade work in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies done at another institution may be applied toward the student's University of Louisville degree, upon approval of the director.
Students enrolled in the University of Kentucky or Western Kentucky University graduate certificate programs may transfer up to twelve (12) credit hours of graduate level coursework A- or B- graded work, upon approval of the director.
Students must maintain a 3.0 average in order to be in good standing.
| 1 | As approved by the director of graduate studies |
