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 thirteen (13) credit hour core of four foundation courses and one (1) credit hour research/writing course, and a selection of electives in WGST. In addition, students complete either a thesis, a culminating exam or project, or an applied/creative 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

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Program Core		13
Electives		21-24
Thesis/Project/Exam Option		3-6
Minimum Total Hours		37-43

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, and many courses can be taken online. Limited summer offerings are also available.

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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. Students in the accelerated program take four graduate-level courses/twelve (12) 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.

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.

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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 and Family Science. Students take the core curriculum in both programs, but substitute elective credit hours with MA and MSSW credit hours. In addition, the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science 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:

1. 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.
2. Students must have a 3.0 GPA in undergraduate work. Provisional admission is possible for students who do not meet this requirement.
3. 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.
4. 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). The Graduate Admissions Committee will determine whether the student has the necessary level of competence in written communication to enter the MA program.
5. 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.

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, Unit Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate Affairs.

Students must maintain a 3.0 average in order to be in good standing.

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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:

• Thirteen (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.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Foundation Courses		13
WGST 600	Research/Writing in Women's and Gender Studies
Select 4 from the list below
WGST 604	Community Engaged Research Methods
WGST 608	Queer Performance
WGST 611	Transnational Feminism
WGST 613	U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century
WGST 642	African American Women and the History of Reproductive Justice
WGST 644	Black Lesbian Lives
WGST 656	Feminist Theory
Electives 1
Select electives, not chosen in another category (18-24 credit hours based on thesis, project, practicum or exam option)		18
WGST 513	U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century
WGST 558	Women in Developing Countries - WR
WGST 571	Francophone Women Writers - WR
WGST 584	Women in East Asian History
WGST 591	Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences (recent example: Postcolonial Bodies) 2
WGST 593	Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Humanities 2
WGST 603	History of U.S. Feminisms
WGST 608	Queer Performance
WGST 609	Women and Medicine
WGST 612	Gender, Race, Work, and Welfare
WGST 613	U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century
WGST 615	Seminar in the Sociology of Disabilities
WGST 620	Women's Personal Narratives
WGST 622	The Body in Popular Media
WGST 625	Art and Trauma
WGST 630	Feminism in Western Civilization
WGST 631	Women in the Twentieth Century in Europe and the U.S.
WGST 633	Women in 19th-Century America
WGST 632	History of American Sexualities
WGST 640	Women's Health in Africa
WGST 641	Feminism and Science Fiction
WGST 643	Black Women's Voices
WGST 645	Southern Women: Black and White
WGST 656	Feminist Theory
WGST 682	Health and Social Justice
WGST 689	Independent Study: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Humanities
WGST 690	Independent Study: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Social Sciences
WGST 691	Advanced Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Social Sciences (recent example: Postcolonial Bodies) 2
WGST 692	Advanced Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Humanities 2
Thesis, Project, Practicum, or Exam Option 1		6
Select the thesis, project, practicum or exam option
WGST 699	Thesis
WGST 695	Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Practicum (or elective, which need not be in WGS)
WGST 698	Master's Degree Project
Exam Option (requires completion of 37 credit hours, plus an exam) 1
Minimum Total Hours		37

¹

Credit hours in each category may vary depending on whether thesis, project, or exam option is selected.  Students who select the thesis, project, or practicum option will typically take 18-21 elective hours.  Students who select the exam option will typically take 24 elective hours.  Please see your advisor to discuss the path to completion of  37 minimum hours required for the degree that will best fit your individual needs.

²

As approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

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, Unit Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate Affairs..

Students must maintain a 3.0 average in order to be in good standing.

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Program Requirements for Dual MSSW/MA

The Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies MSSW/MA curriculum includes:

• Thirteen (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

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Foundation Courses
WGST 600	Research/Writing in Women's and Gender Studies	1
Select 4 from the list below		12
WGST 604	Community Engaged Research Methods
WGST 608	Queer Performance
WGST 611	Transnational Feminism
WGST 613	U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century
WGST 642	African American Women and the History of Reproductive Justice
WGST 644	Black Lesbian Lives
WGST 656	Feminist Theory
Electives
Select 5 electives, not chosen in another category:		15
WGST 513	U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century
WGST 558	Women in Developing Countries - WR
WGST 571	Francophone Women Writers - WR
WGST 584	Women in East Asian History
WGST 591	Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences (recent example: Postcolonial Bodies) 1
WGST 593	Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Humanities 1
WGST 603	History of U.S. Feminisms
WGST 608	Queer Performance
WGST 609	Women and Medicine
WGST 612	Gender, Race, Work, and Welfare
WGST 615	Seminar in the Sociology of Disabilities
WGST 620	Women's Personal Narratives
WGST 622	The Body in Popular Media
WGST 625	Art and Trauma
WGST 630	Feminism in Western Civilization
WGST 631	Women in the Twentieth Century in Europe and the U.S.
WGST 632	History of American Sexualities
WGST 633	Women in 19th-Century America
WGST 640	Women's Health in Africa
WGST 641	Feminism and Science Fiction
WGST 643	Black Women's Voices
WGST 645	Southern Women: Black and White
WGST 656	Feminist Theory
WGST 682	Health and Social Justice
WGST 689	Independent Study: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Humanities
WGST 690	Independent Study: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Social Sciences
WGST 691	Advanced Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Social Sciences (recent example: Postcolonial Bodies) 1
WGST 692	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, Unit Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate Affairs..

Students must maintain a 3.0 average in order to be in good standing.

¹

 As approved by the director of graduate studies