Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies, MA
Gain a deeper understanding of gender issues and receive advanced training in gender-related research. This program offers an intersectional, transdisciplinary approach to finding practical solutions for real problems. You'll acquire skills that you can apply in a wide variety of nonacademic careers.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
If you wish to gain research skills and knowledge about gender analysis and to apply those tools to current problems and solutions, the Master of Arts program in gender, women and sexuality studies is designed for you.
This flexible, 30 credit hour graduate program provides you with advanced training in feminist research, theory and methodologies. You need to complete an applied project that addresses practical problems linked to gender.
If you are a full-time student, you can complete the program within two years, while as a part-time student, you take longer but can work while studying.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (WST 593)
Required Core (6 credit hours) Electives (18 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
WST 501 Foundations of Feminist Thought (3)
WST 502 Interdisciplinary Gender Research Methodologies (3)
WST 593 Applied Project (6)
Students must successfully provide an oral defense of the applied project.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Will gain an understanding of and be able to apply the key concepts, theoretical frameworks, interdisciplinary approaches and critical debates that have shaped the field of gender studies
- Will gain an understanding of and learn to develop and conduct research through a feminist perspective
- Will demonstrate the ability to perform intersectional feminist analysis
Will gain an understanding of and be able to apply the key concepts, theoretical frameworks, interdisciplinary approaches and critical debates that have shaped the field of gender studiesAdmission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Students may be admitted with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in any field, as long as they have completed two courses in women and gender studies or have equivalent experience. Appropriate majors may include women, gender and sexuality studies; history; English; sociology; religious studies; social work; psychology; communication; or ethnic studies. Students who have previously majored in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field and have interests in gender and education or gender and science may also apply. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 credit hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information The personal statement should be about 1,000 words and describe any prior research experience and training, professional goals and research interests, and the fit between interests and the program's emphases. The statement should be uploaded. The writing sample should be seven to 10 pages; it may be a research brief or report, a white paper, a policy paper, or a paper from a recent academic course. The writing sample should reflect the applicant's writing ability and critical thinking skills. The letters of recommendation should be from individuals who can describe the applicant's strengths and weaknesses as they relate to graduate study and should speak to the applicant's critical thinking, writing, speaking and presentation skills, intellectual ability, leadership potential, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work with others, or other relevant accomplishments that best highlight their ability to complete a graduate degree in gender, women and sexuality studies. The list of relevant coursework should include at least two courses, undergraduate or graduate, the applicant has taken that focus on gender or women. In addition, the applicant should list any research methods or social justice courses. Further details about application requirements and application deadlines are available on the School of Social Transformation webpage.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/15 | Final* |
| Session A/C | Online | 07/01 | Final* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 11/01 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Graduates of the program have gone on to careers at universities, research and policy institutes, government organizations, and nonprofit organizations. They may also work in the fields of human services and public policy.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Social Transformation
|
WLSN 5th floor
SSTgraduate@asu.edu
480-965-7682
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
