| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-12-01 | - |
Program Overview
The PhD in Gender and Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program that immerses students in feminist gender analysis and research. It integrates perspectives from various fields to provide a nuanced understanding of gender's intersections with social categories. The program equips students with a comprehensive understanding of feminist theory and research methods, enabling them to pursue careers in academia, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and the private sector.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The PhD in Gender and Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program that immerses students in feminist gender analysis and research. It integrates perspectives from queer studies, transgender studies, sexuality studies, race and ethnicity studies, disability studies, area and global studies, cultural studies, and postcolonial and transnational studies to provide a nuanced understanding of gender's intersections with social categories such as race, nationality, class, caste, and religion. The program's objectives are to:
- Equip students with a comprehensive understanding of feminist theory and research methods.
- Foster exploration of gender in global contexts and its intersections with local and national identities.
- Enable students to develop expertise in a disciplinary or interdisciplinary concentration outside Gender and Women's Studies.
- Cultivate engagement with a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary methodologies, including fieldwork, ethnography, critical analysis, and archival, statistical, experimental, and meta-analytic methods.
Outline:
The PhD curriculum in Gender and Women's Studies draws from course offerings within the department and beyond, allowing students to tailor their studies to their specific interests. Some courses investigate gender at the global level, while others focus on local, regional, or national perspectives, ensuring an overarching transnational and cross-cultural framework. Required courses for all doctoral students include:
- GEN&WS 800: Research Methods in Gender & Women's Studies
- GEN&WS 810: Gender and Women's Studies: The Emergence and Transformation of a Field
- GEN&WS 830: Contemporary Theorizing in Gender and Women's Studies
- GEN&WS 840: Pedagogy in Gender and Women's Studies
- GEN&WS 860: Proseminar in Gender and Women's Studies In addition to these core courses, students must complete 9 credits of advanced electives from a list that includes options such as:
- GEN&WS/C&E SOC/SOC 904: Sociological Perspectives on Gender
- GEN&WS/ANTHRO 920: Anthropology of Gender
- GEN&WS/PSYCH 932: Psychology of Women and Gender
- GEN&WS/POLI SCI 933: Feminist Political Theory
- GEN&WS/HISTORY 938: History of Sexuality Doctoral students also complete a minimum of 6 credits of Research & Thesis (GEN&WS 990) and 8 credits of additional coursework in GEN&WS or other approved areas. To meet the Graduate School's breadth requirement, students must complete either a doctoral minor or Graduate/Professional certificate.
Assessment:
Doctoral students in Gender and Women's Studies must successfully complete a written preliminary examination by the end of their fourth year in the program to advance to dissertator status.
Careers:
The PhD in Gender and Women's Studies prepares graduates for diverse career paths in academia, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and the private sector. Graduates are well-equipped to conduct independent research, teach courses, and engage in advocacy and policy-making related to gender and women's issues.
