Women's, Gender & 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 36 credit hour interdisciplinary degree program is organized around a nine (9) hour core, 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

The Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies MA may be completed in four semesters (fall/spring). Many courses can be taken online. Limited summer offerings may be available.

Soaring Scholar Program  Accelerated BA-BS/MA in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Undergraduate students interested in the program's accelerated options should visit the catalog pages for the BA in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies or the BS in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies  for more information.

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 78 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 (receiving a minimum grade of B- or above)  completed in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies 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 work (graded a minimum of B- or above), 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.

Admission Requirements: Dual MSSW/MA

Students must apply and be admitted to both programs in order to pursue the dual MSSW/MA degree program. WGST admission requirements for the dual degree are the same as for the standalone MA. Admission requirements for the Kent School of Social Work & Family Science can be found on the MSSW page.

Program Requirements for MA

The Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies M.A. curriculum includes:

• Nine (9) core credit hours, including three (3) credit hours in Community Engaged Research Methods, plus three (3) credit hours of approved Theory and three (3) credit hours of Approved History courses
• a thesis, non-thesis project, practicum, creative/applied project or exam option

At least 18 of the 36 credit hours must be in courses at the 600 level.

Total 36 hours

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 (graded a minimum of B- or above) completed in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies 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 request a variance to transfer up to twelve (12) credit hours of graduate level coursework (graded a minimum of B- or above), approval is required from the Director of Graduate Studies(DGS), Unit Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate Affairs.

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

Program Requirements for Dual MSSW/MA

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

• Nine (9) credit hours of core courses (three (3) credit hours of Community Engaged Research Methods, plus three (3) credit hours approved History and three (3) credit hours of Approved Theory courses)
• 18 credit hours of WGST electives at the graduate level;
• 51 credit hours of courses at the Kent School

Total 27 credit hours in WGST graduate-level courses

Up to six (6) credit hours of graduate level coursework (graded a minimum of B- and above), complted in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies 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 request a variance to transfer up to twelve (12) credit hours of graduate level coursework (graded a minimum of B- or above), approval is required from the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), 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.