Graduate Certificate

The WGSS Graduate Certificate is primarily intended for residential students as the majority of courses are held in-person on the Lawrence campus. This certificate cannot be completed fully online.

Core Course Descriptions

The graduate certificate requires completion of 12 credit hours of graduate work as outlined below.

• Two 3-hour core courses (WGSS 800, WGSS 801, or WGSS 802)
• Two 3-hour elective courses

WGSS 800:  History of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (3) 

An introduction to the field of women, gender and sexuality studies, paying particular attention to its development, its reception by and influence on academic disciplines, and its institutionalization.  Prerequisites: graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

WGSS 801: Feminist Theory (3) 

A survey of contemporary feminist theories produced within and across disciplines (including but not limited to, Eco-feminism, and liberal, cultural, materialist, psychoanalytic, radical, and black feminist thought).. Prerequisites: graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

WGSS 802: Feminist Methodologies (3)

An introduction to the methods used in feminist research in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences (e.g., quantitative and qualitative research methods, archival research, and oral histories).  We will consider examples of applications of each method, the strengths, and limitations of each method, and how each method relates to feminist theories and principles.  Prerequisites: graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Elective Course Options

All graduate level courses within WGSS (700 level or above) are eligible to count as elective courses for the graduate certificate. Graduate level courses outside the WGSS department are eligible to count as electives if at least 50% of the course content is related to gender and/or sexuality. Elective courses outside the WGSS department must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.