The graduate certificate in Women's and Gender Studies offers master’s and doctoral students the benefits of gaining an interdisciplinary concentration in gender, while earning an advanced degree within a discipline. The Women’s and Gender Studies Certificate aims to enhance critical thinking and methodological skills while facilitating analysis of gender, sex, and sexuality and their roles in culture, society and the arts. Pursuing the WGST Certificate encourages the development of innovative research that combines recent scholarship in gender studies with the student’s major area of study. 

The Women's and Gender Studies program offers courses on a variety of themes pertaining to gender, sex, and sexuality, in relation to health, queer theory, film, religion, language, social movements, science, and the workplace. Courses span both humanities and social sciences and draw on a number of approaches to inquiry including qualitative, quantitative, rhetorical, and historical.

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A minimum of 3 credit hours must be outside of the student’s degree-seeking home discipline.

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Up to 6 hours of Elective requirement can be (but not required to be) fulfilled by applying up to 2 of the following:

• 3 hours from a 685 can count toward certificate, with prior authorization by WGST Graduate Coordinator. 
• 3 hours from a 691 can count toward certificate if a student’s dissertation/thesis substantially engages WGST, with authorization by WGST Graduate Coordinator. 
• 3 hours from a course that is not cross-listed or pre-approved can be applied with authorization by the WGST Graduate Coordinator.