PhD Minor in Gender and Women's Studies

Graduate students can pursue a PhD minor in gender and women's studies.

First, it is necessary to choose a "home" discipline and be admitted as a PhD student in one of the many departments that offer graduate degrees.  It is then possible to get substantial and systematic training in the field of gender and women’s studies in numerous ways as described below. Most graduate programs allow graduate students to receive graduate credit for courses numbered 300 and above in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, though we encourage enrolment in courses numbered 700 and above.  The training is greatly aided by the presence of excellent library holdings and a women’s studies librarian. 

Option A minor

Requirements through Spring Semester 2011

Graduate students who wish to pursue an Option A minor in gender and women’s studies should consult the associate chair of the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies. Students are expected to achieve a B or better in four courses at the 300 level or above in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies. One of the courses must be GWS 900: Research in Gender and Women’s Studies. Courses are chosen in conjunction with the associate chair, who serves as the minor advisor, and the student’s departmental advisor.  Directed Study courses do not count toward the minor. Transferred credits are discouraged, but may be allowed with approval of the associate chair. Any transferred credits must have been taken as a graduate student.  In addition, the student is responsible for assuring completion of the graduate school's minimum requirements for courses taken in residency at UW. This requirement varies dependent on degree program.

Requirements as of Fall 2011

Graduate students who wish to pursue an Option A minor in gender and women’s studies should consult the associate chair of the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies. A student may earn a PhD minor in Gender and Women’s Studies with 9 credits if all 9 credits are in exclusively graduate-level Gender & Women’s Studies courses.  Alternatively, a student many earn the minor with 12 credits if these are graduate/undergraduate Gender & Women’s Studies courses numbered 300 and above. One of the courses must be GWS 900: Research in Gender and Women’s Studies. Students are expected to earn a B or better in all courses. Courses are chosen in conjunction with the associate chair, who serves as the minor advisor, and the student’s departmental advisor.  Directed Study courses do not count toward the minor. Students may not use colloquia or "brown bag" format courses toward requirements of the PhD minor. Transferred credits are discouraged, but may be allowed with approval of the associate chair. Any transferred credits must have been taken as a graduate student.  In addition, the student is responsible for assuring completion of the graduate school's minimum requirements for courses taken in residency at UW. This requirement varies dependent on degree program. If a student is pursuing two PhD minors, there shall be no more than one course overlap between the Gender and Women's Studies minor and the other minor.

Option B minor

Graduate students who wish to pursue an Option B minor combine course work with a gender component from two or more departments outside the student’s major department. The student’s home department is responsible for approving an Option B minor.

Graduate students can also pursue their interests in gender and women’s studies analysis within their home discipline by taking courses involving gender, as well as doing research in gender and women’s studies as it relates to their discipline (in papers, theses, dissertations, and preliminary examinations).

Faculty

Most faculty members in the department have joint appointments in other departments as well as in Gender and Women’s Studies and serve as advisors on course work, committees, examinations, and research. Other faculty members who are affiliated with the program support research and teaching in Gender and Women’s Studies.

The adviser for the PhD Minor in Gender and Women’s Studies is the Associate Chair of the Department.