WGSS PhD General Requirements

Core Courses

4 Courses / 12 Credits 

• WST 600: Feminist Interdisciplinary Histories and Methods (Offered in Spring)                                  
• WST 601: Feminist Theories (Offered in Fall)                                                                  
• WST 680: Pro-Seminar: Interdisciplinary Research Design (Offered Fall)  
• WST 698: Practicing WGSS/Teaching Practicum (Offered Spring)  

Elective Courses 

12  Elective Courses/ 36 Credits

• WGSS 600 Level Electives (9 credits/ 3 courses)
• Additional Electives (27 credits/9 courses)

Comprehensive Exam and Prospectus

One of the most significant milestones in the WGSS PhD program is the Comprehensive Exam.  The Comprehensive Exam is designed for you to show that you have the historical, theoretical,  and methodological foundations needed to undertake doctoral research. The exam process is  intricately connected to your dissertation project and serves as a launching pad for the  dissertation. 

Dissertation

The dissertation represents the culmination of your doctoral study and must be an original  contribution to the scholarship in your field(s) of expertise. The form of the dissertation is determined by the candidate in consultation with their committee members. A traditional dissertation is approximately 200 pages, double-spaced, and written in standard academic prose.  However, the dissertation could also take the form of a book manuscript, a series of journal  articles, or a multimodal project that combines academic prose with images or other forms of  artistic expression. Thus, the length will vary based on the style of the dissertation. 

Teaching Experience

Teaching is a vital component of graduate education. This is especially true within the field of  Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. As such, our graduate program emphasizes the  importance of becoming familiar with feminist pedagogical approaches and gaining formal teaching experience in WGSS. 

Students accepted into the PhD program are often offered a four-year Teaching Assistantship.  You must be enrolled as a full-time student to remain eligible for this assistantship, and the continuation of this funding hinges on your remaining in “good standing” in your academic progress and satisfactorily completing your teaching duties.     

Advising and Mentorship

Upon admission to the PhD or MA program, your default advisor is the Graduate Program  Director. You will meet with the Graduate Program Director shortly before your first semester begins to discuss your coursework plans for the year and to talk about your larger goals for graduate study. You will need to select and formally designate a WGSS Core Faculty member to serve as your Primary Advisor by the end of your second year. Your advisor/mentor will guide you through all stages of your PhD.