OVERVIEW
The Graduate Certificate in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies can be earned in conjunction with master's or doctoral work in a wide variety of subjects.  The certificate can also be earned through a freestanding course of study not linked to a graduate degree.  The Graduate Certificate in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies exposes students to the core theories and approaches used in studies of women, gender (which includes masculinity), feminism and sexuality.

THE CURRICULUM
The Graduate Certificate in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies requires the completion of 12 credit hours of graduate coursework. Students must take 2 core courses and 2 elective courses.  If a student’s M.A. or Ph.D. program accepts the 2 core courses and the student can take the 2 electives in their graduate program, students can complete the certificate without any additional coursework beyond that required for the M.A. or Ph.D. 

2 Core Courses:  Students are required to complete 2 of the following courses.  Students should select courses that reflect their interests.

WGST 6601: Theoretical Approaches to Sexuality
WGST 6602: Theoretical Approaches to Gender
WGST 6603: Language, Gender and Power
WGST 6627: Feminist Theory and its Applications

2 Electives:  Students must also complete 2 elective courses at the graduate level.  Any graduate-level course offered by the Women’s and Gender Studies Program will count as an elective.  Elective courses can also come from other disciplines.  These courses may be seminars, directed readings or directed research courses as long as they focus on women, gender, feminism or sexuality

COURSE ROTATION
This is the schedule of core courses for 2008-2010:

Fall 2008        WGST 6603. Language, Gender and Power
Spring 2009    WGST 6602. Theoretical Approaches to Gender
Fall 2009        WGST 6601. Theoretical Approaches to Sexuality
Spring 2010    WGST 6627. Feminist Theory and its Applications

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applications for the Graduate Certificate Program in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies will be considered as they are received.  Admissions are ongoing.  To be eligible for admission, a student must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and either:

• enrolled and in good standing in a graduate degree program at UNC Charlotte, or
• have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75

APPLY ONLINE FOR ADMISSION
A complete application consists of:

• A completed application form
• Payment of the application fee
• A copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• A letter explaining the applicant’s educational and work background, interests, and plans, with an emphasis on how this certificate will enhance, complement, or advance the applicant’s work and/or education.

Visit the Graduate School’s website at http://www.uncc.edu/gradmiss to apply online for admission and to find important information, such as the Graduate Catalog.

Office of Graduate Admissions, UNC Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
704.687.3366
704.687.3279 (fax)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information on this graduate certificate, contact:

Dr. Coral Wayland
Graduate Coordinator for Women’s and Gender Studies
UNC Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
Phone: 704.687.2290
Fax: 704.687.3209