Graduate Studies

Click HERE for MA application deadlines, instructions and forms. Scroll down for information about applying to the Certificate or Concentration programs.

Students pursuing graduate work in the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research will become acquainted with various feminist (and other appropriate) theoretical approaches and methodologies for examining the role of gender in cultural systems. Gender will be understood in intersection with other categories of difference, including race, ethnicity, social class, sexuality, religion, physical ability, age, and nationality. Please scroll down for links to more specific information about: Degrees (MA, BA/MA, JD/MA), Certificates and Concentrations, Application and Plan-of-Study Materials, and other helpful links. If you have further questions, please contact Anita Anantharam, Graduate Coordinator.

Degrees:

The Women's Studies Program, administered by the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research, is an interdisciplinary program designed for students who wish to pursue a Master's degree (MA, thesis or non-thesis) in Women's Studies. It is also an interdisciplinary forum in which students admitted to other graduate programs (MA and PhD) can pursue a Certificate or Concentration in conjunction with their primary degree. In addition, students may apply to pursue a Master's degree while also earning their Bachelor's degree (BA) or a professional law degree (JD). Click on the Women's Studies degree name for information specific to the degree in the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research. Please also refer to general information in the UF Graduate Catalog.

Master or Arts (MA), thesis and non-thesis: : A Master's degree with thesis or non-thesis requires 30 credits. All thesis students must register for an appropriate number of credits in WST 6971 (3 credits out of the maximum 6 credits must be taken during the final semester. Non-thesis students may not enroll in WST 6971. Non-thesis student may not take more than 6 credits as S/U. For all Master's programs in Women's Studies, at least half the required credits (not counting 6971) must be in the major. For details specific to the degree in the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research, click on the hyperlink which begins this paragraph.
- Committees:
  - The supervisory committee for a master’s degree with a thesis should consist of at least two Graduate Faculty members, unless otherwise specified. The chair must be from the academic unit recommending the degree. If a minor is designated, the committee must include a Graduate Faculty member from the minor department.
  - A supervisory committee for a master’s degree without thesis should consist of at least one Graduate Faculty member, unless otherwise specified. The chair must be from the academic unit recommending the degree. It is optional for the academic unit to input the committee into Graduate Information Management System (GIMS). If a minor is designated for a non-thesis degree, the name of the minor representative must be submitted to the Graduate School via GIMS.
BA/MA Program: UF offers a number of Bachelor's/Master's programs for superior students. The university created combined degree programs to provide academically talented students an opportunity to complete both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in a shorter period of time. The program allows you to double-count graduate courses toward both degrees, thus reducing the time it would normally take to graduate by a semester or more. The combined-degree program reduces the cost of both degrees and enhances your marketability for career advancement. For details specific to the degree in the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research, click on the hyperlink which begins this paragraph.
MA/JD Program: This joint degree program leads to a graduate degree and a professional degree. Normally 12 credits of professional courses count toward the graduate degree and 12 credits of graduate courses count toward the professional degree. To participate in a joint program, a student must be admitted to both programs. Enrollment in one program may precede enrollment in the other according to timelines set by the program. For details specific to the degree in the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research, click on the hyperlink which begins this paragraph.
Concurrent degree -MA in Women's Studies and an MA in Mass Communications (MAMC) with specialization in Journalism: When appropriate, the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research will work with individual students to develop a collaborative degree program with the College of Journalism and Communication. At the University of Florida, students may apply to complete Master’s degrees in two different programs or two Master’s degrees in the same program concurrently. Those interested should discuss the proposed study with the office of Graduate Student Records (392-4643, 106 Grinter) before applying. Written approval is needed from each academic unit and the Graduate School Dean. The student must be officially admitted to both programs through regular procedures. No more than 9 credits from the first program may be applied toward the second. For details specific to the program in the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research, click on the name of the program above.

Certificates and Concentrations:

A number of UF graduate programs offer interdisciplinary enhancements in the form of concentrations, field research, or graduate certificates. Concentrations and Certificates can only be earned by students already enrolled in another degree program at UF. Graduate Council approved concentrations are tied to specific degree programs and appear on the student's transcript. Certificates do not appear on the transcript. The Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research has two Certificates (MA or PhD) and a PhD Concentration. For details specific to the programs in the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research, click on the name of the Certificates/Concentration below:

Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies: The Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies offers students a broad introduction to the field.
Graduate Certificate in Gender and Development: The Graduate Certificate in Gender and Development allows students to focus on issues related to gender, economic development, and globalization.
PhD Concentration: The PhD Concentration in Women's Studies provides graduate students an opportunity to develop a thorough grounding in scholarship produced through the intersection of Women's Studies and other academic fields of study. PhD students in the following programs or departments may apply to the Concentration program: Anthropology, Germanic and Slavic Languages, History, Psychology, Religion, and Sociology.

Application and Plan of Study Materials:

(As you plan your coursework, it is often helpful to access our complete list of outside courses that count for Women's Studies credit.)

MASTER OF ARTS:

Application materials (MA)
Plan-of-Study form (MA)

CERTIFICATES:

Application/Plan-of-Study form
(to be completed upon entry to program)
Final Approval form
(to be completed for award of Certificate)

PhD CONCENTRATION:

Application/Plan-of-Study form
(to be completed upon entry to program)
Final Approval form
(to be completed for award of Concentration)

Helpful Links:

University of Florida Office of Admissions
University of Florida Graduate School
Graduate Catalog
Graduate Assistants United (GAU)
Graduate Study Carrels at UF Library West
NWSA (National Women's Studies Association)
SEWSA (Southeastern Women's Studies Association)