Our Ph.D. program is designed to prepare students for scholarly careers in feminist research and teaching interdisciplinary Women Studies and/or related disciplines at the university/college level. Graduates of our Ph.D. program may also find employment with the United Nations, governmental agencies such as USAID, the World Bank, and non-governmental agencies (NGO's) and non-profit organizations working on social issues.

Each student is assigned a Faculty Advisor prior to the start of the first quarter of study. The Faculty Advisor will oversee the selection of courses in methods and area(s) of concentration until the appointment of the student's Supervisory Committee, which typically occurs in the second year of study.

The Supervisory Committee is then responsible for aiding the student in course selection and guiding their research training.

Students pursuing the Ph.D. must complete at least 60 credits of classroom course work, which include 15 credits of core seminars: WOMEN 501: History of Feminism; 502: Cross Disciplinary Feminist Theory; and 503: Feminist Research and Methods of Inquiry, taken sequentially; and 45 credits of coursework in research methods and the student's area(s) of concentration.  In addition to WOMEN 503, the student will typically take courses in at least two other methodologies.

Ph.D. students take a written and oral General Examination at the end of the third or beginning of the fourth year of study. Successful completion of this exam results in admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. and marks the start of more intensive dissertation research.

Students must complete 27 credits of dissertation research culminating in a publishable dissertation.

Notice: We are not currently admitting students who desire a terminal Masters degree in Women Studies. The M. A. degree is available to students admitted to study for the Ph.D. who desire the additional research or practical experience that preparation of a Master's thesis or Practicum paper would provide. Students do not need to have completed a Master's degree prior to applying to the Ph.D. program nor do they need to complete a Master's degree as part of their study for the Ph.D.

To earn the M.A. in Women Studies, students must complete at least 45 credits of classroom course work, which include 15 credits of core seminars: WOMEN 501: History of Feminism; 502: Cross Disciplinary Feminist Theory; and 503: Feminist Research and Methods of Inquiry, taken sequentially; 30 credits of course work in the student's individualized area of concentration, and a minimum of 15 thesis or practicum credits.