Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
Feminist Studies Ph.D.Gender, Women and Sexuality
College of Liberal Arts
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Department of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, 425 Ford Hall, 224 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-624-6006)
Email:
gwss@umn.edu
Website: http://www.gwss.umn.edu
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the
General Information section of
this
website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
The Ph.D in Feminist Studies is designed to help students develop a high level of competence in feminist theories, research methods, interdisciplinarity, and pedagogies. Our graduates demonstrate a high level of competence in interdisciplinary feminist theories, research methods, and pedagogies. Our graduate program provides a rigorous interdisciplinary education designed to develop well-prepared scholars in the field of feminist studies and gender, women, and sexuality studies. Feminist studies PhD students pursue general and specialized courses in feminist studies while conducting scholarly research and analysis that truly drives change. Our graduate students are scholars, teachers, and activists, bringing to their work remarkable intelligence and a commitment to analyzing how power operates in and across societies, economies, and cultures. To guarantee a high level of interdisciplinary exchange, the program is designed to bring feminist studies doctoral students together with graduate minor students who are pursuing a disciplinary specialty in their own home department. Along with feminist studies, the contribution of queer and trans* studies—in regard to gender, sexuality, and biological bodies—is also a central component of our graduate program. We offer a wide variety of courses, with emphases in:
- Critical race and transnational feminisms
- Social movements
- Critical gender and sexualities, trans*, and queer studies
- Feminist ethnography and geography
- Feminist health, medicine, and science studies
- Intersections of race, ethnicity, and nationalism
Program Delivery
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program
is 3.50.
Other requirements to be completed before admission:
Preferred but not required:
·Academic training/undergraduate degree in gender, women, and/or sexuality studies, or related field
·Master’s degree in gender, women, and sexuality studies or a related field
·Activist or political advocacy in these areas is considered but not required
Special Application Requirements:
Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation, a writing sample, a current curriculum vitae, and a clearly written statement of career interests, goals, and objectives. The application deadline is December 1; all applications are evaluated once each year in December. Graduate study in the program begins in the fall semester following admission.
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
The preferred English language test is Test of English as Foreign Language.
Key to test
abbreviations
(TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the
General Information section of this
website.
Program Requirements
31
credits are required in the major.
12 credits are required outside the major. 24 thesis credits are required.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses towards program requirements is not permitted.
A minimum GPA of 3.50
is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 4 semesters must be completed
before filing a Degree Program Form.
Students may take up to two courses S/N, in consultation with the director of graduate studies.
Interdisciplinary Core and Required Courses (19 credits)
Required Core (12 credits)
Take the following courses:
GWSS 8107 - Feminist Pedagogies
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8108 - Genealogies of Feminist Theory
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8109 - Feminist Knowledge Production
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8111 - Transnational Feminist Theories
(3.0 cr)
Dissertation Workshop Requirement (3 credits)
Select one of the following in consultation with the advisor. GWSS 8997, if selected, must be taken for 3 credits.
GWSS 8997 - Dissertation Seminar
(3.0 cr)
or
DSSC 8211 - Doctoral Research Workshop in Development Studies and Social Change
(3.0 cr)
Colloquia Credits (4 credits)
Take 1 credit of GWSS 8996 for 4 semesters for a total of 4 credits. When registered for GWSS 8996, participation in all colloquium presentations and discussions, and written reflections on the presentations, is required. This course does not count towards the overall S/N limit.
GWSS 8996 - Feminist Studies Colloquium
(1.0 cr)
GWSS Seminars (9 credits)
Take 9 credits from the following in consultation with the advisor:
GWSS 5104 - Transnational Feminist Theory
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 5406 - Black Feminist Thought in the American and African Diasporas
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8103 - Feminist Theories of Knowledge
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8210 - Seminar: Feminist Theory & Praxis
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8220 - Seminar: Science, Technology & Environmental Justice
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8230 - Seminar: Cultural Criticism and Media Studies
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8250 - Seminar: Nation, State, and Citizenship
(1.0-3.0 cr)
GWSS 8260 - Seminar: Race, Representation and Resistance
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8270 - Seminar: Theories of Body
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8490 - Seminar: Transnational, Postcolonial, Diaspora
(3.0 cr)
GWSS 8993 - Directed Study
(1.0-6.0 cr)
Research Methods and Tools (3 credits)
Select at least 3 credits from the list below, or in consultation with the director of graduate studies. Up to 3 of these credits can be applied to the 12-credit requirement for outside coursework.
AMST 8201 - Historical Foundations of American Studies
(3.0 cr)
ANTH 8002 - Ethnography: Contemporary Theory and Practice
(3.0 cr)
ANTH 8203 - Research Methods in Social and Cultural Anthropology
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5211 - Critical Media Studies: Theory and Methods
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8211 - Critical Communication Studies: History, Theory, Method
(3.0 cr)
CSCL 8910 - Advanced Topics in Comparative Literature
(3.0-4.0 cr)
ENGL 8610 - Seminar in Language and Discourse Studies
(3.0 cr)
GEOG 8290 - Seminar in GIS and Cartography
(3.0 cr)
HIST 8015 - Scope and Methods of Historical Studies
(3.0 cr)
HIST 8031 - Doing Digital History
(3.0 cr)
HIST 8122 - Public Histories
(3.0 cr)
HSPH 8002 - Core Practices in Heritage Studies and Public History
(3.0 cr)
HSPH 8006 - Digital Methods for Heritage Studies & Public History
(3.0 cr)
SOC 8801 - Sociological Research Methods
(4.0 cr)
Outside Coursework (6 to 12 credits)
Take 6 to 12 credits from the following, in consultation with the director of graduate studies, to complete the required 12 credits of outside coursework. A graduate minor or other courses may be applied to this requirement with approval.
AFRO 5101 - Seminar: Introduction to Africa and the African Diaspora
(3.0 cr)
AFRO 5866 - The Civil Rights and Black Power Movement, 1954-1984
(3.0 cr)
AFRO 8202 - Seminar: Intellectual History of Race
(3.0 cr)
AFRO 8910 - Topics in Studies of Africa and the African Diaspora
(3.0 cr)
AMES 5866 - Gender and Sexuality in Modern Arabic Literature
(3.0 cr)
AMES 5920 - Topics in Asian Culture
(3.0 cr)
AMES 8993 - Directed Study
(1.0-4.0 cr)
AMIN 8301 - Critical Indigenous Theory
(3.0 cr)
AMIN 8910 - Topics in American Indian and Indigenous Studies
(1.0-3.0 cr)
AMST 8920 - Topics in American Studies
(3.0 cr)
AMST 8970 - Independent Study in American Studies
(1.0-9.0 cr)
ANTH 8810 - Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology
(3.0 cr)
ANTH 8992 - Directed Reading
(1.0-18.0 cr)
ARAB 5040 - Readings in Arabic Texts
(2.0-4.0 cr)
ARAB 5993 - Directed Studies
(1.0-5.0 cr)
BTHX 5520 - Social Justice and Bioethics
(3.0 cr)
CHIC 5412 - Comparative Indigenous Feminisms
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
CHIC 5920 - Topics in Chicana(o) Studies
(3.0 cr)
CHIC 5993 - Directed Studies
(1.0-3.0 cr)
COMM 5211 - Critical Media Studies: Theory and Methods
(3.0 cr)
COMM 5221 - Media, Race, and Identity
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8210 - Seminar: Selected Topics in U.S. Electronic Media
(3.0 cr)
COMM 8994 - Directed Research
(1.0-3.0 cr)
DNCE 5993 - Directed Studies
(1.0-4.0 cr)
DSSC 8111 - Approaches to Knowledge and Truth: Ways of Knowing in Development Studies and Social Change
(3.0 cr)
DSSC 8112 - Scholarship and Public Responsibility
(1.0 cr)
DSSC 8310 - Topics in Development Studies and Social Change
(1.0-3.0 cr)
ENGL 8400 - Seminar in Post-Colonial Literature, Culture, and Theory
(3.0 cr)
ENGL 8610 - Seminar in Language and Discourse Studies
(3.0 cr)
ENGW 8120 - Seminar: Writing of Poetry
(4.0 cr)
ENGW 8130 - Seminar: Writing of Literary Nonfiction
(4.0 cr)
GEOG 8230 - Theoretical Geography
(3.0 cr)
GEOG 8290 - Seminar in GIS and Cartography
(3.0 cr)
GEOG 8980 - Topics: Geography
(1.0-3.0 cr)
GIS 5576 - Spatial Digital Humanities
(3.0 cr)
GLOS 5403 - Human Rights Advocacy
(3.0 cr)
GLOS 5993 - Directed Studies
(1.0-4.0 cr)
HIST 5932 - The Production of Knowledge, Negotiating the Past, and the Writing of African Histories
(3.0 cr)
HIST 8910 - Topics in U.S. History
(1.0-4.0 cr)
HIST 8960 - Topics in History
(1.0-4.0 cr)
HIST 8993 - Directed Study
(1.0-16.0 cr)
HMED 8002 - Foundations in the History of Modern Medicine, 1800-present
(3.0 cr)
HSPH 8003 - Race and Indigeneity in Heritage Representation
(3.0 cr)
PHIL 8110 - Seminar: Metaphysics
(3.0 cr)
PHIL 8510 - Seminar: Aesthetics Studies
(3.0 cr)
POL 8201 - Understanding Political Theory
(3.0 cr)
POL 8260 - Topics in Political Theory
(3.0 cr)
PUBH 6115 - Worker Protection Law
(1.0 cr)
SOC 8093 - Directed Study
(1.0-4.0 cr)
TH 8120 - Seminar
(3.0 cr)
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Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmSt 8801/GWSS 8997 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Afro 4406/Afro 5406/GWSS 4406/ |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
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Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
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Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
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Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -6.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 -4.0 [max 24.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CL 8910/CSCL 8910/CSDS 8910 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Hist 8031/HSPH 8006 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Hist 8031/HSPH 8006 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Afro 3866/Afro 5866/Hist 3856 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 16.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -9.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -18.0 [max 54.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 2.0 -4.0 [max 9.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 -5.0 [max 20.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 5412/Chic 3412/GWSS 3515/ |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 16.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 18.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 10.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 9.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 8.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 30.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | GloS 5403/Law 6058 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 12.0] |
Prerequisites: | #, %, @ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Afro 5932/Hist 5932 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 15.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 20.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -16.0 [max 16.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 20.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -24.0 [max 24.0] |
Grading Basis: | No Grade |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |