Women's and Gender Studies, M.A.

Saint Louis University's Master of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies provides an interdisciplinary education about contemporary social justice issues, preparing students for leadership and advocacy roles in community or academic settings.

While gender is the primary focus, each course and the discipline as a whole examine gender in light of race, ethnicity, class, sexual identity, ability, age and religion. The discipline teaches students to think critically and to engage in the world as responsible citizens.

Curriculum Overview

SLU's master’s degree in women’s and gender studies requires 30 credits. Students will take five core courses covering feminist theories, feminist epistemologies, feminist research design or program evaluation, current feminist issues and a graduate-level internship.

Students can then choose five elective courses from dozens of choices in women's and gender studies; political science; African-American studies; philosophy; English; history; languages, literatures and cultures; visual and performing arts; social work; and law, among others.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Students are required to complete at least one graduate-level internship under the supervision of a faculty member. There may also be opportunities for students to collaborate with faculty members on their research, depending on students’ and faculty members’ research interests.

Careers

The SLU M.A. in women’s and gender studies prepares students for:

  • Careers in community organizing, nonprofit organizations, government service, health care, business, the arts and policy research.
  • Doctoral work in women’s and gender studies and related fields.
  • Professional schools, including public health, law, social work and public policy.

Admission Requirements

A GPA of 3.30 or above is preferred. The M.A. program is interdisciplinary and welcomes applicants from all academic fields.

Application Requirements

  • Application form and fee
  • Transcript(s)
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Résumé
  • Statement of purpose
  • Writing sample (preferably related to women’s and gender studies)

Requirements for International Students 

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

  • Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
  • Financial documents are required to complete an application for admission and be reviewed for admission and merit scholarships. 
  • Proof of financial support that must include:
    • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
    • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University
  • Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
    • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
    • Practical laboratory work
    • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
    • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
    • Any honors or degrees received.

WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Tuition

Tuition Cost Per Credit
Graduate Tuition $1,370

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships, Assistantships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, apply by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award. 

Explore Scholarships and Financial Aid Options

  1. Graduates will be able to assess relevant literature or scholarly contributions in women's and gender studies.
  2. Graduates will be able to apply the major practices, theories or research methodologies in women's and gender studies.
  3. Graduates will be able to use feminist perspectives to examine problems in transnational, national and local contexts.
  4. Graduates will be able to articulate arguments or explanations to both a disciplinary or professional audience and to a general audience, in both oral and written forms.
  5. Graduates will be able to demonstrate scholarly and/or professional integrity in women's and gender studies.
  6. Graduates will be able to discuss the diversity of women's experiences and their roots in the intersection of social locations like gender, race and class.
Required Courses
WGST 5010Feminist Theories3
WGST 5020Feminist Epistemologies3
WGST 5030Feminist Research Design3
or WGST 5050 Program Evaluation
WGST 5040Current Feminist Issues3
WGST 5910Graduate Internship3
Elective Courses
Select five graduate courses with either a WGST number, cross-listing or attribute, such as:15
Gender and American Politics
Women and Global Issues
Diversity & Anti-Oppression Practice
Citizenship and Social Difference
Middle English Literature
Romanticism
19th Century English Literature
20th Century Postcolonial Literature
American Political Thought
Employment Discrimination
Family Law
Total Credits30

Non-Course Requirements

A capstone project and presentation based on either an internship or research developed through coursework is also required.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
Participation in First Year Grad Student Orientation and Department Events (e.g., speakers, brown bag seminars)  
Elective 1 3
WGST 5010 Feminist Theories 3
WGST 5030
Feminist Research Design
or Current Feminist Issues
or Program Evaluation
or Graduate Internship
3
 Credits9
Spring
Participation in Department Events (e.g., speakers, brown bag seminars)  
WGST 5020 Feminist Epistemologies 3
WGST 5030
Feminist Research Design
or Program Evaluation
3
 Credits6
Year Two
Fall
Participation in Department Events (e.g., speakers, brown bag seminars)  
Elective 1 3
Elective 1 3
Elective 1 3
 Credits9
Spring
Completion of Capstone Project and Oral Defense  
WGST 5040 Current Feminist Issues 3
Elective 1 3
 Credits6
 Total Credits30
1

A minimum of 9 credits of electives must be courses that are cross-listed with WGS. If a graduate class is not already cross-listed as a women’s and gender studies course, it is possible to request permission for it to count towards the elective requirement.

For more information about our program, contact:

Women's and Gender Studies
wstd@slu.edu