The George Washington University - Columbian College of Arts & Sciences
MA in Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies
Washington, USA
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 59,294 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
Key Summary
About: The MA in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at The George Washington University Columbian College lets you design an individualized programme combining coursework with agency placements in Washington, DC. You'll build depth through a four-course concentration in a discipline (anthropology, sociology) or topic (women and health, race and gender). It emphasizes research, critical thinking, collaboration, internships, and applied skills for careers in policy, advocacy, leadership.
Career Outcomes: Graduates pursue public policy, nonprofit leadership, business, and law roles, working as policy analysts, program managers, advocates, researchers. Related paths include health policy, international development, diversity and inclusion, legal advocacy, research institutions.
In the pioneering Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Master of Arts degree program, students create an individualized program of study that combines course work with opportunities for practical experience at top agencies and organizations in the nation's capital. Graduates gain the professional skills needed to become competitive participants in the realm of public policy, nonprofit leadership, business, law and more.
Students are expected to develop intellectual depth and a degree of expertise through a four-course concentration in either a specific discipline or a topical area. Examples of specific disciplines include anthropology, sociology, English, history and philosophy, among others. Examples of topical areas include women and health, international development, race and gender and LGBT sexuality.
The following requirements must be fulfilled
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.
The following requirements must be fulfilled: 36 credits, including 12 credits in core courses, 3 credits in practicum or thesis research, and 21 credits in elective courses.
Required
- WGSS 6220 Fundamentals of Feminist Theory
- WGSS 6221 Research Issues in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
- WGSS 6225 Contemporary Feminist Theory or
- WGSS 6230 Global Feminisms
- WGSS 6299 Capstone Research Seminar
Practicum or thesis (3 credits)
- WGSS 6283 Practicum in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies or
- WGSS 6999 Thesis Research
Electives
With the advisor’s approval, students develop a four-course (12 credit) concentration. In addition, they take three elective courses (9 credits) that may or may not be related to their chosen concentration.
The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) offers funding opportunities in all doctoral and master's programs. These awards differ by level and by program. PhD students are typically offered full funding packages (full tuition, living stipend, and graduate assistantship). CCAS offers merit-based partial tuition awards to many of the students admitted to our PsyD and master's programs; some of these programs also offer graduate assistantships as well as small stipend awards.