The Graduate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies is designed for students enrolled in a graduate program in any field who wish to complement their advanced training and scholarly work with an additional specialization in Women’s and Gender Studies.
Research and study in Women's and Gender Studies helps students:
- identify and assess gender-based assumptions and biases and to recognize their social, cultural and individual consequences;
- analyze and integrate perspectives and bodies of knowledge across disciplines, and develop your critical thinking skills in ways that will complement and enhance your training in any other field;
- prepare for careers in non-profit organizations, businesses, the creative arts, education, government and public policy, journalism, law, social work, and more;
- become empowered to participate in public debate and act for social change.
To pursue this certificate, students must be enrolled in a graduate degree program or already hold a graduate degree. Acceptance to this graduate certificate also requires a minimum 2.75 GPA from the undergraduate degree.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Eligibility and Admission
To pursue this certificate, students must be enrolled in a graduate degree program or already hold a graduate degree.
Application
- Students wishing to obtain this certificate must declare their intention by applying to the program office or director.
- All graduate certificate applicants—even those already enrolled in a UWM graduate program—must apply to the Graduate School through the Panthera Admission Application.
- Graduate degree and previously admitted graduate non-degree students who decide to pursue a certificate program must submit the Panthera application before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence.
- Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted in to a certificate program.
Credits and Courses
The Graduate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies requires completion of 15 credits in approved courses with an overall GPA of 3.0. The following are required:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| WGS 401 | Global Feminisms | 3 |
| WGS 700 | Feminist Issues and Scholarship (G) | 3 |
| WGS 710 | Advanced Feminist Theory (G) | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 6 credits from a combination of WGS and approved cross-listed Graduate (G) or Undergraduate/Graduate (U/G) courses in other programs and departments | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| 1 | Students who have previously earned undergraduate credit in this course will substitute, with approval of the DGS, a graduate course with a focus on globalization and women. |
No more than 6 credits in U/G courses can apply toward the certificate, and a maximum of three credits in independent study may count toward the 15 credits required for the certificate. Thesis and research credits may not be counted toward the Certificate.
Certificate Requirements
Transfer Credit
No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.
Grade Point Average Requirement
A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.
Articulation with Degree Programs
- Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting UWM graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
- Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
- All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UWM graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree. (Note: Students in PhD programs must still complete the minimum residency requirements)
- Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
- Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
- A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
- Students may not earn a certificate subsequent to a concentration in the same area.
Time Limit
Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:
- 18 or fewer credits/Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
- 19 or more credits/Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.