M.A. in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at OSU

Our program focuses on women of color feminisms, transnational feminisms, and queer feminist studies, offering students critical foundations in both theory and practice. We offer our students both the intellectual and applied skills to serve as activist-scholars and global citizens, prepared to engage matters of social justice within public, private, and academic spheres.


Program Admission Requirements

  • List of possible M.A. supervisors based on research interests
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement of no more than 750 words specifically detailing why you are interested in a graduate program in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University and how your past experiences contribute to your future goals.
  • Writing sample (no more than 20 pages)
  • Current CV

  • GRE (Optional): The WGSS Program does not require the GRE. However, GRE scores are sometimes used by the Graduate School to help determine additional funding opportunities.

Requirements for the MA in WGSS

The MA in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies requires 42-43 credits that include:

 

Required Core Coursework (15 credits):

WGSS 511. Orientation and Professionalization I (1 credit)

WGSS 512. Orientation and Professionalization II (1 credit)

WGSS 513. Orientation and Professionalization III (1 credit)

WGSS 514. Systems of Oppression in Women’s Lives (4 credits)

WGSS 516. Theories of Feminism (4 credits)

WGSS 518. Feminist Research (4 credits)

WGSS 503. Thesis (6 credits)

 

Sequence Electives (15-16 credits):

MA students must also take at least two courses from the Cluster Sequence #1: Women of Color Feminisms/Queer of Color Feminisms, and at least one course each from Cluster Sequence #2 Global/Transnational Feminisms and Cluster Sequence #3 Feminist Praxis.

 

Cluster Sequence #1: WGSS 530. Women of Color Feminisms (8 credits)

 

All MA students must take at least two of the following courses:

ES/QS/WGSS 531. Queer of Color Critiques (4 credits.)

ES/WGSS 575. Critical Race Feminisms (4 credits)

ES/QS/WGSS 577. Queer/Trans People of Color Arts and Activism (4 credits)

WGSS 583. Race, Gender, and Health Justice (4 credits)

 

Cluster Sequence #2: Global/Transnational Feminisms (4 credits)

 

All MA students must take at least one of the following courses:

ES/QS/WGSS 572. Indigenous Queer and Two-Spirit Studies (4 credits)

QS/WGSS 576. Transnational Sexualities (4 credits)

WGSS 582. Global Perspectives on Women’s Health (4 credits)

WGSS 585. Transnational Feminisms (4 credits)

WGSS 595. Global Feminist Theologies (4 credits)

 

Cluster Sequence #3: Feminist Praxis (3-4 credits)

 

All MA students must take at least one of the following courses. Please note that WGSS 586/587/588 Global Experience I, II, and III together constitute the equivalent of one 3-credit course within the Feminist Praxis Cluster.

WGSS 510. Internship (1-4 credits)

WGSS 521. Feminist Leadership (4 credits)

WGSS 535. Feminist Teaching and Learning (4 credits)

WGSS 542. The Inclusive Classroom: Difference, Power, and Discrimination (3 credits)

WGSS 586. Global Experience I (1 credit)

WGSS 587. Global Experience II (1 credit)

WGSS 588. Global Experience III (1 credit)

 

Elective Coursework (6 credits)

All MA students must also complete at least 6 elective credits of coursework in WGSS listed in any of the cluster electives or other courses offered by WGSS or another department.

 

Total required = 42-43 credits (depending on cluster choices)

 

MA Language Proficiency

In addition, MA students must demonstrate 2nd year proficiency in a second language as demonstrated by two years of a college language sequence on the transcript; scoring at second year proficiency on a language placement test; or completing the 213 course of a language sequence while enrolled in the WGSS M.A. program. Please discuss your language proficiency requirements with the Director of Graduate Studies and your academic advisor or major professor. Links to complete the required forms for the Graduate School are available here: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/grad_school/phpforms/ma_fl_req.php