Accepting Applications for the PhD program in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University

Our program focuses on women of color feminisms, transnational feminisms, and queer feminist studies, offering PhD 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.

The PhD in WGSS at OSU is the first and only PhD in WGSS in Oregon. Oregon State University is a leading research university located in Corvallis, a vibrant college town in the heart of Western Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Corvallis consistently ranks among the best cities to live in the United States.

Our nationally and internationally recognized core faculty are committed to transformative scholarship, pedagogy and activism.
 

Program Admissions Requirements:

  • Masters (MA or MS) in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies or related field with significant gender/sexuality component
  • Minimum 3.5 GPA in a master’s program
  • List of possible dissertation supervisors based on research interests
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose 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.

ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS AND FORM

Prospective PhD students will enter the program with a master’s degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies or a related discipline and will complete 72 credits (36 dissertation credits, 39-40 course credits) beyond their MA (in excess of the university requirement of 108 credits for the PhD). No more than two “slash” courses will be accepted toward the degree.

Some of the required courses are also part of the requirements for the MA. If a student completes the MA at OSU and is accepted into the PhD program, that student will take alternative courses as deterrmined by the faculty.

Requirements for the PhD in WGSS

Students in the PhD program in WGSS should complete the following requirements:

Required Courses (27-28 credits):

WGSS 611. Colloquium (1 credit) (Students must take 4 terms of colloquium and must present dissertation research once.)

WGSS 616. Multiracial, Transnational, Queer Feminisms I (4 credits)

WGSS 617. Multiracial, Transnational, Queer Feminisms II (4 credits)

WGSS 620. Social Justice Theory and Practice (4 credits)

WGSS 619. Decolonizing Methodologies (4 credits) and/or WGSS 518. Feminist Research (4

            credits); WGSS 555. Feminist Textual Methods and Discourse Analysis (4 credits); or

            another graduate level methods course

WGSS 521. Feminist Leadership (4 credits)

WGSS 535. Feminist Teaching and Learning (4 credits) or WGSS 542. The Inclusive

            Classroom (3 credits)

Elective Coursework (12 Credits):

All PhD students must also take 12 credits of WGSS elective courses

Thesis (36 credits):

All PhD students must take at least 36 credits of thesis/dissertation credits

WGSS 603. Thesis (36 credits). You cannot enroll in thesis/dissertation credits until you have passed all of your comprehensive exams and have become a PhD Candidate.

Total includes 75-76 credits.