WANDA RUSHING, PhD
Program Director
Room 107, Scates Hall
(901) 678-3550

Email: wrushing@memphis.edu

http://isc.memphis.edu/wmst/

I. Description of Program

The Women's Studies Program offers graduate training leading to the Master of Arts degree in Women's Studies. The interdisciplinary program is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in Women's Studies for students seeking work beyond the bachelor's level, whether for self-enrichment or in preparation for doctoral work or a variety of careers. Students choose a concentration in either Cultural Studies or Inequality and Social Policy.

Program objectives are: (1) development of interdisciplinary understanding of the social, political, and cultural roles of gender and race in global history and contemporary U.S. society; (2) ability to write a research paper of sufficient quality to be presented at a professional meeting or conference; (3) practical experience in the application of theoretical concepts of gender and race to social and cultural phenomena in their environments; and (4) an appreciation of and the ability to synthesize theoretical perspectives on gender and race from both the humanities and the social sciences.

 All graduate students must comply with the general requirements of the Graduate School (see Admissions Regulations, Academic Regulations, and Minimum Degree Requirements) as well as the program requirements of the degree being pursued.

II. M.A. Degree Program

A. Program Admission

Students desiring admission to the graduate program in Women's Studies should contact the Director of the Women's Studies Program as early as possible in the admissions process.

1. Admission to the Graduate School is required.
2. Prospective applicants should write directly to the Women's Studies Program to request information and application forms. (Information and application forms are also available at the Women's Studies Web site, http://cas.memphis.edu/isc/wmst).
3. The Program admits students for both fall and spring semesters and applications for admission to the Program are considered throughout the year.
4. All application materials from those wishing to apply for a graduate assistantship, however, must be received by February 15.

B. Program Prerequisites

1. A bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university.
2. A minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Graduate Record Examination results, which will be considered within the context of the applicant's overall academic record.
4. Acceptable performance on the GRE Writing Assessment.
5. Three letters of recommendation from people qualified to judge the applicant's ability to undertake graduate work. Form letters for this purpose can be obtained from the office of the Women's Studies Program.
6. A one- to two-page Statement of Purpose from the applicant setting out reasons for seeking admission to the Women's Studies Program.
7. A 7-15-page sample of the applicant's academic or professional writing.

C. Program Requirements

1. Thirty-six hours of class work, 26 of which must be at or above the 7000 level, that must include:
   1. Nine hours of core courses are required of students in both concentrations:
      1. WMST 7300, Understanding Women's Lives
      2. WMST 7310, Women, Race, and Social Inequality
      3. WMST 7320, Women and Multi-Cultural Expressions
   2. Twelve hours in the area of concentration.
   3. Nine to 12 hours of electives, which must be agreed upon by the student’s advisor.
   4. Three to six hours in the capstone project, WMST 7350.
2. A written comprehensive examination covering Women's Studies and the student's concentration.

III. Graduate Certificate Program in Women’s Studies
The Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies is an interdisciplinary program open to students currently admitted to any graduate program at the University of Memphis. It is also available to graduate students enrolled at another institution, as well as to individuals holding a graduate degree who wish to pursue further professional credentials. The program draws on the expertise of faculty from different departments and colleges, including the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education, and Business; therefore, the academic program for each student will be individually crafted in consultation with the Women’s Studies Program director.

The certificate provides recipients with a specific and documented knowledge of Women’s Studies. Not only an advantage to those pursuing advanced degrees in related fields, the certificate program’s special emphasis on race and class as well as gender satisfies the demands of a labor market increasingly oriented toward those trained in managing diversity and services for women.

A. Admission to the Program

1. Students currently admitted to a graduate program at the University of Memphis or other university, as well as students already holding a graduate degree, may apply for admission to the Graduate Certificate Program in Women’s Studies.
2. For students enrolled in a graduate program, a minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for admission.
3. In rare instances, individuals who have completed an undergraduate degree program but who have neither completed a graduate degree nor been admitted to a graduate program may be considered for admission as Non-Degree Seeking students. Each such application will be considered on an individual basis.
4. Students must apply to both the certificate program and the Graduate School. To apply, students submit:
5. 1. Transcript of undergraduate degree program and transcripts of prior and current graduate study
   2. Two letters of recommendation
   3. A letter describing reasons why the student is interested in pursuing a graduate certificate in the area of Women’s Studies and how the program corresponds with prior experience and anticipated career plans
   4. GRE scores are required and are an important factor in admission
   5. A minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL or 210 on the computer-based TOEFL and a minimum score of 50 on the Test of Spoken English (for students whose native language is not English)

B. Program Requirements

1. 1. The certificate program requires completion of twelve (12) semester credit hours.
2. Six (6) credit hours must be met by satisfactory completion of two Women’s Studies core courses: WMST 7300 Understanding Women’s Lives: Multidisciplinary Theories and Methods (3 hours) AND WMST 7310 Women, Race, and Social Inequality (3 hours) OR WMST 7320 Women and Multicultural Expression (3 hours).
3. Six (6) elective hours will be selected in consultation with the Women’s Studies Program director.
4. In order to continue in the program, students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.

WOMEN’S STUDIES (WMST)