This Women's History Month, the School of Social Transformation is wrapping up its first year with a new online master's degree in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies. The degree, which launched in the fall 2023, allows students to develop analytic and research skills to understand gender in relation to race, class, sexuality, disability, indigeneity and nationality and apply such insights to advance gender-sensitive strategies.
In Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies professor, Alicia Woodbury’s, Interdisciplinary Gender Research Methodologies course, her students examine the ways feminist scholars conceptualize and design their research. They explore the decisions scholars make in their research and learn how to apply critical thinking and research methodologies to challenge traditional conventions of gender and sexuality.
“This master’s program exists because of the efforts of Women's Rights activists over the past 200+ years,” stated professor Woodbury. “It was feminist activists in the mid-20th century who demanded space for Women Studies-- and later Gender, Sexuality, and Queer Studies. Courses and programs across the United States, the scholarship that the students study, and the projects that they plan are part of a larger history of addressing gender-based inequalities and seeking justice for all people in every facet of society. Students are developing projects that focus on issues within education, violence, media, and family life, and each project has an applied component to it, meaning that the students are specifically thinking through the ways in which their academic work can contribute to social transformation outside of the university.”
“As the academic heart of ASU, The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is committed to creating top-notch programs for all learners,” said Magda Hinojosa, dean of social sciences at The College. “This degree program is the first fully online master’s degree in gender, women and sexuality studies in the country. It will open doors for a range of students, including nontraditional students in various circumstances, to benefit from a degree of this type.”
Professor Michelle Vlahoulis stated, “to quote Gerder Lerner, a famous feminist historian and one of the founders of the field of women’s history, “Women's history is women's right-an essential, indispensable heritage from which we can draw pride, comfort, courage, and long range vision.” A degree in the field of Women and Gender Studies explores the challenges and barriers women have faced, recognizes their contributions that have so often been overlooked and honors the accomplishments made. An advanced degree in this field continues this important work, provides this inclusive history and gives students the tools to implement social change.”
Over the last year, students have been diligently working towards their degree and have found great mentorship with their professors. Skylar Mclaughlin, MA student, stated, “So far my favorite aspect of this program has been the content and the professors. I have had the chance, already, to access such enriching materials that are helping me to think and work in new ways. My professor has also been great! She is so understanding and respectful and seems to really care about what and how she teaches.”
Learn more and apply to the Online Master of Arts in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies here.