Gender Studies, Certificate


At a Glance: program details



Are you a graduate student who intends to pursue a career related to gender studies, with plans to teach or perform research? Through the interdisciplinary training of this program, you'll become better equipped to tackle important contemporary issues with extensive knowledge about gender research, gender theory and the ways that gender is structured into our society and culture.

Program Description

Certificate Awarded: Gender Studies (certificate)

The graduate certificate program in gender studies offers graduate students the opportunity to enhance their advanced degrees with demonstrated proficiency in and knowledge about gender research and theories that they may apply in their own fields.

The certificate is pursued in tandem with any graduate degree program at ASU.


Degree Requirements

Curriculum Plan Options

  • 15 credit hours

Required Core (6 credit hours)
WST 601 Critical Concepts of Gender (3)
WST 602 Mapping the Intersections of Gender (3)

Electives (9 credit hours)

Additional Curriculum Information
Elective courses may be chosen from other WST graduate courses or from more than 30 approved courses from other departments throughout the university. Other courses may also be used with the graduate director's approval.

Up to six credit hours not used for another ASU degree or certificate can be transferred from another university, with the graduate director's approval. Courses should be recorded on the transfer section of the student's interactive program of study.


Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

International students who need an F1 or J1 visa first need to apply to and be accepted into a graduate degree program prior to being considered for the certificate program. International students residing in the U.S. on other types of visas must adhere to all Graduate College policies and procedures regarding admission to be considered for admission to this certificate program.

The certificate is not offered as a stand-alone, certificate-only program. It is open only to degree-seeking students. However, up to nine credit hours of ASU nondegree credit can be transferred into the program for those who eventually gain admission into an ASU graduate degree program.

Students should see the program website for more information about the certificate and to design coursework.


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Learning Outcomes

  • Will gain an understanding of the key concepts, theoretical frameworks, interdisciplinary approaches and critical debates that have shaped the field of gender studies
  • Will gain an understanding of theoretical concepts, metaphors and frameworks employed by feminist scholars to understand the way gender articulates with other categories of difference

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program have gone on to careers at universities, research and policy institutes, government organizations and nonprofit organizations.

Global Opportunities

Global Experience

With over 250 programs in more than 65 countries (ranging from one week to one year), study abroad is possible for all ASU students wishing to gain global skills and knowledge in preparation for a 21st-century career. Students earn ASU credit for completed courses, while staying on track for graduation, and may apply financial aid and scholarships toward program costs. https://mystudyabroad.asu.edu

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.