Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Students in this specialization choose two of the three core course offered, MALS 72100, Feminist Texts and Contexts, MALS 72200, Contemporary Feminist Theories, and MALS 72300, Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies. These core courses prepare students for doctoral-level courses with a Graduate Center faculty that includes pioneers and eminent scholars in these fields. Depending on their interests and expertise, students take courses in such disciplines as literature, history, psychology, and sociology, as well as in the various interdisciplinary programs for doctoral students.

Students will benefit from the many courses offered by the certificate program in Women’s Studies and the interdisciplinary studies concentration in Lesbian and Gay Studies. Public programs sponsored by the Center for the Study of Women and Society and the CLAGS: The Center for LGBTQ Studies, both at The Graduate Center, will also enrich the experience of students enrolled in this specialization.

Degree Requirements

MALS students take four classes within the program — Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies, two core courses in their chosen concentration, and the thesis/capstone project — and choose their remaining electives from among courses offered across the doctoral and certificate programs in the Social Sciences and Humanities at The Graduate Center.

This master's degree program requires the following coursework for a total of 30 credits:

• A required introductory course [MALS 70000: Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies] (3 credits).
• Two required core courses to prepare students for doctoral-level courses in the fields of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality studies. Students choose out of three core courses offered [MALS 72100, MALS 72200, and MALS 72300] (6 credits).
• 18 credits from courses of the student's choice that are relevant to the student’s concentration or studies
• A master's thesis/capstone project [MALS 79000] (3 credits).

Core Courses

• MALS 72100 Feminist Texts and Contexts
• MALS 72200 Contemporary Feminist Theories
• MALS 72300 Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies

Elective Courses

Electives can be chosen among courses offered across most of the doctoral and certificate programs in the Social Sciences and the Humanities at The Graduate Center.

For related coursework in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, students may look to offerings in the certificate program in Women’s Studies, the interdisciplinary studies concentration in Lesbian and Gay Studies, and the doctoral programs in Anthropology, English, History, and,  Sociology.

Library Resources

Visit the GC Mina Rees Library's Women's Studies Research Guide and LGBT Studies Research Guide.
Students' contact for Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies research is reference librarian Elvis Bakaitis.

associated faculty

Other faculty, who have taught core courses or electives for this concentration or supervised theses and capstones, include James Wilson (Theatre and Performance, Africana Studies).