University of Pittsburgh: Women's Studies

The Women's Studies Program offers both a Master's and a PhD certificate. Interested students should make an appointment with the Director of Women's Studies to discuss options for a course of study and to complete advising and application forms.

To apply to the Graduate Certificate Program, each student must meet with the Director of Women's Studies to complete the Arts and Sciences Application for Admission to the Certificate Program, the Admissions Credentials Evaluation, and the Women's Studies Advising Form.

Master's Program Certificate

Graduate students at the University of Pittsburgh, or students who have already completed an undergraduate degree (at Pitt or elsewhere), may apply to pursue a master’s certificate in Women’s Studies.

The Master’s Certificate consists of four courses (12 credits) and completion of a research paper.

Four courses counting toward a master’s degree offered by or cross-listed with WS. At least one must be outside the candidate’s major discipline. Candidates should take at least two courses in one “field” (as designated in the candidate’s concept statement). Students can petition to have accepted unlisted graduate courses with a substantial women’s studies component or a major project in women’s studies.
No more than one course may be an independent study or directed reading. Students may select Women’s Studies 2902 (Directed Study).
All courses must be passed with at least a “B” grade.
Students should complete a research paper to be read by two faculty designated by the Women’s Studies graduate committee (see below).
Students should register with Women’s Studies and discuss their program of study with the director or another Women’s Studies core faculty member at the beginning of their course of study.

This research paper is designated as a paper of length, ambition, and scope appropriate to the master’s level. It should be neither simply an uncritical review of research nor a survey of Women’s Studies, but should be a sustained piece of graduate-level work, prepared under the supervision of a faculty advisor appointed by the director of the Women’s Studies Program in consultation with the master’s certificate candidate.

The paper may be written explicitly for the certificate requirement or written to satisfy a directed or independent study, or it may be a revised course paper or a section of a master’s thesis or dissertation. It may take the form of empirical research, a critical review of empirical research with a substantial agenda of theoretical or empirical direction for the field, a sustained critical essay, a multi-media or hyper-media project, or other form approved by the director of the Women’s Studies Program. The paper should involve creativity in its analysis and should demonstrate the student’s own contribution to knowledge in a disciplinary or interdisciplinary context.

Students should submit a one-page proposal for this paper to the director of Women’s Studies and to the Women’s Studies faculty advisor when appointed. The completed paper will be read by two faculty designated by the director of Women’s Studies, usually the faculty advisor and another member of the Women’s Studies graduate committee.

Doctoral Program Certificate

University of Pittsburgh doctoral students in any area may apply to pursue a certificate in Women’s Studies (WS). The certificate is awarded and recorded on doctoral student transcripts in conjunction with completion of the appropriate advanced degree. Both the Master's and PhD Certificate programs are open to doctoral students.

The DOCTORAL CERTIFICATE consists of six courses (18 credits) and completion of a research paper.

Six courses counting toward a graduate degree offered by or cross-listed with Women’s Studies. At least two must be outside the candidate’s major discipline. Candidates should take at least three courses in one “field” (as designated in the candidate’s concept statement). Students can petition to have accepted unlisted graduate courses with a substantial Women’s Studies component or a major project in Women’s Studies.
No more than two courses may be independent study or directed reading. Students may select Women’s Studies 2902 (Directed Study).
At least one course (3 credits) must be an interdisciplinary WOMNST course, other than Independent Reading or Directed Study.
All courses must be passed by at least a “B” grade.
Students should complete a research paper to be read by a member of Women’s Studies and another member of the graduate faculty (see below).
Students should register with the WS and discuss their program of study with the Director or another WS core faculty member at the beginning of their course of study.
Students should register with the FAS Dean of Graduate Studies office.

This research paper is designated as a paper of length, ambition and scope for publication as a scholarly article. It should be neither simply an uncritical review of research nor a survey of Women’s Studies, but should be a sustained piece of advanced work, prepared under the supervision of a faculty sponsor appointed by the Director of the Women’s Studies Program in consultation with the doctoral certificate candidate. The paper may be written explicitly for the certificate requirement, written to satisfy a directed or independent study, or it may be a revised course paper, or a section of a dissertation. In its content and scope, it must integrate theories, ideas, and implications from several areas of interest within Women’s Studies. It may take the form of empirical research, a critical review of empirical research with a substantial agenda of theoretical or empirical direction for the field, a sustained critical essay, a journal article intended for publication, a multi-media or hyper-media project, or other form approved by the director of the Women’s Studies Program. The paper should demonstrate creativity in its analysis and the student’s own contribution to knowledge in a disciplinary or interdisciplinary context.

Students should submit a one-page proposal for this paper to the director of Women’s Studies and to the Women’s Studies faculty sponsor when appointed. Two designated faculty, usually the faculty sponsor and another member of the graduate faculty, will read the completed paper.

All Women’s Studies Certificates are issued through the School of Arts and Sciences, regardless of the graduate school you are enrolled in. You must follow Arts and Sciences deadlines for applying for degrees to receive your Women's Studies Certificate. A late fee is assessed if you miss the deadline.

Complete all required courses with a B or better grade
Complete a research paper to be read by two faculty members, each of whom must sign the Signature Page. A copy of the research paper with Signature Page must be received by the appropriate deadline:

June 15 for August graduation

A separate certificate will be mailed to you after graduation. It is important to make sure that the program has a current mailing address.

Women's Studies Graduate Certificate Programs

Master's Program Certificate

Doctoral Program Certificate