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Admission Requirements

Students who wish to be admitted to the Graduate Certificate Program in Women's Studies must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a graduate program at BGSU

Or, for the stand-alone certificate:

• hold a bachelor degree with a 3.0 minimum grade point average
• Have completed a graduate degree in any area.

Application Process

Students must apply to the Graduate College at BGSU for general admission. Admission forms can found at http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/gradcol/page24959.html or be picked up at the Women's Studies Program office at 226 East Hall.

In addition to the application required by the Graduate College , applicants to the Certificate Program must submit the following to the Women's Studies Program:

Two letters of recommendation from recent instructors, employers, or other individuals qualified to evaluate probable success in the program. (Students currently enrolled in another BGSU graduate program may have their letters of recommendation already on file sent to the WS Program).

A personal statement of intent delineating the purpose for enrolling in the program and outlining career goals (no more than 3 pages).

Careful attention is given to these materials.

Certificate Structure

The Certificate Program has an interdisciplinary emphasis and consists of 5 courses across disciplines, plus a 1 credit hour independent Capstone project. Upon acceptance to the program, students will be assigned an advisor with whom they will develop their course of study.

Certificate Program Advisors

Each student admitted to the women's studies certificate program will be assigned a temporary certificate advisor. The student may change advisors at anytime during her/his course of study, but must have a permanent certificate program advisor in place before commencing the capstone project. Women's Studies certificate program advisors will be Affiliated Faculty who are graduate faculty in good standing and who agree to serve in this capacity.

Certificate Requirements

All students will successfully complete:

• WS 620, Contemporary Feminist Theories (3 credits)
• WS 786, Independent Study in Women's Studies / Capstone project (1 credit hour)
• 4 additional courses approved by their advisor
• No more than two elective courses may be taken in any single department/program.
• Students may also select WS 686, Independent Study in Women's Studies, or WS 690, Directed Research in Women's Studies, as one elective.
• Students may also take a course that centers gender issues and feminist approaches that does not appear on the approved list if approved by the graduate coordinator for the certificate program.

Current Description of Capstone

The Capstone project may be an empirical or conceptual research study, a review of the feminist literature on a topic of interest, or a practical project (e.g., development of teaching portfolio, curriculum, or workshop). The student and her or his certificate advisor will agree on the topic, structure, and criteria for the capstone project.

All students must file a final version of the Capstone in the Women's Studies Department before receiving the Certificate.

Prerequisites for Capstone:

• Formal admittance into the Certificate program
• WS 620 Contemporary Feminist Theory
• Completion of 3 additional courses toward the WS Certificate
• Approval of topic by advisor and WS Director/Graduate Coordinator

 

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WS Certificate Program Flowchart

Apply for the Graduate Certificate Program

Complete Required Coursework

File Certificate Plan of Study (CPS) with Graduate College

(formerly called TCP)

 

WS Capstone Project 

Capstone project approved by your WS Certificate advisor 
Submit form to enroll in WS 786 to the WS graduate coordinator/director 
Complete Capstone project

 

Apply for Graduation

Submit Certificate Completion Form to Graduate College
Submit Application for Graduation form to Graduate College

 

File Completed Capstone Project with WS Program

 

Graduate with Women's Studies Certificate

 

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Women's Studies Graduate Courses
Spring 2009:

WS 620 Feminist Theory T 6:00-9:00 Kim Coates
WS 680 Represent. & Present. in Qual Research M 2:30-5:30 Vikki Krane 
Exploration of representation (or how to be present others’ lived experiences) with an emphasis on marginalized voices as well as application of the wide range of writing genres that may be employed. Students are encouraged to integrate current writing on qualitative projects into class activities.

Other courses of interest, Spring 2009:
ETHN 673 Latino Studies seminar R 6:00-9:00 Susana Peña
ACS 780 Sport and Resistance T 6:00-9:00 Mike Butterworth
ACS 782 Race, Techn & Globalization R 2:30-5:20 Radhika Gajjala

Click here for the Fall 2008, Summer 2008, Spring 2008, Fall 2007, Summer 2007 and Spring 2007 courses.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Certificate?

The Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies is an official acknowledgement of training and expertise in the field of Women's and Gender Studies. The certificate program provides students with knowledge of a unified approach to the study of fundamental issues in sex and gender. Students examine how sex and gender have been reflected in culture across time; how they shape institutions as well as personal experience; how they interact with issues such as race, ethnicity and socioeconomic class; and how new ways of thinking about gender challenge the processes by which knowledge about human beings and our behavior is acquired, interpreted, and transmitted.

Why pursue the Certificate?

The Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies is intended to supplement the individual's professional training, whatever it may be. The Certificate acknowledges formal training and expertise in issues of cultural diversity, gender inequity, feminist theory, feminist methodology and the infusion of gender into all psychological, social and mediated relationships. The Graduate Certificate may be pursued as a major or minor area of concentration within established graduate degree programs at BGSU (consult with individual graduate coordinators in doing so).

Who should apply?

The certificate is designed for individuals who are pursuing academic or research careers that focus on issues of gender. As a stand-alone credential, the certificate is designed for individuals working in fields related to women's healthcare and well-being (such as battered women's shelters and women's clinics), as well as professionals in positions of advocacy for women (such as in legal and social services professions), elementary, high school and community college teachers, and returning, non-traditional students.

Students who wish to be admitted to the Graduate Certificate Program in Women's Studies must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a graduate program at BGSU

Or, for the stand-alone certificate:

• hold a bachelor degree with a 3.0 minimum grade point average
• have completed a graduate degree in any area

What is the Cost?

If you have any questions or concerns about the current cost of the certificate, visit the website of the BGSU Bursar Office.

What if I have already taken graduate courses in Women's Studies at BGSU?

Continuing graduate students may receive credit for up to 5 approved courses toward the certificate. Students who have completed degrees who are returning for the certificate may transfer no more than 6 hours of credit. The rules regarding transfer hours will be the same for certificate programs as they are for other degree programs.

How long do I have to complete the Certificate?

The Certificate must be completed within four years from the semester date that the first course is taken, including transfer credit. This time-limit may not apply to continuing graduate students who are grand-parented through the program.

The certificate is awarded upon the completion of five approved courses plus a 1-credit research capstone course. The Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies will appear on the student's official transcript. Further, individuals will receive a diploma-style certificate upon completion.

Please direct inquiries to: Vikki Krane, Ph.D. Director (vkrane@bgnet.bgsu.edu) or by mail to the Women's Studies Program Office, 226 East Hall, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403.

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Updated 10/07/2008