Graduate Catalog 2003-2004

Degree: Certificate in Women's Studies

Graduate work in Women’s Studies may be pursued several ways. Students may take individual courses through existing master’s and doctoral programs in various departments throughout the University. The certificate in women’s studies may be pursued as major or minor area of concentration within established graduate degree programs at BGSU, such as American Culture Studies (consult with individual graduate programs when pursuing this option).

Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies
The Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies brings together scholars and graduate students across the University actively engaged in interdisciplinary feminist scholarship. The certificate offers 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 studies. 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. Such a program offers the possibility of cross-disciplinary influence and collaboration, extra-departmental collegiality and support, and professional certification in this rich field of study.

The graduate certificate in women’s studies is intended to supplement professional training, whatever it may be. As a stand-alone credential, the certificate is designed for individuals working in fields related to women’s health care 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, nontraditional students.

The certificate may be pursued as a major or minor area of concentration within established graduate degree programs at BGSU (consult with individual graduate programs when pursuing this option).

The certificate acknowledges formal training and expertise in issues of cultural diversity, gender equity, feminist theory, feminist methodology, and the infusion of gender into all psychological, social, and mediated relationship.

Admission Procedures
Students must apply to the Graduate College for general admission. Admission forms are available at the women’s studies program office at 246 Shatzel Hall. GRE scores are not necessary for the stand-alone certificate.

In additional to the application required by the Graduate College, applicants to the certificate program must submit the following to the women’s studies program: (1) two letters of recommendation from recent instructors, employers, or other individuals qualified to evaluate probable success in the program, (2) a brief statement of intent delineating the purpose for enrolling in the program, (3) a brief personal statement outline career goals. Careful attention is given to these materials.

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:

(1) be enrolled in a graduate program at BGSU;
or, for the stand-alone certificate:
(2) hold a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 minimum grade point average;
(3) have completed a graduate degree in any area.