Women's Studies Department Graduate Certificate

On February 2, 2001, President Harter approved a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies, the first graduate certificate to be offered at UNLV. We designed this 15-credit graduate certificate program in response to growing demand by both graduate students and working professionals. Because graduate study typically centers on one discipline, students usually encounter women's studies scholarship only piecemeal or in a relatively haphazard way. The more systematic, course-centered focus of a certificate program will remedy this problem and offer a credential that can be a substantial asset in the job market. Many academic searches in a number of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, and (increasingly) natural sciences list women's studies expertise as a desirable secondary qualification, and applicants with a graduate certificate will be much more credible than those who simply allege a background in the field. The program is also intended for post-baccalaureate working professionals such as psychologists, social workers, nurses, librarians, and teachers who wish to obtain information and skills in women's studies to aid them in their professions.

WMST 700, Introduction to Women's Studies, was offered for the first time in spring 2002. WMST 701, Feminist Theory; WMST 702, Principles of Feminist Inquiry; WMST 703, Feminist Pedagogy; and the capstone seminar WMST 710, Directed Reading and Research in Women's Studies, are offered on a rotating basis.

Requirements: 9 units

             WMST 701, Feminist Theory (3 units) – offered fall in even-numbered years

WMST 702, Principles of Feminist Inquiry (3 units) – offered fall in odd-numbered years 

WMST 710, Graduate Capstone (3 units) – offered in spring.  701 and 702 are prerequisites.

Electives: 3 units

            Any class on women/gender at 700 level – WMST listed here, or cross-listed, or approved by Women’s Studies Chair     

 Electives: 3 units

             Any class on women/gender at 600 or 700 level – WMST, or cross-listed, or approved by Women’s Studies Chair

Total: 15 units

Note: with careful planning, a student can complete the Grad Certificate in 2 academic years.

 Advising:        Dr. S. Charusheela, Interim Chair 895-0467 s.charusheela@unlv.edu

 Application process: UNLV Graduate College and UNLV Graduate Catalog

Women’s Studies Department                                 702-895-0837(office)

                       gay.sessums@unlv.edu