Women's and Gender Studies Certificate
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/womengender/grad/womengenderpbc/
Program Director: Cecilia Rio
Phone: 410-704-2859
Email: crio@towson.edu
Students already enrolled in a master’s degree program, other than Women’s and Gender Studies, or those who wish to enhance their skills and understanding of specialized arena in Women’s and Gender Studies may elect to pursue the Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies.
Advising
The graduate program director acts as the certificate student’s adviser during the first term of matriculation when a program of study is planned and drafted. The student is transferred to a different adviser after the first term of enrollment.
Application of Units Earned in the WMST Certificate Program
Units earned for the Graduate Certificate Program with a grade of “B” or better may be applied to the master’s degree in Women’s and Gender Studies. The certificate student must complete formal application to the WMST M.S. degree for admission.
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university** (as certified by an official transcript) with a minimum GPA of 3.00, and 2.75 for conditional admission. GPA calculations for admission are based upon the last 60 units of undergraduate and post-baccalaureate study.
- Nine units earned at the baccalaureate level in Women’s and Gender Studies and/or the Social Sciences (Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Economics or a social science-based interdisciplinary course). Three (3) of these nine (9) units must include one course in Women’s and Gender Studies. Students with no prior course work in Women’s and Gender Studies must enroll in either WMST 231, which is an introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies, or WMST 337, a course on feminist theory. Given these two courses (WMST 231 and WMST 337) are undergraduate-level courses, students will not receive graduate credit for completion of this requirement. An applicant who has not taken an undergraduate course in Women’s and Gender Studies but who has relevant applied experience including, but not limited to, work in a women’s center, work for a women’s organization, or work on a project focusing specifically on women’s and gender issues, may be exempted from the requirement.
- A detailed essay of four-five, double-spaced pages emphasizing the applicant’s specific plans for focused graduate study.
- Two letters of recommendation, at least one from a college/university instructor from whom applicant has learned from in a course setting, accompanied by a completed Graduate Program Recommendation Form.
- In addition, certificate applicants who are currently enrolled in a master’s degree program at Towson University or elsewhere shall submit a transcript of their progress in that master’s program as evidence of good standing.
Apply online through Graduate Admissions.
Non-immigrant International Students
Program Enrollment: F-1 and J-1 students are required to be enrolled full-time. The majority of their classes must be in-person and on campus. See the list of programs that satisfy these requirements, and contact the International Student and Scholars Office with questions.
Admission Procedures: See additional information regarding Graduate Admission policies and International Graduate Application online.
**See Exceptions to Policy in Graduate Admissions.
Certificate Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| WMST 603 | THE DIVERSITY OF WOMEN | 3 |
| WMST 607 | ADVANCED FEMINIST THEORY | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select nine units in graduate-level, WMST-designated courses selected with the approval of the student’s adviser 1 | 9 | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
- 1
Limit of one 500-level WMST course to be included in the certificate program.
WMST 620 nor any WMST 700 or 800 course may be included in the certificate program.
- Students can understand and can evaluate/critique feminist arguments and theories as demonstrated in a term paper that is clearly and knowledgeably written.
- Students can demonstrate ability to identify and evaluate prevailing normative assumptions that underlie social practices and policies that hinder women’s agency.