Degree Requirements

Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online at https://utexas.box.com/v/UTAustinGraduateHandbooks. Please contact the program with concerns or questions.

Master of Arts

Students pursuing a master’s degree in women’s and gender studies (WGS) may write either a thesis or a report at the end of their coursework. The thesis option requires 36 semester hours of coursework, of which six hours are earned in the thesis course. The report option requires 36 semester hours of coursework, of which three hours are earned in the report course.

All students must complete the following three core foundations courses in their first year: Women's and Gender Studies 390, Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies,  Women's and Gender Studies 391, Feminist Theories, and Women's and Gender Studies 392, Research Methods Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies. Students are required to meet weekly with the graduate advisor during their second year.

In addition, each student must demonstrate competence in the research skills appropriate to the student’s overall academic and career objectives and to the final thesis or report. A minimum of four additional courses related to women, gender, sexuality, or feminism may be selected from the extensive offerings of faculty members affiliated with the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies. Other courses may be substituted with the graduate advisor’s approval.  

All WGS students must also present their work at least once during the Annual Emerging Scholarship in Women's and Gender Studies Graduate Student Conference.

Integrated BA/MA Program in Women’s and Gender Studies

The Center for Women’s and Gender Studies offers an integrated program to enable currently enrolled, highly motivated undergraduate students with strong intellectual capacities to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies and a Master of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies within a five-year period. Eligible students in the integrated degree program will be granted their bachelor's degree upon satisfactory completion of BA degree requirements, which typically occurs at the end of the fourth year in the program.

The Integrated BA/MA (WGS) program serves to highlight the intellectual rigor of the WGS program; promote opportunities for undergraduate students to pursue advanced study; improve student preparation for competitive PhD programs; and improve job market opportunities for Liberal Arts graduates.

This program is open to current University of Texas at Austin WGS Undergraduates.  Interested students should contact the Undergraduate Academic Advisor in WGS before the end of their Sophomore Year (if possible) to determine eligibility.

Dual Degree Programs

The Center for Women’s and Gender Studies offers the following dual degree programs in cooperation with other divisions of the University. More information is available from the graduate advisor in each program.

Field(s) of Study	Degree(s)
Information studies	Master of Information Studies
Public affairs	Master of Public Affairs