The Program

The Graduate Certificate in Advanced Feminist Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to broaden and enrich disciplinary scholarship for non-degree students as well as students enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree-granting program. The purpose of the certificate is to enable students interested in feminist scholarship to pursue a coherent, integrated curriculum in the field and to credential them as knowledgeable in Feminist Studies, thus qualifying them for positions requiring such expertise. Students work closely with faculty and associated faculty from Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies and with a faculty advisor from their degree-granting discipline. Students completing the certificate will have the opportunity to bring a feminist perspective to bear on the practices and ideas of their own discipline, thereby increasing the body of feminist theory and research.

Admission to the certificate program is contingent upon: 1) prior acceptance to the Graduate School of the University into a graduate degree-granting program; or 2) after completion of a graduate degree and acceptance to the Graduate School as a non-degree student.

The candidate should demonstrate a commitment to, and evidence of, research or organizational experience in feminist concerns. Knowledge of feminist scholarship is expected, but an undergraduate major in Women’s Studies is not required.

Requirements

The program consists of the following requirements:

A. Two core Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies courses taken in the department:

1. WGSS 791B-Feminist Theory: This graduate seminar in feminist theory constitutes a core course for students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Feminist Studies. The seminar will be organized around questions that emerge for feminisms from the rubrics of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, transnationalism, human rights, economics and postcolonialism. Feminist theory is inherently interdisciplinary and we will draw on classic and contemporary writings from the many fields that contribute to the “field.” WGSS 791B is offered fall semester only. Enrollment preference is given to certificate students

2. WGSS 691B-Issues in Feminist Research Seminar: A seminar that includes readings on the politics of knowledge production, feminist methodologies, and ethics of research. Enrollment preference is given to certificate students and the course is offered in the spring semester only.

B. Two interdisciplinary electives, taken in the department, at least one of which qualifies as Transnational/Critical Race Feminisms.

1. Transnational/Critical Race Feminisms: This requirement exposes students to the critical importance of anti-racist politics to feminism, and further accommodates the inclusion of transnationalism, critical race studies and sexuality studies into the field of inquiry.

2. Open elective:  Students must also select one additional course in the department that is of interest to their research agenda.

Courses are offered and coordinated by core, adjunct, and affiliated graduate faculty of the Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies Program. The Associate Director is available for advising and the Graduate Program Director provides supervision of research.

For further information, contact the Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies Department, W401 South College, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, tel.: (413) 545-1922; fax: (413) 545-1500; website: www.umass.edu/wgss.