Program Details

Who Is This Program For?

This certificate is designed for students already enrolled in a graduate degree program at UNCW, as well as professionals not seeking a degree.

The certificate provides the opportunity to gain substantial training in women's and gender studies as a supplement to departmental degrees and careers.

What Will This Program Do For Me?

• Provide a coherent and interdisciplinary grounding in current Women's and Gender Studies scholarship at the graduate level.
• Supply the theoretical, methodological, and data tools to analyze, understand, and develop solutions to meet the needs of a diverse workforce and world.
• Expand intellectual horizons about women's issues and gender equity.
• Introduce a community of scholars dedicated to the study of gender and its intersection with issues such as race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality.

Applicants seeking admission to the graduate certificate program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in this country, or its equivalent in a foreign institution based on a four-year program, and have a strong overall academic record with a "B" average or better.

Applicants are required to submit the following to the Graduate School:

• An application for graduate admission.
• Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate).
• An essay on the applicant's work related to academic or professional WGS topics
  • This may include, but is not limited to, previous courses in WGS or courses in which a portion of the content or student's projects were related directly to the study of women and gender.
  • The essay should include a statement of purpose indicating the applicant's expectations of what they will gain in earning the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Women's and Gender Studies.
• Three recommendations by individuals in professionally relevant fields.

Important Information: Registration for the exit requirement depends upon formal admittance into the certificate program, completion of WGS 510: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies or equivalent with approval from the graduate coordinator, completion of 2 additional courses toward the WGS certificate, and approval of topic by the graduate coordinator.

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Certificate Requirements (12 total credit hours)

3 Hour Core

• WGS 510 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies Credits: 3

6 Hours of Electives

Note: Graduate courses not listed below may also be selected, with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator.

• CMR 526 The 21st Century Workplace Credits: 3
• CRM/SOC 515 Advanced Victimology Credits: 3
• CRM 540 Race, Class, Gender and Crime Credits: 3
• CRM 560 Interpersonal Violence Credits: 3
• ENG 564 Studies in Children's/Young Adult Literature Credits: 3
• GLS 510 Religion and Sex Credits: 3
• GLS 521 Media and Society Credits: 3
• GLS 592-005 From Grave Robbing for a Wedding Gown: Exploration of the Contemporary Fairy Tale Credits: 3
• GRN 518/SOC 518 Women and Aging Credits: 3
• GRN 524 Literature of Aging Credits: 3
• GRN 544 Midlife Transitions for Women Credits: 3
• SOC 518/GRN 518 Women and Aging Credits: 3
• SOC 550 Gender Credits: 3
• SWK 522 Social Diversity and Social Work Practice Credits: 3
• SWK 532 Health and Mental Health Issues of Women Credits: 3
• SOC 569 Intersectionality in Media Credits: 3
• WGS 592 Special Topics in Women's and Gender Studies Credits: 3

3-Hour Exit Requirement

Choose one:

• WGS 591 Directed Independent Study Credits: 3 or
• WGS 598 Internship Credits: 3