Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Overview
The graduate certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies offers students additional
credentials while taking graduate courses focused on social justice issues. The interdisciplinary
certificate accepts courses from multiple departments across the university and provides
flexibility for students seeking knowledge on feminist, queer, and transgender theories and
methods alongside their graduate degree programs.
WGSS Graduate Certificate students learn how to apply advanced theory to their graduate
coursework, professional practice settings, and independent research.
Alumni from the program develop skills that lead them towards careers in social justice and
advocacy, including fields such as:
- Counseling services
- University administration
- Student affairs
- NGO and NPO work
- Community development
-
Grant writing
-
Business management
-
Law school
-
Doctoral studies
- Teacher / professor
Point of Pride
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) has been a vibrant part of the ISU community since 1972. Our curriculum and programming are designed to engage students as active critical thinkers and to give them the conceptual tools they will need to think clearly about nuanced production of systemic injustices and to work collaboratively toward solutions.
Graduate Advisor
Jacklyn Weier
(309) 438-7361
Rachel Cooper Hall 232
Schedule a Visit
Discover what life as an Illinois State graduate student is like.
How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to this program must:
- Have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so by the time of program matriculation.
- Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term.
- If admitted, official domestic transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 208 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
- If admitted, official international transcripts can be emailed directly from the international institution to InternationalAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, International Admissions, Campus Box 6180, Normal, IL 61790-6180.
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Graduate School Admission Requirements.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
GPA
You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for either the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or any previous work in a master's program.
The Grade Point Average (GPA) of all undergraduate credentials earned in the United States that are used for graduate degree admission evaluation is calculated by the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. International credentials are evaluated by using cumulative GPA (CGPA) in lieu of the GPA from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
Application Materials
A student applying to this program must:
- Provide a resume including contact information, previous graduate and/or undergraduate studies, previous coursework in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and all work experiences since high school.
- Provide official transcripts from each higher education institution attended.
- Provide an official TOEFL/ILETS Score (if applying as an international student).
Application Deadlines
- Fall (August) Term — August 1
- Spring (January) Term — December 1
- Summer (May/June) Term — May 1
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