Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies | College of Liberal Arts
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About Our Programs

Spring 2024

Detailed application instructions are on the WGS MA Admissions page and the Help page.


Please visit this page to see the WGS MA Degree or Dual Degree Course Requirements.

The MA Program

Our WGS MA program is a two-year program. UT Austin has Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.  Students are not expected to attend during the Summer semesters.  During the Fall and Spring semesters, 9 hours (or three 3-hour courses) is considered full time for a graduate student.  The WGS MA program requires 36 hours of course work total.  Students may choose between the MA Thesis and the MA Report as the capstone project during their second year of the program.

In addition to these course requirements, students are also required to present at the Annual WGS Student Conference at least once during their course of study.

 
Dual Degree Programs

Our dual-degree programs are three-year programs, and most students also take summer classes to complete their two degrees within three years. 

  • MA/MSIS: The Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) and the School of Information (INF) offer a dual degree program combining training in information studies with study of the role that gender plays in shaping society.  Graduates of the program are awarded a Master of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies and a Master of Science in Information Studies.  Students in the program will be able to complete both degrees in three academic years (summers included) with a total of 60 credit hours.
  • MA/MPAff: This Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) and the LBJ School (P A) offer a dual degree program that responds to an increased need in the public, nonprofit and private sectors for specialists who have advanced training in policy analysis and leadership and management skills, as well a comprehensive understanding of women’s and gender issues.  Students in the program will be able to complete both degrees in three academic years (summers included) with a total of 66 credit hours.

Students seeking admission to dual degree programs must apply through the Graduate and International Admissions Center. Students apply to each individual program's graduate offices in order to be admitted to the dual program.  Potential students may apply to the Dual Degree program using the dual degree code* on the online (Apply) Texas Common Application website.  

*(WGS MA only: Degree Code 93300) (WGS/INF, MA/MSIS: Dual Degree Code 93310) (WGS/PA, MA/MPAff: Dual Degree Code 93320)

Applicants must be accepted by both admissions committees in order to attempt the dual degree. (Students could potentially apply to the School of Information or the School of Public Policy for Spring admission - and then later change their major to the dual degree with WGS.  If accepted - students could begin MSIS or MPAff coursework in January, but would have to wait until the next fall to begin WGS MA coursework with the new cohort.)

There is not a special application for the dual degree program (besides marking the appropriate program/major code on the Apply Texas website). Like all other graduate applicants, the student is responsible for submitting any additional information required by the Graduate Studies Committee for each program.

Each program (MSIS, MPAff, and WGS) has its own separate requirements in addition to the (Apply) Texas Online Application.  Each program needs to be individually sent all the information for its own program.  Since the MSIS, MPAff and WGS programs all have separate admissions committees, they cannot accept only one application with all the materials. Please keep them separate.

We apologize if this requires additional attention to detail and effort, but the School of Information, the LBJ School of Public Policy, and the Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies are housed in separate offices across campus, and our timelines are different as well.

Destination: Austin, Texas!
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More information:
To learn more about UT’s Graduate School: Graduate School BrochureGraduate Student Organizations, and About the Grad School.
If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me.  I wish you the best of luck in your academic endeavors.

Alma Jackie Salcedo, M.Ed. (pronouns: she/her/hers)
Graduate Coordinator
CENTER for WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES
University of Texas at Austin

ajsalcedo@austin.utexas.edu

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Applications for our Master's Programs must be received electronically by December 1st