MA and Dual Degree Requirements

Graduate Handbook, Center for Women’s & Gender Studies
Effective Date: 2022 This handbook describes the structure of the Center for Women’s & Gender Studies (CWGS), requirements for the Master of Arts and Dual Degree and Portfolio programs, and relevant student information. The policies and procedures in this handbook should be understood as governing the course of graduate study in Women’s & Gender Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, in conjunction with the policies and procedures described in the University’s Graduate Catalog.  Enrollment in the academic program acts as an agreement to adhere to the rules and standards contained within this handbook.

Master of Arts Degree

Students pursuing the Master of Arts degree in Women's and Gender Studies will write either a Thesis or a Report at the end of their coursework. The Thesis option requires 36 semester hours of coursework, of which 6 hours are earned in the Thesis courses. The Report option requires 36 semester hours of coursework, of which 3 hours are earned in the Report course. All students must complete the 3 core foundations courses: WGS 390: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies (sometimes offered as WGS 393: Writing Workshop); WGS 391: Feminist Theories; and WGS 392: Research Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies. 

Watch our video on YouTube where we explain the WGS MA Degree course requirements.

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 4 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 & Gender Studies. Other courses may be substituted with the WGS Graduate Advisor's approval. (See Official Graduate Catalog Information here.)

Students must also present one time at the annual CWGS Emerging Scholarship in Women’s and Gender Studies Conference.
Download the MA Report option degree planner (pdf)
Download the MA Thesis option degree planner (pdf)
Information about the MA Thesis/Report

Dual Degree Master's Programs

College of Liberal Arts/School of Information
MA/MSIS: Women's and Gender Studies/Information Studies
The Center for Women's and Gender Studies (CWGS) and the School of Information (iSchool) at the University of Texas at Austin offer a dual program leading to the Master of Arts in women's and gender studies and the Master of Science in Information Studies. The program combines training in information studies with study of the role that gender plays in shaping society.

Students pursuing the dual degree in Women’s and Gender Studies and Information Studies may either write a Thesis or complete a Professional Experience and Project (INF 388L, e.g., “Capstone”) at the end of their coursework. The thesis requires 60 semester hours of coursework, of which 6 hours are earned in the thesis course. The project option requires 60 semester hours of coursework, of which 3 hours are earned in the Capstone course.  All students must complete all core courses in the two programs and must demonstrate research competence appropriate to the student’s overall academic and career objectives and to the final thesis or Capstone.  Elective courses related to women, gender, sexuality, or feminism may be selected from the offerings of WGS faculty affiliates including faculty members from the iSchool. The two degrees are awarded simultaneously at the completion of all course and exit requirements.

Students seeking admission to the dual degree program must identify their interest by selecting the dual degree program code on the online (Apply) Texas Common Application website. These are listed in a separate "Dual Degree Programs" section at the bottom of the Apply Texas list of majors.  Applicants for the dual degree program must meet the general admission criteria of the Graduate School, and the admission criteria for both the School of Information and the Center for Women’s & Gender Studies.  Students must be accepted by each individual program in order to be admitted to the dual program. Like all other graduate applicants, the student is responsible for submitting any additional information required by the Graduate Studies Committee for each program.  The annual deadline for CWGS is December 1st.

Students in the program will be able to complete both degrees in three academic years (summers included) with a total of 60 credit hours.

Download the WGS/INF MA/MSIS dual degree planner - Thesis Option (pdf)

School of Information Studies Dual Degree Programs
School of Information Studies Admissions

College of Liberal Arts/Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
MA/MPAff: Women's and Gender Studies/Public Affairs

This degree program is offered by the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) and the LBJ School (LBJ) at the University of Texas at Austin. The Dual Degree Program 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. Applicants for the Dual Degree Program must meet the general admission criteria of the Graduate School and the admission criteria for both the LBJ School and the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies.

Students seeking admission to the dual degree program must identify their interest by selecting the dual degree program code on the online (Apply) Texas Common Application website. These are listed in a separate "Dual Degree Programs" section at the bottom of the Apply Texas list of majors.  Applicants for the dual degree program must meet the general admission criteria of the Graduate School, and the admission criteria for both the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the Center for Women’s & Gender Studies.  Students must be accepted by each individual program in order to be admitted to the dual program. Like all other graduate applicants, the student is responsible for submitting any additional information required by the Graduate Studies Committee for each program.  The annual deadline for CWGS is December 1st.

Students must complete 66 semester hours of coursework, including a thesis supervised by one faculty member from the School of Public Affairs and one faculty member from the Center for Women's and Gender Studies.

Students in the program will be able to complete both degrees in three academic years (summers included) with a total of 66 credit hours.

Download the MA/MAPAff dual degree planner (pdf)

LBJ School of Public Affairs MPAff Program
LBJ School of Public Affairs Admissions