Learn more about the graduate certificate in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies.
About the Certificate
Students in the Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies (GSWS) graduate certificate program acquire and develop methodological and theoretical expertise in the interdisciplinary fields of gender, sexuality and women’s studies.
The certificate can be pursued by students already enrolled in a Temple University graduate degree program. They complete the certificate coursework while simultaneously fulfilling the graduate requirements for their degree-granting department. It is also possible to pursue the certificate as a freestanding program.
All students complete the same course requirements to earn the certificate. Everyone in the program joins and benefits from a community of graduate students and faculty committed to the study of gender and sexuality in a wide range of disciplines.
Time Limit for Completion of Certificate Coursework: 3 years, with coursework completed in any order in that 3-year period
Campus Location: Main
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The graduate certificate is completed on a part-time basis. Students undertaking the GSWS graduate certificate while enrolled in a graduate degree program at Temple complete the certificate while fulfilling the requirements for their graduate degree program. NOTE: International students may not be eligible to apply for a student visa based on admission to the certificate program.
Job Prospects: The GSWS graduate certificate is a credential that enhances students’ prospects in today’s highly competitive job market by signaling a demonstrated interest in and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students may take up to 9 credits of coursework before applying to the graduate certificate program.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall and Spring: Applications must be submitted by the end of the add/drop period.
Students currently enrolled in a graduate degree program at Temple University should use the internal application form. Students not currently enrolled at Temple should use the external application form. Both forms can be found on this page: https://liberalarts.temple.edu/academics/departments-and-programs/gender-sexuality-and-womens-studies/graduate.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: Applicants already admitted to a graduate degree program at Temple University have demonstrated that they possess the required bachelor's degree. Applicants not currently enrolled in a Temple University graduate degree program and applicants enrolled in a graduate degree program at another university must submit official transcripts for all coursework taken since high school, whether or not a degree was earned from the institution(s). Evidence of the award of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale must be shown.
Additional Requirements for Students Not Currently Enrolled in a Graduate Degree Program at Temple University:
- Two letters of recommendation from persons in a position to evaluate the applicant’s academic ability and accomplishments
- A personal statement of no more than 250 words indicating interests, plans and objectives within the fields of gender, sexuality and women’s studies
Certificate Requirements
Number of Credits Required to Complete the Certificate: 12
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GSWS 8001 | Feminist and Queer Studies 1 | 3 |
| GSWS 9991 | Research Seminar 2 | 3 |
| Electives 3 | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
- 1
GSWS 8001 is offered annually in the Fall term.
- 2
GSWS 9991 is offered annually in the Spring term.
- 3
Students take 6 credits of approved courses focusing on gender and/or sexuality from their own department, if enrolled in a graduate degree program at Temple, or any academic department at Temple University, as identified in the list below. Note that the following list is not exhaustive, and students may request permission to take other gender/sexuality-themed courses on a case-by-case basis.
Approved Electives with a Gender and/or Sexuality Theme
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar in the African American Woman | ||
| Anthropology of Sexuality and Gender | ||
| Race and Class in North America | ||
| Corrections | ||
| Multicultural Counseling | ||
| Seminar in Race, Culture, and Gender in Psychotherapy | ||
| Educating Dance | ||
| Dance and the Gendered Body: Historical Perspectives | ||
| Gender Issues in Education | ||
| Social Epidemiology | ||
| Race, Class, Gender in Cities | ||
| Gender Issues in Education | ||
HIST 5231 | ||
| Comparative Women's History | ||
HIST 8009 | ||
| Jewish History | ||
| History of Sexuality | ||
| Sociology of Kinesiology | ||
| Topics in Gender Studies | ||
| Feminist Epistemology and the Philosophy of Science | ||
| Play and Pediatric Development | ||
| Religion and Sexuality | ||
| Race, Gender, Class and Ethnicity in Ancient Near East | ||
SOC 5321 | ||
| Sexuality and Gender | ||
| Gender and Body | ||
| Advanced Human Behavior and the Social Environment - Gender and Sexuality through the Lifespan | ||
| Advanced Policy - Gender and Sexuality |
GPA Required to be Awarded the Certificate: 3.0 minimum