The Women Studies Certificate is managed by Marshall University’s Women’s Studies Program. For more information, please contact:

Director of Women’s Studies
Dr. Greta Rensenbrink
Harris Hall 108
rensenbrink@marshall.edu
304-696-2955

About the Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies

A graduate certificate in Women’s Studies brings together advanced formal study for students who have undergraduate degrees in Women’s Studies and related fields. This certificate also provides an educational dimension for working professionals in many fields.

The Women’s Studies Certificate at Marshall University offers an interdisciplinary perspective for graduate students as it places emphasis on the study of women’s past and present position in society. The purpose of the program is to develop and coordinate an Interdisciplinary curriculum, and to support critical research which takes into account various beliefs about gender, race, class, and sexuality. The program supports and sponsors both on and off campus events relevant to women’s social, cultural and political Issues with a strong sense of commitment to women In the Appalachian region.

This certificate can meet the needs of:

 Students anticipating graduate work in a professional program.

 Students anticipating graduate work in an academic field.

 Students anticipating graduate work in W omen’s Studies.

 Students anticipating employment in a field that requires (or would benefit from) a background knowledge of culture and society.

 Students who want to pursue a knowledge of Women’s Studies for their own interests.

Certificate Curriculum – 18 hours

Interdisciplinary Core Classes (6 hours)

HST 636: Seminar in Women’s History A reading and research course in which the student investigates selected topics related to the history of women in America or Europe.

SOC 655: Feminist Social Theory Diverse theoretical perspectives on the origins and nature of gender, inequality. Emphasis on contemporary debates and their political implications.

Electives (9 hours)

Examples of classes (3 hrs. credit):

 ART 504: Iconography of Mary
 A&S: 600: Brush and Pen: Women and the Arts
 CJ 506: Race, Ethnicity , and Gender
 CL 560: Ancient Goddess Religions
 COUN 616: Domestic Violence
 COUN 620: Issues in Counseling Women
 CULS 620: Women, Men and Cultural Change
 EDF 631: Gender and Education
 ENG 521: American Literature to 1830
 HST 517: Nineteenth Century US W omen’ s History
 HST 518: T wentieth Century US Women’ s History
 JMC 555: Women, Minorities, and Media
 PSC 519: Women and Political Thought
 PSC 542: Politics of Welfare
 SOC 555: Sociology of Sex and Gender
 LS 780: Gender and Leadership

Capstone Experience (3 hours)

HUMN 680: Independent Research Seminar. This research colloquium affords students the opportunity to complete independent research under the guidance of faculty mentors teaching in the certificate program. Seminar meetings allow students to share research and examine issues arising from theresearch. Thecompletedresearchissharedinapublic symposium.

Enrollment Information

 B.A. or B.S. degree from an accredited undergraduate institution

 Application to Marshall University Graduate College and to the certificate program

Note: Students who wish to pursue degree and certificate programs concurrently should complete the application to the degree program.

 Transfer credit: 6 hours maximum

 Graduate courses in Women’s Studies taken at Marshall University within the last two years may be counted toward the certificate.