Undergraduate Certificate in Women's Studies

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Women's Studies courses emphasize critical thinking in an interdisciplinary context and build a knowledge base about many aspects of women's experience. Students learn about the ways that the meanings assigned to "gender" shape our understandings of other academic disciplines and everyday life.  Social policy, politics, family, health and sexuality are just a few of the areas addressed analytically by courses in Women's Studies.

The Certificate program is open to undergraduates, graduate students and special students and requires 15 credits in Women's Studies.  Within the framework described below, students can tailor the certificate to reflect their interests, complement their major or plan for graduate or professional school. 

Intent to pursue the certificate must be declared by meeting with the Department of Gender and Women's Studies undergraduate advisor as early as possible in the certificate program and before completing requirements. 

Students meet with the advisor periodically to track their progress.  Students notify the advisor when they enroll in the last required courses and the advisor makes arrangements to have the certificate noted on the transcript.

GRADUATE STUDENTS are eligible to receive a graduate level women's studies certificate if a student is enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  Graduate level certificates are subject to the same requirements as undergraduate level certificates with an additional requirement that all courses MUST be taken at the graduate level  (300 level or above).  It is expected that graduate students enrolled in courses below the 600 level will inform the instructor that they will be taking the course for a graduate level certificate and will complete additional readings/requirements consistent with expectations for a graduate student. See Graduate Course Descriptions

Requirements for the Certificate

Total of 15 credits required

1. Six credits may be at the elementary level (designated E in the catalog and timetable). Certificate candidates are encouraged to enroll in introductory Women's Studies courses. Two of the three elementary courses (101, 102, 103) may be applied toward the certificate. These courses provide an excellent foundation for intermediate and advanced courses in Women's Studies and in some cases are prerequisites.  (WS 103 is a prerequisite for advanced courses meeting the biological/natural sciences requirement.  The Women's Studies major requires either 101 or 102 and 103 and also requires an additional course in biological science or health.)
2. Nine credits must be at the intermediate or advanced level (I, A or D).
3. Nine credits must be in residence - taken at UW-Madison. A maximum of six may be transferred from other institutions.
4. Three credits must count as humanities (H, Z or L)
5. Three credits must count as social science (S or Z)
6. Three credits must count as natural or biological science (N, B, W, X or Y)
7.  (WS 431 is "S" but counts as natural or biological science in the certificate)
8. With the approval of the certificate advisor, a course may be counted from outside Women's Studies, as long as women and/or gender are the core focus of the class.  A list of courses which can always be applied to the certificate is pending.
9. A 2.75 grade point average must be maintained for courses taken to meet certificate requirements.  All courses must be taken for a letter grade (no "pass/fail" courses).
10. Directed study credits (WS 299, 698 or 699) cannot be used toward the certificate.
11. No more than nine credits may be applied toward both the Women's Studies certificate and the certificate program in LGBT Studies.

See Current Course Offerings

See Undergraduate Course Descriptions

Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies

See current Women's Studies Certificate Courses

The Certificate in Gender & Women’s Studies at the graduate level may be earned by students enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Advising is done within the department by the associate chair.  Students must meet all of the following requirements in order to earn the Certificate at the graduate level:

              -Enrollment in a graduate program at the University of Wisconsin. 

              -15 credits of academic course work in the Department of Gender & Women’s Studies at the 300-level or above.

              -Students enrolled in courses at the 300-600 level should inform the instructor that  they are taking the course for a                graduate-level certificate and will complete additional readings/assignments consistent with expectations for a                          graduate student.

              -9 credits must be in residence at UW-Madison. A maximum of 6 credits may be transferred from other institutions.

              -3 credits must count as humanities courses (H, Z, L).

              -3 credits must count as social studies courses (S or Z).

              -3 credits must count as natural or biological science (N, B W, X, or Y) or be approved by the associate chair as an                      acceptable health/science related course. (For the purpose of the GWS certificate, GWS 431: History of Childbirth                     in America (S) may be counted toward this requirement).

              -With the approval of the certificate advisor, a course external to the Department of Gender & Women’s Studies                   may still be counted toward the certificate, provided that women and/or gender are the core focus of the course.

              -Directed study courses (GWS 698, 699) may not be used toward the certificate.

              -A 3.0 grade is the minimum for courses counting toward the certificate.