Graduate Certificate in Women and Gender Studies

This certificate is now offered fully online, including options for hybrid and/or in-person coursework.  

The 15-credit Graduate Certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies equips students with up-to-date methodological and theoretical frameworks to critically engage with society’s most pressing gender-related challenges. From advancing social justice to shaping impactful conversations in health, policy, law, and research, this certificate prepares graduates to lead and innovate in diverse fields.  

Grounded in interdisciplinary, intersectional, and transnational feminist and gender studies, the WMST Certificate empowers students pursuing academic careers to deepen their research and analytical expertise. For working professionals, it offers advanced critical frameworks to enhance their professional impact.   

This certificate complements any Mason graduate degree, providing a distinctive specialization and a competitive advantage in both academic and professional settings. Courses applied to the certificate may also be applied to a degree program, subject to approval of the graduate director of the respective programs. Electives from your degree program can be counted towards your certificate when relevant to Women and Gender Studies, in consultation with your graduate advisor.  

Core courses provide a strong foundation in transnational feminisms, feminist theory, critical race theory, and queer theory. Elective options invite students to explore a wide range of interdisciplinary courses across the arts, humanities, and social sciences, offering a personalized academic experience.