Combining research, teaching, and activism focusing on the intersections among gender, sexuality, race and class.
Catalog Year: 2023-2024
Banner Code: LA-MAIS-ISIN-WGST
The MAIS in interdisciplinary studies is for students who seek a master's degree that integrates knowledge from several disciplines. It addresses the rapidly evolving demand for unique graduate study by promoting advanced scholarship that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. Students can pursue one of the following structured interdisciplinary concentrations and also have the opportunity to design an individualized concentration to meet the special needs of their careers.
The MAIS in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Energy and Sustainability is a Green Leaf program.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Total credits: 36
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Students pursuing this degree must successfully complete 36 credits of graduate coursework. Students must submit a curriculum worksheet that has been approved by their concentration head and the director. Some concentrations require a project or thesis.
The concentration in women and gender studies promotes advanced scholarship that transcends traditional boundaries. Students combine required coursework in feminist theory, feminist research methods, critical race theory, queer and sexuality studies, and transnational feminisms with elective course offerings in disciplines such as history, literature, sociology, anthropology, health, education, philosophy, social work, conflict analysis and resolution, or the arts. The program accommodates both full-time and part-time students.
Of the coursework required for this concentration as described below, at least 21 credits must be in core courses related to the study of women and gender. Students must earn a grade of B- or higher in the core courses.
Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking the MAIS degree and a master's degree in another discipline should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies regarding Individualized Dual Master's Degree Programs.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
WMST 630 | Feminist Theories | 3 |
WMST 640 | Transnational Issues of Gender and Race | 3 |
WMST 610 | Feminist Research Methods | 3 |
Students take one course from each of the following areas. 1 | 9 | |
Critical Race Studies (3 credits)
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Critical Race Studies | ||
Representations of Race | ||
Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought | ||
Policing Black Bodies | ||
Policing Black Bodies | ||
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies (when topic is Black Psychology) | ||
Special Topics (when topic is Gender, Race, Reform 1800-1920, Gender, Race and Lynching or Gender and Racial Idealogy in Jim Crow) | ||
Bodies and Sexualities (3 credits)
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Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies (when topic is Feminist Ecopolitics or Gender, Race and Animal Rights) | ||
Queer Theory | ||
Transnational and Global Perspectives (3 credits)
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Transnational Sexualities | ||
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
Sociology of Globalization | ||
Social Justice and Equity in International Education | ||
Total Credits | 18 |
1 |
Students may take additional courses from these areas and count them toward their elective credits. |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Students take 12 credits in elective courses that address the study of women and gender and that are not taken as part of the core focus. | 12 | |
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
Transnational Sexualities | ||
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies (can be repeated for credit) | ||
Special Topics (can be repeated for credit) | ||
Queer Theory | ||
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
Internship | ||
Other relevant courses from other disciplines chosen in consultation with concentration head
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Total Credits | 12 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MAIS 793 | Integrated Learning Experience | 3 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one from the following: | 3 | |
Interdisciplinary Studies Project (take 3 credits) | ||
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis (take 3 credits) |
This concentration is for students who wish to design a graduate program to meet the special needs of their careers and life plans. Students usually choose this option because traditional graduate programs do not meet their specific goals. Students, with help from their faculty advisor, design a unique program of study that includes courses from several academic departments.
Students have access to most graduate courses offered by Mason but must meet all course prerequisites. Each student must submit a curriculum worksheet approved by the student's advisor and director during the first semester enrolled. Any subsequent amendments must have the approval of the student's advisor and the director.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select 15 credits in one discipline. These require the approval of faculty advisor and MAIS director. | 15 | |
Total Credits | 15 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Students choosing to complete a project or thesis take 12 credits in complementary disciplines. Students choosing not to complete a project or thesis take 15 credits total. These require the approval of faculty advisor and MAIS director. | 12-15 | |
Total Credits | 12-15 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Students take the following research methods course or other relevant courses in consultation with a faculty advisor and MAIS director. | 3 | |
Interdisciplinary Research Methods | ||
Total Credits | 3 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MAIS 793 | Integrated Learning Experience | 3 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one from the following: | 3 | |
Interdisciplinary Studies Project (take 3 credits) | ||
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis (take 3 credits) |
Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking global affairs or interdisciplinary studies (concentration in women and gender studies) with a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.
The Global Affairs and Interdisciplinary Studies Programs offer a dual master's program where a student can earn both a Global Affairs MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) in 54 credits rather than 66 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's program see Application Requirements and Deadlines.
Total credits: 54
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
GLOA 600 | Global Competencies | 3 |
GLOA 610 | Economic Globalization and Development | 3 |
GLOA 615 | Case Studies in Globalization | 3 |
GLOA 710 | Seminar Abroad | 3 |
Select three courses from the chosen specialization for the global affairs MA | 9 | |
Total Credits | 21 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
WMST 630 | Feminist Theories | 3 |
WMST 640 | Transnational Issues of Gender and Race | 3 |
Select one course in critical race studies from the following: | 3 | |
Critical Race Studies | ||
Representations of Race | ||
Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought | ||
Policing Black Bodies | ||
Policing Black Bodies | ||
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
Special Topics | ||
Select one course in bodies and sexualities from the following: | 3 | |
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
Queer Theory | ||
Select one course in transnational and global perspectives from the following: | 3 | |
Transnational Sexualities | ||
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
Sociology of Globalization | ||
Social Justice and Equity in International Education | ||
Select 9 credits in elective courses chosen from the following and not used to fulfill another requirement: | 9 | |
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
Transnational Sexualities | ||
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
Special Topics | ||
Queer Theory | ||
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
Internship | ||
Total Credits | 24 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one from the following: | 3 | |
Interdisciplinary Research Methods | ||
Feminist Research Methods | ||
Total Credits | 3 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Capstone Research Seminar | ||
Integrated Learning Experience | ||
Total Credits | 3 |
Project or Thesis
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Interdisciplinary Studies Project (take 3 credits) | ||
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis (take 3 credits) | ||
Total Credits | 3 |
Total Credits: 54
Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking philosophy or interdisciplinary studies (women and gender studies concentration) and a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.
The Department of Philosophy and the Interdisciplinary Studies Program offer a dual master's degree program where students can earn both the MA and the MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) in 55 credits rather than 67 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6.
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's degree see Application Requirements and Deadlines.
Students pursuing dual master's study linking the Philosophy MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS with a concentration in women and gender studies will complete WMST 630 Feminist Theories across the Disciplines/PHIL 658 Feminist Theory and 3 additional credits of WMST courses approved by the Department of Philosophy to apply to the philosophy degree as elective credit. Six credits of approved PHIL credits will apply to the MAIS degree as elective credit.
Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking sociology or interdisciplinary studies (concentration in women and gender studies) with a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the Interdisciplinary Studies Programs offer a dual master's program where a student can earn both a Sociology MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) in 57 credits rather than 69 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6.
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's degree see Application Requirements and Deadlines.
Total credits: 57
Required Sociology Courses
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SOCI 601 | Proseminar in Public and Applied Sociology | 3 |
SOCI 620 | Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry | 3 |
SOCI 711 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
SOCI 712 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 3 |
Elective Methodology and Analysis Course | 3 | |
Survey Research | ||
Evaluation Research for Social Programs | ||
Special Topics in Sociology | ||
Qualitative Research Methods | ||
Statistical Reasoning | ||
Feminist Theory | ||
Ethnography | ||
Historical and Comparative Sociology | ||
Analytic Techniques of Social Research | ||
Methods in Anthropology | ||
Select three advanced courses (500-800 level) in sociology | 9 | |
Total Credits | 24 |
Required Women and Gender Studies Courses
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
WMST 630 | Feminist Theories | 3 |
WMST 640 | Transnational Issues of Gender and Race | 3 |
MAIS 793 | Integrated Learning Experience | 3 |
Select one course in critical race studies form the following: | 3 | |
Critical Race Studies | ||
Representations of Race | ||
Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought | ||
Policing Black Bodies | ||
Policing Black Bodies | ||
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
Special Topics | ||
Select one course in bodies and sexualities from the following: | 3 | |
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
Queer Theory | ||
Select one course in transnational and global perspectives from the following: | 3 | |
Transnational Sexualities | ||
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
Sociology of Globalization | ||
Seminar for Supervision in Teacher Education | ||
Social Justice and Equity in International Education | ||
Select three courses from the following that address the study of women and gender and that are not taken as part of the core focus. | 9 | |
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
Transnational Sexualities | ||
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
Special Topics | ||
Queer Theory | ||
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
Internship | ||
Other relevant courses from other disciplines chosen in consultation with concentration head
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Total Credits | 27 |
Required Methods Course
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
WMST 610 | Feminist Research Methods | 3 |
Capstone, Project, or Thesis
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one from the following: | 3 | |
Interdisciplinary Studies Project | ||
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis | ||
Thesis | ||
Master's Capstone Paper | ||
Total Credits | 3 |