Curriculum and Instruction and Women's Studies

Dual Degree in Women's Studies and Curriculum and Instruction

Dual-title (Ph.D., M.S., M.Ed.) degrees grounded both in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Curriculum and Instruction acknowledge and foster scholarly work across disciplines and increases the intellectual rigor and breadth of graduate work through immersion of candidates in course work and experiences from both departments. Candidates learn to synthesize and produce knowledge within and across disciplinary boundaries and engage pedagogical frameworks that encourage interdisciplinary approaches to teaching.

Master's Requirements

Master's-level dual-title students are required to complete the following:

• WMNST 502: Global Feminisms (3 credits)

• WMNST 507: Feminist Theory (3 credits)

• WMNST 508: Feminist Methodologies (3 credits)  or  WMNST 509: Feminist Pedagogies (3 credits)

• Students also must complete 9 additional credits of WGSS course work (at least 6 of which should be at the 500 level) chosen in consultation with the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Graduate Program Director, Jennifer A. Wagner-Lawlor.

• Completion of all requirements of the student's C&I M.S. or M.Ed. emphasis area

• Completion of a master's thesis or project as required by the C&I emphasis area. The master's committee must include one faculty member from Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and the thesis topic must reflect an inquiry in women's studies.

• In the case of dual-title programs in which a master's thesis is not required, students need to take three additional credits of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies course work and complete a master's paper on a topic approved by the student's committee.

Please note: To apply for a dual-title MA/MS or PhD, you need simply to indicate on your application to Penn State that you wish to be considered for acceptance into a dual-title degree program. A separate, shorter application must be made to WGSS if you are admitted to the university.

Ph.D. Requirements

Ph.D.-level dual-title students are required to complete the following:

• WMNST 501: Feminist Perspectives in Research and Teaching (3 credits)

• WMNST 507: Feminist Theory (3 credits)

• WMNST 597: Special Topics in Women's Studies, not cross listed (3 credits)

• Nine additional credits in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, with at least 6 hours at the 500 level or above, chosen in consultation with the Women's Studies adviser

• Completion of all requirements of the student's C&I Ph.D. emphasis area

• Creation of a doctoral committee including at least two members who are Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies-affiliated faculty

• Completion of a comprehensive examination with topics focusing on feminist theory, feminist methodology, global feminism and feminist studies in the student's discipline

• Presentation of a portfolio of work in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies to the student's committee

• A dissertation on a topic appropriate to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and approved and passed by the student's committee.

Please see The Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies for more information about admissions procedures and degree requirements.