Women's Studies Programs

Master of Arts Degrees

M.A. in Women's Studies
M.A. in Public Policy with a concentration in Women's Studies
Choosing between the M.A. degrees
Practicum | Thesis | Comprehensive Examination

Advisors

Before registering, incoming students should contact their advisor to discuss courses and programs of study. There are no faculty available for advising between May 31 and August 15. Each year, several advising days are set up prior to the start of the Fall semester. Advising is on a walk-in basis. The advising dates will be announced via email over the summer.

Liberal Arts:
Dan Moshenberg 202-994-9086
dym@gwu.edu

Cynthia Deitch 202-994-7438
deitch@gwu.edu

Alyssa Zucker 202-994-1260
azucker@gwu.edu

Public Policy:
Cynthia Harrison, 202-994-6943
harrison@gwu.edu

Cynthia Deitch 202-994-7438
deitch@gwu.edu

As students proceed through their course work, they should find a mentor who will serve as a more in-depth source of intellectual and professional guidance.

By their second semester, students are required by The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences to complete a Program of Study form. It must be signed by their advisor and forwarded to CSAS before registration for the second semester. Revisions to the Program of Study form should be made as appropriate; each change requires the advisor's signature.

Designing Your Program of Study

MA in Women's Studies with a concentration in a discipline

three theory/methods courses (9 credit hours):

WSTU 220: Fundamentals of Feminist Theory (Fall, usually first year)
WSTU 225: Contemporary Feminist Theory (or women's studies approved theory course)
WSTU 221: Research Issues in Women's Studies (2nd Year, Fall)

6 credit hours from among the following three options:

WSTU 283: Six-hour Practicum (Spring)
WSTU 283 and WSTU 295: Three-hour Practicum and a separate independent research project (283 - Spring)
WSTU 299-300 : Thesis (6 credit hours)

In addition, students take four graduate courses (12 credit hours) in their chosen discipline/field and three courses (9 credit hours) of electives related to their program of study for a total of 36 credit hours. It is higly recommended that one course in the chosen discipline/field should be a graduate research methods course. Students may take more then four courses in their discipline/field of choice. For advice about these courses, students should locate a mentor in the relevant department as early as possible.

A typical program of study for the MA in Women's Studies with Anthropology as the chosen discipline and the thesis option, for example, might look like:

FALL	SPRING	FALL	SPRING
WSTU 220	WSTU 225	WSTU 221	WSTU 299
ANTH 259	Elective	ANTH Elective	WSTU 300
ANTH 257	Elective	ANTH 223	Elective

Typical choices for a liberal arts concentration include disciplines such as philosophy, history, sociology, anthropology, English, religion, political science, or economics. Some students have designed non-traditional concentrations such as communications, public administration, international development, and counseling.

MA in Public Policy with a concentration in Women's Studies

One theory course:

WSTU 220: Fundamentals of Feminist Theory (Fall) or
WSTU 225: Contemporary Feminist Theory (or WSTU approved theory course)

One methods course

WSTU 221: Research Issues in Feminist Studies (2nd Year, Fall)

5 courses in the Women's Studies and Public Policy core (15 credit hours):

WSTU 240: Women and Public Policy (Spring)
ECON 217: Survey of Economics (Fall/Spring) or a more advanced course in economics
PPOL 202 Research Methods in (Fall/Spring)
PPOL 206 Policy Analysis (Fall/Spring)
PPOL 201: Politics & the Policy Process (Fall/Spring)

6 credit hours from among the following three options:

WSTU 283: Six-hour Practicum (Spring)
WSTU 283 and WSTU 295: Three-hour Practicum and a separate independent research project (283 - Spring)
WSTU 299-300 : Thesis (6 credit hours)

In addition, students take three elective courses related to their program of study (9 credit hours) to complete the total of 36 credit hours. A typical program of study for the MA in Public Policy with a concentration in Women's Studies might look like:

FALL	SPRING	FALL	SPRING
WSTU 220	PPOL 202	WSTU 221	WSTU 283
PPOL 201	ECON 217	PPOL 206	(6 credit hrs)
Elective	WSTU 240	Elective	Elective

Choosing Between the Public Policy and Liberal Arts Options

The M.A. in Public Policy with a Concentration in Women's Studies was established in 1982 as a "first-of-its-kind" graduate degree option formally combining Women's Studies and public policy. It remains a unique and distinctive feature of the GW program. Students take require core Women's Studies courses and electives with other Women's Studies graduate students and required core public policy courses with students in other public policy graduate programs. This program provides students with a professionally-oriented degree, the M.A. in Public Policy, including training in the conventional social science components of that degree--economics, quantitative methods, policy analysis--training that helps make our graduates marketable and competitive in the mainstream world of public policy. Most important, it also provides students with a feminist analysis and the tools to criticize conventional ways of thinking about and studying public policy that have traditionally excluded women. It offers opportunities to gain expertise in specific policy issues important to women, and to participate in Washington women's policy networks and organizations.

The M.A. in Women's Studies with a concentration in a liberal arts discipline or a topical focus offers students the opportunity to craft an individualized program of study in close consultation with faculty advisors. Students are expected to develop intellectual depth and a degree of expertise through a four-course concentration in either (a) a specific discipline such as Anthropology, Sociology, English, History, Philosophy (other disciplines are also possible, with permission), or (b) a topical area such as women and health, women and international development, race and gender (other areas are possible). There are ample opportunities for students with policy interests to include policy courses (such as Women and Public Policy, among others) in their program of study, either as part of their chosen discipline/field or as electives.

The disciplinary concentration works well for students interested in going on for a Ph.D. in a discipline and for those whose interests fit easily within disciplinary lines. Students are encouraged to find a faculty mentor in their disciplinary concentration. Alternatively, students may choose an M.A. in Women's Studies because their intellectual passions and career objectives are truly interdisciplinary. The topical focus option provides academic space for students with diverse interests.

Choosing Between the Practicum & the Thesis Option

Each MA student faces the choice of whether to write a thesis or do one of the practicum options.Although it is possible to do both a thesis and a practicum, most students do one or the other.

The Practicum & Independent Research

Professor Cynthia Deitch, Practicum Coordinator, convenes a meeting each fall to discuss the practicum option. She can be contacted at 202-994-7438 or deitch@gwu.edu. One of the graduate teaching assistants will be available to provide information on the Practicum and placement opportunities, and information can also be found on the practicum website.

The practicum provides students with professional level experience in a policy-related organization combined with weekly seminar meetings, readings and written work that integrates theory and practice. The practicum is offered only in the spring semester of each year. Most students take the practicum in their second year, but some do it earlier. Timing depends on what works best for the student's interests, needs, and schedule. The WSTU Program gathers information on internship opportunities in a wide range of organizations.

Placement arrangements, including an application, interviews, and a contract, are completed in November-December of the preceding fall term. Thus, students who wish to take the practicum in the spring of their first year must decide before the end of their first semester. Professor Deitch and a graduate assistant will provide individualized assistance in finding a placement if the student begins the process by November or earlier. Students considering the Practicum are strongly urged to consult with Professor Deitch or the graduate assistant early in the Fall semester.

The Practicum includes two options, both of which require attendance at the weekly seminar:

WSTU 283 (3 credits): 120-hour placement and 3 credits of independent research (WSTU295)though not necessarily in the same semester.

WSTU 283 (6 credits): 150-hour placement plus a case study -- a major research paper that analyzes some aspect of the placement experience.

WSTU 295 and WSTU 280

All students taking WSTU 295 Independent Research or WSTU 280 Independent Study, whether for an elective or a requirement, must submit a brief description of their proposed project and obtain written permission from a faculty sponsor who agrees to supervise the research PRIOR to registering. Forms are available in the Women’s Studies office.

WSTU 295 Independent Research

For students taking WSTU 295 to fulfill the MA requirements under the non-thesis option, general expectations are that the student will:

spend one full semester (or more) doing independent original research, that is, collecting original data or otherwise using primary sources and making an original scholarly contribution, rather than simply reviewing what others have already written;
produce an article-length (25-35 pp.) professional paper--that is, a polished paper suitable for presentation at a professional conference and approaching publishable quality.

Students should anticipate one or more rounds of directed revision. Specific requirements will be worked out with the faculty sponsor.

WSTU 280 Independent Study (elective)

Although it may take a variety of forms, WSTU 280 is typically a directed readings course, designed so that the student may gain command of the literature in a specific field of inquiry not readily available through offered courses. Students and faculty sponsors may agree on a variety of written outcomes or final projects.

The Thesis

A student who is writing a thesis should discuss appropriate topics with a faculty mentor and others. A faculty member should then be invited to serve as the "thesis advisor." In consultation with the advisor, a "reader" would then be asked to serve as the second member of the "thesis committee." A thesis topic approval form should be filled out and submitted to the Women's Studies Program. It is recommended you submit this form no later than the end of the first semester of registration. Most students need about two semesters to complete the thesis.

The Women's Studies Program has compiled of list of "Women's Studies Faculty and Associated Faculty" to assist students in locating faculty with whom they would like to work and who might be potential theses advisors. This list is not exhaustive, and students are welcome to create links with other faculty.

Further details concerning the MA thesis:

· The length of a thesis varies. Usual length is from 50 to 100 pages.

· In addition to full-time faculty, part-time GW faculty may serve as either thesis advisor or reader.

· If the proposed director or reader is from outside GW, her/his curriculum vitae must be submitted to the Columbian School of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) by the Women's Studies Program for approval.

· The final thesis (the original and one copy) must be submitted to the Columbian School of Arts and Sciences by the date indicated in the academic calendar in the Graduate Student Handbook. It must be accompanied by the thesis approval form signed by the thesis director and one reader.

· All requirements pertaining to form, style, and methods of reproduction are contained in the booklet "Information Concerning Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations" (available in the CCAS Student Services office and on the CCAS website).

· CCAS requires two unbound copies. In addition, please provide one bound copy for the Women's Studies library and one bound copy for your advisor (optional for the reader).

· Accepted theses become the property of the University and are sent to Gelman Library where they are bound and placed in circulation (see the Graduate Student Handbook).Further details concerning the MA thesis:

1. The key documents you should be sure to consult are:

GW Graduate Student Handbook

GW Thesis and Dissertations style guide

The above are both located at:

columbian.gwu.edu/grad

The University holds students responsible for following the guidelines and meeting the deadlines specified in these documents. Be sure to read and understand the requirements registration, thesis credits, graduation, etc.

2. Example of Typical CCAS Deadlines: The final copy of the MA thesis, formatted according to GW guidelines, accompanied by an approval form signed by the Thesis Advisor and the Reader, usually is due in the Graduate School Office (Phillips 107) by the following dates (but be sure to verify the dates for the year you are graduating):

January 15   for Winter graduation

May 1           for Spring graduation.

August 15    for Summer graduation.

3. Planning Ahead:

Read the GW guidelines so you don’t miss deadlines, or have to retype/reformat at the last minute.

Almost everyone underestimates the time it takes to do the research and write the thesis. Try to be realistic in your planning.

In planning your schedule, keep in mind that WSTU faculty, as well as most other GW faculty, are not paid to work with students over the summer (though some may be willing to give students some of their time).

If you run into a writing block, feel isolated or overwhelmed, get help by going to the Writing Center and/or getting together with other students working on theses or independent research for feedback and support.

4. Rules of Thumb for Writing a Thesis in the Humanities:

Define a research question.

Locate the topic within the existing literature, discussing how it relates to previous research and theory, and what it will contribute.

Explain your methods and sources of information.

Present your findings.

Discuss the theoretical, policy, or other implications of the findings.

Draw some conclusions.

5. Human Subjects Permission: See the Graduate Student Handbook and the Office of Human Research website (below). As explained in the GW Graduate Student Handbook, if your thesis involves research on living people (such as interviewing, observing, questionnaire, focus group, etc.) you must get what is called IRB approval. For more details, required CITI training, and access to forms, go to www.gwumc.edu/research/human.htm and follow instructions. For student projects, they usually try to process the forms quickly, in about two weeks. Your advisor and/or other WSTU faculty can help you figure out what to do. As indicated in the Handbook and on the website, if you fail to obtain Human Research approval, the University may require you to start your thesis all over again, not use any of the data (interviews, etc.) you collected without permission, register and pay again for thesis credits, and other penalties. In other words, this is serious!

6. Example of a time line (subject to negotiation with your thesis advisor and reader):

Spring, first year: Choose a general topic and find an advisor.

Summer, first year: Background reading; secondary sources; literature search. Usually this would be independent work by the student.

September-October, second year: In consultation with your thesis advisor, finalize your topic and research strategy. Initiate IRB review if necessary. (IRB will not
approve any research done before submission to the IRB.) Although the IRB tries to process most student applications within 2-3 weeks, some proposals may take 2 months or longer. Allow enough time.

October-November, second year: Research

December 1 – January 15: Write first draft and submit to advisor. (Alternatively, your thesis advisor might prefer that you submit chapters or sections rather than a full draft)

February 1 – February 20: Revise thesis in response to advisor’s comments.

February 21: Give second draft to both advisor and reader (Alternatively, your Reader might be involved in reading earlier drafts or may prefer to read only the final draft approved by the thesis advisor.)

March 14 – April 1: Revise second draft.

April 15 – April 25: Give second draft to advisor & reader; get sign off.

April 25 – May 1: Format and deposit thesis at the CCAS grad student office. As of May ’09, electronic submission is required.

Modifications to this timeline can be made in negotiation with one's advisor

7. What happens if you need more time?

If you have finished your coursework and taken your 6 thesis credits but need more time to finish the thesis, beyond the Spring semester, current CCAS policy permits the following:

If a student registers for “continuous enrollment (CE) for the summer and finishes by August 15, the student pays only $35 and graduates in August.

If a student registers for CE for the summer but does not finish by August 15, she/he may register and pay again for CE for Fall, finish within first 3 weeks of the Fall semester, and graduate in January.

If the student needs more time (than the first 3 weeks of the fall semester), she/he registers for “continuing registration” (CR) for the fall and pays for one credit. The student must file by January 15, to graduate in January.

These rules can be confusing, so be sure to consult your academic advisor and CCAS

The Comprehensive Examination

Each student needs to pass the comprehensive exam in order to complete the MA degree. The MA Comprehensive Exam is offered twice a year: in the fall and spring, near the end of each semester. Students who plan to take the exam should notify the Program secretary at least one month (30 days) before the date that the exam is given out.

Women's Studies faculty and the Executive Committee determine format of the comprehensive exam. It may change, depending on periodic review. In the event of changes, a student may opt to follow either the format in effect when they entered the program or the revised format.

Format:

·        It is an open-book, take-home exam.

·        Students will be required to answer a total of three questions: one on feminist theory, one on feminist research methods, and one on the student's area of concentration (Public Policy, English, History, etc.).

·        There will be a choice of one out of three questions in theory, and one out of three questions in methods. There may not be a choice for the specialty question, but it will be broad enough for each student to answer it on the basis of her/his own program of study.

·        There is a maximum length of 1,500 words for each essay. (Faculty readers will be instructed not to read more than that for any one essay.)

·        Essays should be clearly typed, double-spaced, and carefully proofread.

·        Because this is an open-book exam it is expected that references will include author, title, and date. Direct quotations should include page numbers.

·        Direct quotation from sources is permitted, but excessive or lengthy use of direct quotation in a short essay is not advisable.

·        Students pick up the exam on a Friday, anytime from 9 am to 5 pm. The answers are due by 9:15 am the following Monday.

Purpose and Scope:

The goal of the exam is to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the material. Therefore essays should include discussion of several relevant sources, not just one or two authors. References to "classic" literature may be appropriate, but we also want to see inclusion of recent 1980's and 1990's literature to demonstrate a grasp of the latest thinking. Specific authors and titles should be cited and discussed in all three essays.

When to Take Comps:

To qualify to take comps, a student must have completed all non-elective courses or be in the process of completing remaining non-elective courses the semester the exam is taken. It is permissible to take comps before finishing a thesis or independent research if all other non-elective courses have been taken, but it is advisable to have completed as many courses as possible, including electives. Students should consult an advisor if they have any questions about when to take the exam.

Academic Integrity:

Students will be required to sign and attach to their exam a copy of the University academic integrity code (which will be provided with the questions.) Answers must be written in your own words and must represent original responses to the questions. "Re-cycling" your own writing from other sources (previous papers, exams, assignments, etc.) is not allowed.

For Review:

Copies of past exams are available for your review in a folder marked "MA Comprehensive Exams" in the Women's Studies Library.

Passing:

Students must receive a satisfactory grade on all three questions in order to pass the Women's Studies MA comprehensive exam requirement. At the discretion of the faculty, a student may be permitted to re-write one question without officially failing the entire exam. As stipulated in the Bulletin, a student who fails the MA comprehensive exam my apply to the Dean for permission to repeat the exam at the next regularly offered time. Superior achievement on the comprehensive is noted by a "pass with honors" on one or more question.