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Announcements:

Corporeus Danza LatinoAmericana
Friday,October 3
7:30 pm - EUC Auditorium

VOX Meeting October 8 at 7:30 in EUC Birch Room with Patrice L. Guillory of The Feminist Majority

Love Your Body Week
October 13-17

Follow this link to see all of the activities!

Master of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies is accepting applications for Fall 2009

MA program details

For more information call
336-334-5673

Frequently Asked Questions about the MA in Women's and Gender Studies

  1. PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM
    1. What will the Master's program prepare me for?What are the program concentrations?What are the course offerings?Will I be able to register for courses online?Are there any prerequisites or course restrictions?
    2. Who are the faculty?
  2. GRADUATION INFORMATION
    1. What is required to complete the program?Is there a time limit for completing the degree? How long should it take to complete the degree?Can I apply courses in this program to a degree in another program? What are the policies on transfer credit?
    2. Are there course level restrictions?
  3. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
    1. What criteria must I meet?How much emphasis is placed on the various requirements, such as GRE or GMAT scores and the writing sample?What is required in the writing sample?What should be in the personal statement?Where should I submit my writing sample and personal statement?Must I take the GRE/GMAT if I've taken it before?What about test prep assistance?When and where can I take the test?
    2. Will I need to come to campus for an interview?
  4. CURRENT STUDENTS
    1. Can current WGS post-Baccalaureate Certificate students apply?How do current Certificate students apply?
    2. If I am currently in another Master’s program, can I also enroll in the Women’s and Gender Studies MA?
  5. OUT OF STATE STUDENTS
    1. Is there a way to waive out-of-state tuition?
  6. GRADUATE SCHOOL INFORMATION
    1. How do I apply for Graduate admission?When should I apply?Where can I get application forms?Can I apply online?
    2. Is financial assistance available?
  7. CONTACTING WOMEN'S AND GENDER STUDIES
    1. Can I talk directly with an Advisor?
    2. Do you offer campus visits?


I. PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM

    What will the Master's program prepare me for?

    The Master of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies offers students preparation for careers outside of the academy that will help address gender-related challenges that affect communities, families, the health-care delivery system, social service organizations and governments. The MA prepares graduates to develop, assess, and implement programs to address the larger social needs, particularly as they are impacted by and even created by gender and ethnic differences.This program is unlike traditional master’s programs in public health and social work that generally address gender by “adding on” discrete courses and units; and it is unlike traditional master’s programs in Women’s Studies that, with few exceptions, are designed to prepare students for doctoral work.The program is a natural extension of UNCG’s educational mission and history. It builds upon our successful post-baccalaureate certificate and will, we believe, become a national model in the field of Women’s Studies.

    The WGS master’s is currently the only master’s degree program in Women’s Studies in the state of North Carolina and the only one available between Baltimore and Atlanta.

    What are the program concentrations?

    • Gender and HealthGender and Community Leadership
    • Individualized program developed in close consultation with a faculty advisor.

    Concentration in either Gender and Health or Gender and Community Leadership will provide professional skills development and will prepare students for employment in non-faculty positions in education, in non-profit organizations, government and business.

    Students completing the program with individual concentrations will be prepared to pursue doctoral degrees in Women’s Studies or other professional degrees, or can target their studies to specific employment areas such as counseling, university teaching, the arts and business.

    What are the course offerings?

    The link below shows a chart of possible course offerings. We offer both interdisciplinary and core cognate courses.
    Course Offerings Chart .
    Offerings for a particular semester can be located at this link:
    https://banweb.uncg.edu/prod/hwzkcoff.P_UncgSlctCrsOf
     

Will I be able to register for courses online?

    Yes. Once you are admitted you will be able to register online with an advising code. Before registering, students must consult with the WGS MA Advisor to design their plan of study. The advisor will provide the code for registration.

    Are there any prerequisites or course restrictions?

    Yes, a few.
    WGS Core Courses:  WGS core courses must be taken in sequence since they are designed to build knowledge and allow reflection on the interdisciplinary connections our three tracks offer.  So, before registering for WGS 698, you must have taken 601, 650, 651 (in sequence) plus 12 other credits.
    Practicum (WGS 601):  Students must have taken 15 credits in the program before registering for the Internship/Practicum. 
    As a general rule, we do not offer the WGS internship/practicum during the summer except under special circumstances. For more information, see the online internship/practicum handbook at this link:  http://www.uncg.edu/wms/Internship%20Manual.pdf
    Independent Study (WGS 600):  Independent Study requires the permission of the instructor and a description of the intended project.  The Graduate School requires the completion of ‘several other courses’ with a grade level of 3.0 or higher.
    WGS requires 9 hours in the curriculum, or 6 hours if the student holds another graduate degree, with a grade level of 3.0 in order to register for WGS 600.
    The Permission to Register for Independent Study form requires the signatures of the instructor, the Director of WGS or the MA Advisor  and the Dean of the Graduate School.
    No more than 6 hours of independent study credits may be applied toward your degree.
    Independent Study may not be a substitute for existing courses.
    Courses in other programs or departments:  Some of the applied skills courses in the MBA program or graduate level courses in other departments may carry a ‘majors only’ restriction.  Your advisor will complete a “Permission to Register” form for you to take those courses, subject to permission of the cooperating program or department
     
    Who are the faculty?

    Our faculty represent a broad interdisciplinary commitment to Women's and Gender Studies. The Coordinating Council members are listed here

    A complete listing of faculty research interests will be available soon. In the meantime, contact us and we will put you in touch with faculty who share your interests.

II. GRADUATION INFORMATION

    What is required to complete the program?
    To finish the program, graduates will successfully complete:
    • 15 hours in the Core Curriculum9 hours in Professional development applied skills9 hours in chosen concentration
    • 6 Elective hours

    For the Individually-designed concentration, depending on whether the student chooses to do a thesis, graduates will successfully complete 36-39 hours:
                15-18 hours in Core Curriculum
                        9 hours in Planned Concentration (with Advisor’s input)
                       12 Elective hours

    There are two additional graduation requirements to be aware of:

        1. By the end of the first week of classes in the last semester before you plan to graduate, you must submit an application to graduate to the Graduate School. 
        2. There is a $55 graduation fee (for MA) payable when you apply for graduation.

    For additional information on Graduation, see this link: 
    http://www.uncg.edu/grs/current/graduation_application.html

Is there a time limit for completing the degree?

    Yes.  The University requires that your program, including thesis, must be completed within five academic years, beginning with the date the first course carrying degree-applicable graduate credit was begun.

How long should it take to complete the degree?

    With an average course load (6-9 hours a semester), it should take about two years to complete.  Some non-core electives and professional skills courses should be available during summer session, although WGS core courses are not offered in the summer

Can I apply courses in this program to a degree in another program?

    No.  Credit earned in one Master’s degree cannot be applied toward another degree

What are the policies on transfer credit?

    At the Master’s level, graduate credits may transfer from other institutions, including UNCG’s Division of Continual Learning.  Courses will be evaluated for transfer credit.  The conditions are:
    No more than one-third of the minimum hours required for your degree can be transferred.
     
    Residence or distance learning credits must have been taken at a recognized, accredited graduate school and not have been used to complete the requirements for a degree in order to transfer.

    All transfer work must have been taken within a five-year time limit

    Other requirements may apply based on individual cases.

Are there course level restrictions?

    Only courses on the 500 level or above will be counted toward a graduate degree. Additionally, at least half of your coursework must be at the 600 level or above.

    For more detailed information on time limits and semester hours, see this page:  http://www.uncg.edu/grs/bulletin/masters_regulations.html#timelimits

III. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

    What admissions criteria must I meet?

    Students will be admitted to the program on the basis of academic achievement without regard to undergraduate major. To be considered, students must meet the following criteria:
    • Baccalaureate in any field. Prior course work in Women’s Studies is recommended, but a Women’s Studies degree is not required. Transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work sent directly from the school.Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (B) in your major. And/or a minimum of 3.00 in previous Graduate coursework GRE - or GMAT scores (within the last 5 years) (Do tests make you anxious? See below) Three letters of recommendation on institutional/organizational letterhead Personal Statement explaining motivation for pursuing the degree, your particular area(s) of interest, relevant coursework or experience/background Writing Sample reflecting your analytical and/or professional writing of 5-15 pages
    • Completed Application to the Graduate School.

    How much emphasis is placed on the various requirements, such as GRE or GMAT scores and the writing sample?

    We will look carefully at all the materials you send as part of your application. While your GRE or GMAT scores will be considered, we will also pay attention to your transcript, prior coursework, your personal statement and your writing sample.

    What is required in the writing sample?

    You should submit a 5 – 15 page sample that reflects your analytic and/or professional writing skills. Examples of submissions include a research paper you wrote for an advanced class, a chapter of an honors thesis, a grant or project proposal you wrote for an organization you have worked for or similar materials.

    What should be in the personal statement?

    You should submit a personal statement of no more than 2 pages, double-spaced. The personal statement must include the following: demonstrated proficiency in writing at the graduate level, an explanation of both academic and professional goals, a discussion of any prior professional and/or community-based experience related to women and/or gender, and an explanation of how previous course work related to women and/or gender shaped the desire to pursue further study.

    Where should I submit my writing sample and personal statement?

    Hard copies of both the writing sample and your personal statement should be sent to the Women’s & Gender Studies program. If you are on campus, you may bring it by the office on campus at 200 Foust Building. Or you may mail it to:
    Women’s & Gender Studies Program
    University of North Carolina Greensboro
    P.O. Box 26710
    Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
    For both convenience and to ensure prompt attention to your application, please submit both at the same time and do not email them..

    Must I take the GRE/GMAT if I've taken it before?

    If it has been more than 5 years since you last took the exam, you need to take it again.

    What about test prep assistance?

    UNC Greensboro's Division of Continual Learning offers several test prep courses designed to aid in focusing on test-taking techniques, time saving methods, logical reasoning, verbal skills, and math competence. Their highly skilled teachers use past exams and simulated materials to teach test taking strategies.
    Division of Continual Learning Test Preparation

    When and where can I take the test?

    UNCG does not offer the GRE or GMAT on campus. However, you can find information on entrance exams and how to contact the ETS or the local testing center here.

    Will I need to come to campus for an interview?

    No formal interview is required but you may email us to arrange an interview or visit.

IV. CURRENT STUDENTS

    Can current WGS post-Baccalaureate Certificate students apply?

    Yes, you can apply, but once in the MA program you cannot continue to take courses toward the Certificate. Your hours in the Certificate, if not counted toward a previous MA degree, will apply.

    How do current Certificate students apply?

    You must reapply to the Graduate School and pay the fee for the MA program.Since your letters of recommendation are on file, they can be used for the MA, as long as at least one is from an academic source.

    You will need to submit a new personal statement that addresses the MA and the track you are planning to pursue. You will also need to submit a 5-15 page writing sample reflecting your analytical and/or professional writing.

    GRE/GMAT scores taken within the last 5 years will be accepted. However if you took the MAT or if your GRE/GMAT scores are older than 5 years, you will need to submit new GRE/GMAT scores.

    We require an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (B) in your major and/or a minimum of 3.00 in previous Graduate coursework.

If I am currently in another Master’s program, can I also enroll in the Women’s and Gender Studies MA?
No. University policy does not allow you to take two graduate programs concurrently. However, by choosing the WGS individually designed concentration, students would have the flexibility to incorporate their interdisciplinary interests and their particular areas of research interest.

V. QUESTIONS FOR OUT OF STATE CANDIDATES

    Is there a way to waive out-of-state tuition?

    Students who live in one of the Southern Region Education Board states (AL, AK, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV) may be eligible to waive out-of-state tuition charges through the Academic Common Market (ACM). Information on the ACM can be found here:
    http://www.sreb.org/programs/acm/acmindex.aspThe ACM allows a student to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program at a university in another state without having to pay out-of-state tuition if that program of study is not offered by public institutions in the student’s home state. UNCG’s MA in Women’s & Gender Studies is the only master’s program in Women’s and Gender Studies in North Carolina and the only one available between Baltimore and Atlanta and meets those criteria. Students interested in ACM should contact the state coordinator in her or his home state to determine eligibility to participate.
    Here is the link for SREB states and their coordinators :
    http://www.sreb.org/programs/acm/participating/states.asp/

VI. GRADUATE SCHOOL INFORMATION

    How do I apply for Graduate admission?
    You must complete a graduate application. Below are helpful links.
    Prospective Graduate Student FAQ
    Graduate School Overview
    When should I apply?
    For Fall admission, you must apply by March 1
    To be considered for an assistantship, you must apply by March 1

    Where can I get application forms?

    You can print out UNCG's application forms from this link.

    Can I apply online?

    Eventually you will be able to apply online, but until further notice, please print out the paper application from the Graduate School and mail to the address provided.

    Is financial assistance available?

    Students wishing to apply for a Women’s and Gender Studies assistantship must apply to the program by April 15. Additional financing suggestions can be found on this link from the Graduate School.

VII. CONTACTING WOMEN'S AND GENDER STUDIES

    Can I talk directly with an Advisor?

    Yes, we encourage you to call! Our advisor will be glad to help you with any questions you may have about the program, the areas of concentration, the application process, courses, faculty or other information you might need.

    For general Information:
    Beth Walker
    336-334-4443
    Beth_Walker@uncg.edu

    Do you offer campus visits?

    It would be our pleasure to have you visit. We can arrange for you to meet our Program leadership faculty and staff, schedule time for you to talk with faculty in your area of interest, meet students in our MA program, take a tour of the campus.

    If you would like to schedule a visit, just call Beth Walker. We do ask that you give us at least a week's notice so that we can be sure to schedule meetings for you.

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