Graduate Admissions

Deadline to apply for the Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies program for Spring (January) 2021 matriculation is:

Deadlines to apply for the Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies program for Fall 2021 matriculation are:

• Block One: Friday, January 29. Admission committee will make decisions by February 19. This early block is to ensure a timely response to applicants who submit their applications in late December/early January.

• Block Two: Monday, March 29. Admissions committee will make decisions by Monday, April 26.

There is no penalty for applications received between Block 1 and Block 2; each and every application is given the same careful thought and consideration, regardless of submittal date. 

Following review by the SF State University Graduate Division, the Women and Gender Studies Department graduate admissions committee reviews your application for program-specific eligibility. 

In order to be admitted to the Women and Gender Studies MA program, students must:

1. Meet all general University requirements 

2. Have completed one of the following:

  a. a major in women and gender studies

  b. a minor in women and gender studies

  c. at least 9-12 undergraduate units of women and gender studies coursework. 

The most competitive candidates for admission will have a strong record of previous work in the feminist study of some or all of the following areas: race, gender, sexuality, colonialism, labor, and disability.

NOTE: if you do not meet one of the university or department requirements but feel qualified for graduate work in WGS, please contact the current WGS graduate coordinator to discuss your situation. Please contact the WGS Graduate Coordinator if you have questions.

Required and Optional Application Sections: 

Supporting Information section:

• Under “Statement of Purpose” please note “document attached”.

Program Materials section:

• “Academic Statement of Purpose” (750 words)

• “Personal Statement” (250 words)

• Unofficial transcripts

• CV/Resume (optional)

• Test scores (optional)

Letters of Recommendation:  

• Two (2) letters from individuals with direct knowledge of your scholarly abilities

Women and Gender Studies evaluates each application for the candidate's demonstration of academic excellence in Women and Gender Studies-related coursework, their clarity of graduate study plans and goals (academic/professional/community), and the applicant's academic fit with the SF State University Women and Gender Studies department's areas of expertise.

DOCUMENTS

Instructions for each document type are noted below. Documents are required unless noted as optional. Letters of recommendation should be sent to the academic department directly by the writers.

CV/Resume (Highly Recommended)

Personal Statement This short statement (no more than 250 words) should outline your preparation and motivation for seeking a graduate degree in Women and Gender Studies. This statement might include your rationale for pursuing the M.A. degree; the relation of the M.A. degree in Women and Gender Studies to your prior academic work; information about participation in community, volunteer, and/or professional activities; and other relevant information.

Statement of Purpose Women and Gender Studies applicants are required to submit an academic statement (no more than 750-words) outlining your intentions and goals for graduate study in WGS. Specifically, you should outline your planned area of academic focus within women and gender studies, including how this prospective focus relates to your past academic and/or community or professional work, and its relation to your future scholarly and/or career objectives. A well-written statement of purpose exhibits familiarity with key ideas in the field of intersectional gender studies, demonstrates academic preparation for graduate school, and articulates academic goals that can be supported by the methodological and intellectual interests and expertise of the department's faculty.

Unofficial Transcripts The Division of Graduate Studies requires you to upload copies of transcripts from every college or university attended, including study abroad coursework, community college coursework even if transfer credit appears on your degree transcript. Upload all transcripts to the documents section of this application. The Division of Graduate Studies may request official transcripts from you at any time during the application process in order to complete our review. If selected for admission, you must submit official transcripts to the Division of Graduate Studies in order to secure your admission offer.

Test Report (optional) The Women and Gender Studies department does not require GRE scores. However, applicants may include their scores.

English Language Score Report You may upload unofficial English language proficiency score report. Students whose native language is not English and whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English must submit an English language proficiency score report.

Supplemental Materials Upload any additional materials relevant to your application for graduate study. Combine documents into one PDF file.

Letters of Recommendation Women Gender Studies applicants are required to solicit two (2) letters of recommendation from individuals with direct knowledge of the applicant's scholarly preparation. These letters should speak to the applicant's academic readiness for graduate-level studies and are usually from professors who have knowledge of the applicant's academic performance and interest in Women Gender Studies. Letter writer email addresses should be from professional or academic organizations (ex. @sfsu.edu, @CA.gov or @ibm.com), not personal email addresses. Once you have saved an electronic recommendation, an email request will automatically be sent to the recommender on your behalf. Please advise your recommender to look for this email in their inbox, as well as their spam or junk-mail folder, as emails do occasionally get filtered out. (2 required – 3 total allowed)