Women’s and Gender Studies Graduate Certificate

Advanced Feminist Theory

The advanced feminist theory course. The course includes “classic” literature from feminist, womanist and mujerista perspectives and addresses current theoretical issues across several disciplines. Offered in the fall term of every even-numbered year, it is team-taught by faculty associated with Dedman College, the Perkins School of Theology and the Dedman School of Law.

• WGST 6300 - Advanced Feminist Theory
• TC 8375 - Advanced Feminist Theory

Four Additional Courses

Four additional courses relevant to the intent of the certificate. Students typically take four courses in their area of graduate studies with content appropriate to the certificate as documented by the syllabus and subject to the director’s approval. In the interest of the interdisciplinary foundation of women’s studies, students may also take up to six hours of upper-level Dedman College or Meadows undergraduate women’s and gender studies courses from those pre-approved for such credit by the Women’s and Gender Studies program. They may pursue that option under the following circumstances:

• The students arrange a separate syllabus and assignments in conjunction with the professor of record.
• The syllabus and assignments must be approved by the Graduate Certificate Committee of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program.
• The students register for such courses using the appropriate graduate-level number (WGST 5310  for 3000-level courses and WGST 6310  for 4000-level courses). WGST 5310  can be taken only once.

Additional Requirements

Students must also complete a major research project or a supervised internship in a setting that addresses issues relevant to the intent of the program. This project should be included in the program plan (see the Admission Requirements section). For Ph.D. students, the project normally involves an article-length research paper written for coursework; however, if relevant it could include a performance, internship, exhibit or other project approved by the appropriate adviser. Supervised internship settings for Perkins Master of Divinity students will require a learning goal for women’s studies, and it shall be done in consultation with the Perkins Internship Office.

Notes

Note: Students in Dedman School of Law and Perkins are encouraged to petition the director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program for credit in their own departments for graduate courses, including independent studies courses, in which they engage in study appropriate to the intent of the certificate. Appropriate courses taken during matriculation at SMU, but prior to enrollment in the certificate program, may count toward program hours. Students in Dedman School of Law should consult the Law School’s adviser for the program about appropriate courses. All students may satisfy some of the requirements by taking three to six credit hours outside of their own school or program from the list of courses pre-approved by the Women’s and Gender Studies Program.

Students must also complete a major research project or a supervised internship in a setting that addresses issues relevant to the intent of the program. This project should be included in the program plan (Admission Requirements section). For Ph.D. students, the project normally involves an article-length research paper written for coursework; however, if relevant it could include a performance, internship, exhibit or other project approved by the appropriate adviser. Supervised internship settings for Perkins Master of Divinity students will require a learning goal for women’s studies, and it shall be done in consultation with the Perkins Internship Office.

Note: Courses at the 4000 level or below must be taken with the numbers WGST 5310  and WGST 6310 , in accordance with the academic requirements stated above.