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Doctor of Philosophy / Master of Arts in
Sociology / Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Advocate for a Diverse and Equal Culture

The current movement for acceptance and equality has driven more people to understand the diverse culture of our country, while the recent #MeToo campaign has shed light on women's rights and the seriousness of sexual harassment.

If you're interested in becoming an advocate for women and the LGBTQ community, UAlbany's joint master's in women's, gender and sexuality studies and doctorate in sociology program will prepare you for your professional journey.

Program Highlights

This dual MA/PhD program provides a foundation in sociological theories and methods that intertwine with studies in women's rights and gender and sexual identities.

Sample course titles include: Situated Sexualities and Transnational Activism, Global Politics of Women's Bodies, Transformative Storytelling and Black Diasporas, Feminisms, and Sexual Politics.


Additional Information

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

For more information, contact Tse-Chuan Yang at [email protected], Barbara Sutton at [email protected], or Janell Hobson at [email protected].

Applied Learning

In this combined MA/PhD program, you collaborate with faculty in both the Sociology and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies departments.

As you complete your requirements, you gain practical skills in quantitative, qualitative, and historical comparative methods that you'll use in your own research. 

Because the department maintains partnerships with many mission-based community organizations, you can gain real-world experience working in areas such as reproductive justice, independent media, citizen political participation, LGBTQ issues, gender violence, and policy making.

programofstudy
Program Requirements
MA in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
  • Graduate Orientation
  • Feminist Theory
  • Research Seminar
  • Elective courses in a coherent field of study
  • Final Project

 

For your master's project you'll complete one of the following options:

  • Research thesis paper of 40 to 50 pages
  • Directed readings and a comprehensive exam
  • Feminist pedagogical or educational resource project
  • Action research or social justice community project (requires 40 or more hours on site)
PhD Sociology

Required Courses

  • Research Methods
  • Sociological Theories I and II
  • Intermediate Statistics
  • Orientation to Sociology
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Teaching Tool Requirement
  • Supporting courses as advised

Career Paths

career

Earning two degrees automatically expands the number of job opportunities you'll have after graduation. 

The master's part of the program immediately prepares you to work with women's and LGBTQ community organizations.
 

Sample Non-Teaching Job Titles

  • Human Services Administrator
  • Domestic Violence Advocate
  • Women's Health Clinic Counselor
  • Communications Consultant

With the doctorate in sociology, you can also pursue academic fellowships and teaching positions at universities and liberal arts colleges, and senior research positions with employers like those listed below.

 

Sample Employers

  • Social justice think tanks
  • Public health organizations
  • Policy research institutes
  • Federal agencies like the U.S. Census Bureau

Additionally, one of the first feminist blogs to surface the internet, "Feministing," was founded by three alumni of the program.

"The joint MA/PhD program helped me integrate a feminist consciousness into my research, provided me with access to a wider range of faculty mentors, and prepared me for the academic job market in sociology as well as in women's studies and gender and sexuality studies."

- Elizabeth, Class of 2018

Admissions Requirements

admissions
Deadlines

Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: January 15
Spring: Not Available
Summer: Not Available
 

No Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: May 1
Spring: Not Available
Summer: Not Available

Required Application Materials

Official Transcripts

All Schools Attended

Three Letters of Recommendation

Official GRE scores (GRE scores greater than 5 years old will not be accepted.)
To request a GRE waiver, please first initiate the application process and then complete this GRE Waiver Request form and email [email protected]. Without initiating the application process in the application system, the waiver request will not be processed.

Supplemental Documents

  • Statement of Goals
    The statement is generally one to two pages discussing what you have to offer the program and what you wish to get out of the program.  It should include a brief description of the applicant's field of interest, related background, desired area of study and research emphasis or career goals. 
  • Writing Sample


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