The requirements for this doctoral degree are 90 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree – configured as at least 48 credit hours of graded course work and an additional 42 dissertation credit or coursework credit hours (typically as 899 or 901).
For the most complete requirement information, please view the Graduate Bulletin or contact the director of graduate studies.
Each doctoral candidate will complete three required core courses involving theory, methodology, research skills, and professional development: G600 Concepts of Gender, G603 Feminist Theories, G702 Researching Gender Issues. Candidates will also complete a 12-credit-hour minor, which should be taken externally (e.g. in another department) or in an approved program listed in the Graduate Bulletin. Elective courses complete the required hours of gender-related course work.
Only those students intending to pursue the Ph.D. will be admitted to the program. However, a Master's degree may be obtained upon satisfactory completion of its requirements, which are: at least 30 credits of course work successfully earned, including 12 credits of outside GNDR courses and 9 credits of core GNDR courses and either a comprehensive MA exam or a substantive research paper (MA thesis) of roughly 50 pages.
Learn about qualifications Learn about the dissertationThree unique core courses form the heart of the Ph.D. program, for both the major and minor.
Gender Studies does not require proficiency in a foreign language unless a candidate is engaged in the sort of gender scholarship for which language proficiency would be necessary. The DGS will determine the means by which proficiency is demonstrated.
Beyond the required core course G702 Researching Gender Issues, there is no specific research-related skill requirement. However, a student's advisor may require additional competency in research skills appropriate to that student's dissertation topic. Such requirements may include competency in a second language, statistical methods, questionnaire development, ethnographic methods, interviewing techniques, textual or media analysis, computing/internet/webmaster operations, specific laboratory skills, other research and technical skills, or appropriate combinations of any of these. These studies are to be undertaken early in the candidate's graduate career. The assessment and completion of any required research competencies normally must be certified by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) prior to admission to candidacy.
Consistent with the general policy stated in the Bulletin of the University Graduate School, the Department of Gender Studies will accept up to 30 transfer credits into the graduate program, subject to the approval of the DGS. Grades received for transfer courses must be B or better. Coursework taken at another institution toward an MA can transfer to IUB for PhD credit, but if a student elects to leave the IUB program with a MA, credits earned at another university cannot be applied.
Candidates admitted with a master's degree from another institution may be required to take additional preparatory work, depending on their background and training. The program will be decided in consultation with the student's faculty advisor and the DGS.
Students pursuing a graduate degree in Gender Studies should use the University Graduate School Academic Bulletin.
Official requirements for our M.A. degrees can be found by clicking on the Bulletin below:
2019-20: Gender Studies University Graduate School Academic Bulletin
You should visit the IU Graduate School and College of Arts and Sciences websites to find more information about degree requirements, funding opportunities, and more.
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