Women’s Studies

Undergraduate Information
Graduate Information

OFFICE: Arts and Letters 346
TELEPHONE: 619-594-6524
WEBSITE: http://womensstudies.sdsu.edu/

Chair: Kimala Price, Associate Professor of Women’s Studies (B.A., Tulane University; Ph.D., University of Michigan)

Undergraduate Advisors:

Anh Hua, Associate Professor of Women’s Studies (B.A., M.A., Ph.D., York University)

Irene Lara, Associate Professor of Women’s Studies (B.A., Stanford University; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley)

Graduate Admissions and Graduate Advisor: Amira Jarmakani, Professor of Women’s Studies (B.A., Duke University; M.A., Ph.D., Emory University)

Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty:

Anne Donadey, Professor of French and Women’s Studies (B.A., M.A., Universite de Nice, France; Ph.D., Northwestern University)

Catherine E. Clune-Taylor, Assistant Professor of Women’s Studies (B.A., M.A., University of Western Ontario, Canada; Ph.D., University of Alberta, Canada)

Jess Whatcott, Assistant Professor of Women’s Studies (B.A., M.A., Humboldt State University; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz)

Emeritus Faculty:
Susan E. Cayleff, Ph.D., 1987-2020, Professor of Women’s Studies
Elizabeth A. Colwill, Ph.D., 1989-2012, Associate Professor of Women’s Studies
Olivia M. Espín, Ph.D., 1990-2002, Professor of Women’s Studies
Huma Ahmed Ghosh, Ph.D., 1994-2020, Professor of Women’s Studies
Patricia Huckle, Ph.D., 1975-2001, Professor of Women’s Studies
Kathleen B. Jones, Ph.D., 1981-2003, Professor of Women’s Studies
Janet A. Kohen, Ph.D., 1980-2001, Associate Professor of Women’s Studies
Doreen Mattingly, Ph.D. 1995-2020, Professor of Women’s Studies
Esther D. Rothblum, Ph.D., 2005-2021, Professor of Women’s Studies
Bonnie K. Scott, Ph.D., 2001-2011, Professor of Women’s Studies
Maria-Barbara Watson, Ph.D., 1976-2003, Professor of Women’s Studies
Bonnie S. Zimmerman, Ph.D., 1978-2010, Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs; Professor of Women’s Studies

Undergraduate Information

The Major

The Department of Women’s Studies offers students a course of study which explores traditional disciplines from the perspective of women, develops innovative multidisciplinary approaches, stimulates scholarly research in areas relevant to women, and provides an open forum for the exchange of ideas among students, faculty, and community. We embrace an approach that highlights intersections of oppressions and spans the scale from local to global. The department further seeks to bridge theory and action in working toward a society free from privilege based on age, class, gender and gender identity, nation, physical condition, race, or sexual orientation. SDSU has offered courses in women’s studies since 1969 and has one of the strongest academic programs in the nation.

A degree in women’s studies may be used as preparation for a wide range of careers. Professional opportunities exist in political and social agencies working with women and developing public policy on women’s issues such as health care, employment, family violence, and education. Women’s studies students prepare for careers in such fields as community organizing, education, journalism, law, personnel, psychology, public administration, and social services. The skills that women’s studies majors develop in critical thinking and analysis are highly valued in many additional occupations and professions today. A women’s studies major may also go on to advanced academic work preparing for a career as a women’s studies scholar.

Many women’s studies majors plan double majors to enhance their career opportunities.

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.

Graduate Information

Associateships and Assistantships

Graduate teaching associateships and graduate assistantships in women’s studies are available to a number of qualified students. Application forms and additional information may be obtained from the graduate adviser in the Department of Women’s Studies or on-line.

General Information

The Department of Women’s Studies offers graduate study leading to the Master of Arts degree in women’s studies.

The department, recognized as the nation’s first (1970) and among the strongest, has a distinguished faculty in the humanities and social sciences. Discipline-specific expertise as well as feminist theoretical paradigms are available to satisfy students’ multi-faceted interests.

The Master of Arts degree is designed to provide advanced training for (1) students who plan to terminate their graduate studies at the master’s level, and (2) those who anticipate further study leading to a doctoral degree in women’s studies or related fields. The degree will also provide a foundation for further graduate work in professional degree programs such as counseling, social work, law, and public health. It will also prepare students for teaching in a community college and other institutions of higher learning. The Master of Arts will enhance students’ ability to participate professionally in a range of organizations and businesses in the public and private sector, particularly those addressing women’s issues.

Admission to Graduate Study

The application deadline for fall admission of new students in the Department of Women’s Studies is February 15 for the Cal State Apply application and all other materials. All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the university with classified graduate standing, as described in Admission and Registration . As an additional requirement, students must demonstrate sufficient preparation for the program. This preparation can include possession of a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies from an accredited institution or completion of sufficient units in women’s studies and related fields. Evaluation of a student’s transcript will be made on an individual basis by the admissions committee to determine whether evidence of sufficient preparation can be demonstrated. A student whose preparation is deemed insufficient by the Graduate Admissions Committee may be admitted as conditionally classified and will be required to complete specified courses in addition to the minimum of 30 units required for the degree.

The grade point average required for admission to the Master of Arts program in women’s studies is 3.0 for the last 60 units of the student’s undergraduate work, plus satisfactory scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytic sections of the GRE.

Students applying for admission should electronically submit the university application available at http://www.calstate.edu/apply along with the application fee.

All applicants must submit admissions materials separately to SDSU Graduate Admissions and to the Department of Women’s Studies.

Graduate Admissions

All applicants must submit admissions materials as specified below.

University application (Cal State Apply at http://www.calstate.edu/apply).

All applicants to the program must complete an online application on Cal State Apply and pay the required fee by February 15. A RedID will then be assigned which allows tracking of application status online.
Office of Graduate Admissions requirements.

Official test scores and transcripts must be received by March 1.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
- GRE (and if applicable, TOEFL) test scores sent directly from ETS. (SDSU Institution Code 4682)

Send to:

Graduate Admissions
Enrollment Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

The following admissions materials must be submitted electronically by February 15:

Copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (these do not need to be sent directly from the colleges - photocopies are acceptable);
Copies of GRE (and if applicable, TOEFL) test scores;
Two letters of recommendation - applicant must provide names and e-mail addresses for recommenders. Recommenders will be invited to complete the recommendation electronically;
A two-page, single-spaced statement of purpose, concerning the applicant’s scholarly background, intentions, and goals. The statement should address the applicant’s experience in women’s studies and with women’s issues, rationale for pursuing the M.A. degree, and relation of the M.A. degree in women’s studies to prior academic work and career objectives. Explain how your understanding of feminism intersects with ability, class, race, sexual orientation, and other dimensions of difference;
Applicants must state whether they are applying for fulltime or part-time status. (A small number of part-time students may be admitted each year. Applicants should read carefully the information provided under part-time program guidelines.)

For information regarding the admissions process, visit the department website at http://womensstudies.sdsu.edu/.