Brandeis faculty and alumni are in the vanguard of feminist scholars worldwide. The Brandeis University Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program (WGS) provides a strong grounding in discipline-specific studies along with an interdisciplinary education in the theories, methods and scholarship of women's, gender, and sexuality studies. By introducing current research in a range of fields, the MA degrees create cross-disciplinary dialogue and prepare students for intellectual leadership in careers as diverse as public policy, education, social service, law, management, and writing. Doctoral students will find that our curriculum is excellent preparation for teaching in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and in their chosen disciplines.

The Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program offers several joint MA programs (please see the list below under “Degree Options”). The joint master's degree in women's, gender, and sexuality studies and another discipline may be pursued independently or in conjunction with a PhD in one of several fields. There is no PhD offered solely in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies; all the degrees we offer are on the MA level. Students pursuing the MA degrees are encouraged to enroll in courses offered by the Graduate Consortium in Women's Studies (Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, Simmons College, Tufts University, and UMass Boston).

Degree Options

• Joint MA: A terminal MA in women's, gender, and sexuality studies is offered in conjunction with one of the following disciplines: Anthropology, English, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Public Policy (Joint MPP, through Brandeis’ Heller School for Social Policy and Management), Sociology, or Sustainable International Development (through Brandeis’ Heller School for Social Policy and Management). Most of these degrees can be earned in one year, but students may benefit from the rich array of course offerings by extending their studies into a second year.  Students apply directly to a joint program, with the exception of the joint MPP and the joint MA in Sustainable International Development.  Applicants to the joint MPP and the joint MA in Sustainable International Development will apply to the Heller School.  

• Joint MA degree and PhD: The joint MA can be obtained while in pursuit of a PhD in one of the following fields: Anthropology, English, History, Music, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Psychology, and Sociology. This degree option replaces a master's degree in the student's program. Students currently enrolled in an affiliated Brandeis PhD program may enroll in the joint MA at any time during their graduate studies with the approval of the joint MA graduate advisor in their home department. Prospective PhD students interested in pursuing the joint MA must apply directly to the PhD program through the home department, but should note their interest in the joint program in their statement of purpose.