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SDSU Women's Studies

Answers to Commonly Asked Questions

The following is a list of commonly asked questions and answers about the Women's Studies master's program at SDSU.

Q: If my undergraduate major was not in women's studies, must I take remedial work before I can be admitted to the program?
A: No. We commonly accept people into the program without an undergraduate major in Women's Studies. However, based on an evaluation of each newly admitted student's transcript, a student may be admitted as conditionally classified and required to take specific courses as part of or in addition to the 30 units required for the degree.

Q: Do you admit incoming students in the spring semester?
A: No. The program is fall-admission only.

Q: Are there any particular classes I should take during my first year in the graduate program?
A: Yes. We require Women's Studies 601 during the fall semester, and as many courses as possible from among 602-609 to complete the core requirements during the first year.

Q: How long do most students take to complete their master's degree?
A: If you are going full-time, the program should take 2 years. It is common, however, for many students to finish in the second summer or during the third year.

Q: If I maintain a full-time job during the day, can I reasonably expect to get through the program taking night courses, exclusively.
A: Most graduate women's studies courses are given in the late afternoon and evening, so it should be possible to get through the program without too much difficulty. If you cannot take courses in the late afternoon, however, you might have difficulty completing the requirements. Think very carefully before deciding to try this. Of course, if you are going part-time, it will take longer than the typical two years to complete the program.

Q: How is the job market for people graduating the M.A. program?
A: Quite good. We find that most of our graduates get jobs that use the skills they learned here. On the other hand, you should be advised that we do not consider our program to be a white-collar trade school. We view ours as an academic program rather that one tailored primarily toward providing job skills. Fortunately, many of our students do acquire such skills in the course of their graduate work.

Q: I am interested in pursuing a Ph.D. Is the Women's Studies M.A. at SDSU a good way to begin?
A: Yes, indeed-we think so. Our curriculum is designed to give students a thorough grounding in the interdisciplinary field of women's studies. You also have opportunities for teaching introductory courses in the second year. And the thesis requirement allows further practice at scholarly writing. As a result, our students have had excellent results in applying for Ph.D. programs. Several have gone on to pursue the doctorate in Women's Studies as well as in other fields.

Q: Is financial support available for graduate students?
A: Yes. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available to the most highly qualified graduate students in the program. In addition, tutoring and teaching positions are available to qualified students through the Department of Rhetoric and Writing Studies and the Social Science Research Laboratory. The department will also assist you to the best of its ability in obtaining employment in women-focused agencies and businesses in San Diego.

Q: I am an international student. Are there special issues I need to consider?
A: Yes. Please contact the International Students Office for further information, especially about financial and visa requirements. But be assured that the department is committed to international outreach, and will make every effort to assist you.