FAQs: Doctor of Philosophy in Gender Studies
Q: Can I defer my enrollment from one calendar year to the next?
A: Yes, with program approval, you can defer your enrollment for one year. However, students who defer admission are not guaranteed funding for the next year, even if they have received an offer for the current year.
Q: How should I choose which writing sample to submit?
A: You should submit one paper between 10 and 25 pages long. You should submit whichever piece you think best shows your skills and interests. It is less important that it be about gender than that it shows your skills, although something on gender would be ideal.
Q: How high does my GRE score need to be?
A: Your GRE scores should be extremely competitive because our applicant pool is extremely competitive. We do not, however, have a set minimum requirement. Also keep in mind that GRE scores are only one factor in evaluating candidates, and so the other parts of your application also matter.
Q: What GPA is required to apply?
A: The Graduate College requires that all successful applicants hold at least a 3.00 GPA in their junior/senior years.
Q: Do I need a bachelor's in women or gender studies to apply for the doctoral program?
A: You must have completed a minimum of four gender-related courses, but you do not need a bachelor's in women/gender studies.
Q: Do I need a master's degree to apply to the doctoral program?
A: The program will consider students entering with either a bachelor's or master's degree. Students who already hold a master's degree may request an evaluation of their previous course work to determine if they can receive credit for equivalent courses.
Q: Can I apply and enroll in classes as a nondegree student?
A: Students can apply as nondegree students and be admitted to the university. However, they will be able to enroll in gender studies graduate courses only with special approval. In addition, no credits taken as a nondegree student can be applied to a doctoral degree.
Q: Does the Gender Studies Program accept applications for spring?
A: No. We believe it is best to admit each class at one time so students can work and take classes together.
Q: How many credits/courses do I need to apply?
A: You must have completed a minimum of four gender-related courses at the graduate or undergraduate level, or have had equivalent and relevant research experience.
Q: How many credits may be transferred from other institutions to my program of study? Can I get transfer credits for courses taken as a foreign university?
A: We can not give transfer credits for individual courses unless the transcript identifies a specific number of credits for each course. However, if you have completed a master's degree in women's studies, you may be able to receive credit for the whole degree (30 credits). That said, if your bachelor's was a three-year degree, your master's might count as the fourth year of your bachelor's, and so can not count toward the doctorate as well.
Q: Where can I go to find out more information about ASU's doctoral degree requirements?
A: Please see the degree requirements in the ASU academic catalog.
Q: How can I find out more about financial assistance?
A: The Graduate College Web page contains information on financial assistance.
Q: Will you review an incomplete application?
A: We can not review applications that are missing one or more of the requirements.
Q: How can I check the status of my application?
A: You can check the status of your application to the Graduate College at My ASU.
Q: What kind of funding is available?
A: There are several options for funding. Competitive teaching and research assistantships run for 9.5 months, provide a stipend starting at $12,285, and require 20 hours of work per week for women and gender studies. Students may also find assistantships in other departments on campus and can apply for competitive external fellowships.
Q: Where can I find out more about the department and about faculty research interests?
A: Please see our faculty listing.
Q: What if I just want a master's degree and not a doctorate?
We do not offer a master's degree or a master's-in-passing. We only accept students who intend to complete a Doctor of Philosophy.
Q: Should I get a degree in gender studies and focus on a sociological, historical or other approach, or should I get a degree in sociology, history or some other field and focus on gender studies?
A: There's no one right answer to this. Are you drawn to interdisciplinary research, articles and classes, or are you most comfortable working within one discipline? Are there more faculty who share your interests and approach in the Gender Studies Program, or in some other field?
Q: What is the job market for doctoral graduates in gender studies?
A: The Doctor of Philosophy is a research degree; it prepares students for research in a variety of settings, including university employment. Because our program is just starting, we have no data on our graduates. However, women and gender studies programs around the country continue to expand and to hire faculty. In addition, your training will provide you with research and analytical skills that could be used in research and policy institutes, in the government, and in nonprofit organizations.
Q: Do international students need to submit official transcripts to the Graduate College?
A: Yes. If you are an international student you can have your college or university send transcripts direct to the Graduate College, or you can send the transcripts in a sealed envelope from your college or university.
Q: Do international students need to take GRE?
A: Yes.
Q: Do international students need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or other English language proficiency exam?
A: Students whose native language is not English must meet ASU's English proficiency requirements.
However, you do not need to meet these requirements if you have:
- Earned a bachelor's degree or higher at a regionally accredited U.S. college/university.
- Completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of graduate level study with a GPA of 3.00 or higher at a regionally accredited U.S. college/university.
- Completed at least 90 undergraduate credit credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher at a regionally accredited U.S. college/university.
- Completed the American English and Culture Program (AECP) Advanced Level II and have the recommendation of the director of the AECP at a regionally accredited U.S. college/university.
