The Center for Gender in Global Context administers three specializations for graduate students.
The Center for Gender in Global Context administers three specializations for graduate students.
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Gender, Justice and Environmental Change (GJEC) is a graduate specialization available as an elective for students who are enrolled in master's and doctoral degree programs at Michigan State University. The specialization is sponsored jointly by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Social Science.
Contact the GenCen grad programs advisor, Pat Arnold, for more information.
This program, started in Fall 2000, is the first of its kind in the nation explicitly focusing on the intersection of gender, environmental change, and social and environmental justice. The program is designed in particular to examine these issues and processes from both local and global perspectives, challenging traditional dichotomies between the First and Third Worlds, and the Global North/South.
Download the program brochure for GJEC here [pdf]
Researchers, policy-makers, and activists increasingly recognize the critical importance of these interlocking dimensions for understanding the social relations underlying many environmental problems, from Love Canal in New York to the Green Belt Movement in Kenya.
Examples of emerging scholarship in this field include how gender, class, race, and ethnicity intersect in:
The GJEC program offers graduate students a supportive and rigorous academic environment for exploring these issues, as well as credentials demonstrating specialized training in the field.
The specialization is intended to:
The program is flexible and cross-disciplinary in design, and with faculty and student participation. Students in natural science fields can use the specialization to integrate gender and justice concerns with their regular program. Students in social sciences will be exposed to the background, concepts, and methods of environmental studies necessary to communicate with natural scientists and policy makers.
The graduate advisor, Pat Arnold, works with the GJEC Curriculum Committee composed of faculty teaching GJEC courses to support the interdisciplinary academic goals of the specialization. The graduate advisor will assist each student in planning a program of study that is related to their interests, capabilities, and professional goals. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student's degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for their master's or doctoral degree.
The specialization is flexible and multidisciplinary, designed in consultation with the GJEC graduate advisor.
The student must meet the following requirements, totaling 12 credits:
It is recommended that students plan the policy and elective courses in consultation with the GJEC advisor to ensure the courses are available and will provide the student with the necessary training and skills, and contribute to a well-rounded program of study.
Students combine the specialization with a variety of MA and PhD programs across the College of Social Science, College of Agriculture, and other units. GJEC graduates enter into a wide range of careers in higher education, research, public service, government, nonprofits, and more. Many PhD graduates go on to obtain tenure-track faculty positions.
Other recent positions include:
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GenCen offers a Graduate Specialization in International Development (GSID), available as an elective for students who are enrolled in master's and doctoral degree programs at MSU. The specialization, administered by the College of Social Science, is designed to:
Students may design individualized programs with a focus on gender relations in the areas of health, work, rural development, environment and development, development administrations, nongovernmental organizations in development, and politics of development.
Official program requirements are available at the Office of the Registrar, linked here.
Download a copy of the GSID brochure here [pdf]
Contact the GenCen grad programs advisor, Pat Arnold, for more information.
MSU programs and activities are not restricted based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, or other protected identity. This opportunity is open to all qualifying applicants without preference based on protected identity, and all are welcome to apply.
The Women's & Gender Studies (WGS) graduate specialization is available as an elective for students who are enrolled in master's and doctoral degree programs at Michigan State University. The specialization is sponsored jointly by the Colleges of Social Science, Arts & Letters, and Education.
Contact the GenCen grad programs advisor, Pat Arnold, for more information.
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The WGS Graduate Specialization is designed to foster the study of women, gender, sexuality, and feminist theory across disciplines and national borders, provide professionalization opportunities for graduate students focusing on women, gender, and/or feminist studies, and to foster the growth of interdisciplinary research and teaching on women, gender, and sexualities. Emphasis is given to understanding the diversity of gender and sexuality—cross-culturally and globally. The specialization is open to graduate students currently enrolled in a graduate degree program at MSU.
The specialization should complement advanced, discipline-based degrees by providing an interdisciplinary, feminist component.
Course Requirements
The WGS Specialization is designed to provide interdisciplinary training in gender studies with a focus on the intersections of gender with race, class, and ethnicity from a global perspective. Students can select elective courses tailored to their interests.
Download the program brochure for the WGS specialization here [pdf].
Official requirements for the WGS specialization can be found on the registrar's site for the program, linked here.
With approval of the advisor, courses that are used to satisfy requirements in the student's graduate degree program may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Women's & Gender Studies.
Core Course (3 credits)
WS 897: Seminar in Feminist Theories, Epistomologies & Pedagogy
Elective Courses (9 credits)
Elective courses must focus on women's and gender issues and should complement the student's major interests. At least one of these courses must be at the 800-level. A complete list of applicable courses is maintained by the GenCen Advisor, and is available on the Office of the Registrar site.
Sample elective courses include:
WGS Dissertation Fellowships
The WGS Program offers Dissertation Fellowships on an annual basis. For more information on the Fellowships and how to apply, visit our graduate student funding page.
The WGS specialization is designed to provide interdisciplinary training in gender studies with a focus on the intersections of gender with race, class, and ethnicity from a global perspective. Students can select elective courses tailored to their interests.
With approval of the advisor, courses that are used to satisfy requirements in the student's graduate degree program may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Women's & Gender Studies.
Core Course (3 credits)
Elective Courses (9 credits)
Elective courses must focus on women's and gender issues and should complement the student's major interests. At least one of these courses must be at the 800-level. A complete list of applicable courses is maintained by the GenCen advisor, and is available on the Office of the Registrar site.
Sample elective courses include:
WGS Dissertation Fellowships
The WGS program offers dissertation fellowships on an annual basis. For more information on the fellowships and how to apply, visit our graduate student funding page.
"The GJEC specialization was the best part of my Master’s program. It challenged me to confront my privilege and to think more globally." - Heather Surface, M.A. Forestry '15