Women’s and Gender Studies, MA / Social Work, MSW MA/MSW
The College of Letters and Science and the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare located in the College of Community Engagement & Professions collaboratively offer a program designed to provide students with theoretical and practical exposure to evolving professional practice and the field of feminist research and scholarship. Prerequisite to the award of either degree in this program is the simultaneous award of its counterpart degree.
Program Type
Master’s
Program Format
On Campus
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Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
The Women's and Gender Studies MA Program accepts fall admissions only. Applications received by January 15 will be given full consideration.
Admission
Students are admitted to both graduate programs separately, and admission requirements are consistent with those specified by the UWM Graduate School, the MA in Women’s and Gender Studies program in the College of Letters and Science, and the MSW in Social Work of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare.
Application to all graduate programs are completed through the UWM Graduate School. Please see their website for detailed information about the application process and contact them with questions.
In addition to the standard requirements for a graduate school application, the Women’s & Gender Studies program will require three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional work and a sample of the applicant’s written work that demonstrates the applicant’s critical thinking, research, and writing skills.
Credit and Courses
The MA in Women's and Gender Studies (WGS) normally has a minimum requirement of 30 credits from Women's and Gender Studies courses. For the coordinated WGS MA/MSW degree program, however, students can substitute 6 credits in Social Work courses for 6 credits of WGS courses. Similarly, the Social Work master's program will accept 6 credits of WGS course work to satisfy the 6 required elective credits for the MSW degree. Because the MSW degree has a distinction in the number of credits required depending on bachelor's degree type, the total number of credits required to complete the Coordinated WGS/MSW program will range from 52 credits (24 from WGS and 28 from MSW when holding a bachelor's in social work) to 76 credits (24 from WGS and 52 from MSW when a bachelor's degree is from another discipline and needing to complete the Foundation Curriculum in addition to the Advanced Curriculum).
Women’s and Gender Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| WGS 700 | Feminist Issues and Scholarship | 3 |
| WGS 701 | Feminisms in Global Context | 3 |
| WGS 710 | Advanced Feminist Theory | 3 |
| WGS 711 | Feminist Epistemologies and Research Practices | 3 |
| WGS 740 | Advanced Queer Theory | 3 |
| Select one G or U/G WGS course 1 | 3 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 6 elective credits in WGS or WGS cross-listed courses (not SOC WRK), in consultation with the WGS Director of Graduate Studies. Of these electives, 3 credits may be thesis credits (WGS 990). | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
- 1
Excluding WGS 497, WGS 700, WGS 990, and WGS 999.
Total WGS credits: 24 (maximum of 6 U/G cr; and maximum 3 cr of WGS 999)
Master of Social Work
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work Foundation Curriculum (required before the Advanced Curriculum for students without a bachelor's degree in social work) | ||
| SOC WRK 604 | Social Systems and Social Work Practice (U/G) | 3 |
| SOC WRK 662 | Methods of Social Welfare Research (U/G) | 3 |
| SOC WRK 665 | Cultural Diversity and Social Work (U/G) | 3 |
| SOC WRK 705 | Individual Behavior and Social Welfare (G) | 3 |
| SOC WRK 708 | Social Work Methods I: Individuals and Families (G) | 3 |
| SOC WRK 709 | Social Work Methods II: Groups, Organizations and Communities (G) | 3 |
| SOC WRK 721 | Field Instruction I (G) | 3 |
| SOC WRK 750 | Social Welfare Policy Development and Implementation (G) | 3 |
| Social Work Advanced Practice Curriculum | ||
| Required Core Courses | ||
| SOC WRK 711 | Direct Social Work Practice I (G) | 3 |
| SOC WRK 712 | Advanced Practice and Leadership in Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SOC WRK 795 | Evaluation of Social Work Practice and Programs | 3 |
| SOC WRK 851 | Social Issue and Policy Analysis: (Subtitled) (G) | 3 |
| Required Field Placement Courses | ||
| SOC WRK 722 | Field Instruction II | 3 |
| SOC WRK 821 | Field Instruction III | 3-4 |
| SOC WRK 822 | Field Instruction IV | 3-4 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 6 credits from Women’s and Gender Studies courses in consultation with faculty advisor | ||
| Remaining elective credits for MSW degree selected from Soical Work graduate courses in consultation with MSW advisor | 7 | |
| Total Credits | 52-54 | |
Minimum Total Credits for Coordinated Program: 52 (for those admitted to the MSW Social Work Advanced Curriculum - Advanced Standing).
For students without a social work baccalaureate or otherwise needing the Foundation Coursework, the total credits will sum to 76.
Teaching and Research Assistantships are the primary form of financial support for women’s & gender studies graduate students. These positions provide a salary and tuition remission. Some small scholarships are also available. Click below for more details.