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Applied Gender Studies

MA in Applied Gender Studies

With a focus on interdisciplinarity and hands-on learning, the Master of Arts in Applied Gender Studies (AGS) gives you the opportunity to use knowledge in gender issues as a vital force for change in today’s world.

Situated at the intersection of gender, culture, and history, CGU’s MA in Applied Gender Studies explores today’s pertinent women’s and gender issues through creative, hands-on practice in order to advance modern society. Applied Gender Studies graduates pursue leadership roles shaping policy and creating positive, lasting impact, domestically and globally. Flexibility is built into the program, offering numerous ways to customize a specialized course of study.

At the heart of the Applied Gender Studies program is an internship that allows you to positively impact your community even before graduation, with real-world experience at organizations supporting and empowering women across the globe. The internship takes you out of the classroom and into the world to solve problems in critical settings like schools, community organizations, women’s centers, prisons, and shelters. Our students have partnered with:

  • A New Way of Life, Los Angeles, a transitional home for formerly incarcerated women
  • California Women’s Foundation, Los Angeles
  • Feminist Majority Foundation, Beverly Hills
  • Sheila Kuehl, LA County supervisor, lesbian activist, and former California state senator
  • Human Rights Watch, Los Angeles
  • Los Angeles County Women and Health
  • Sadie Nash Leadership Project, New York City
  • United Nations, Women’s Division, New York City)
  • National Council for Research on Women, New York City
  • Amnesty International, Women’s Division, New York City
  • La Casa de Acogida, San Sebastian, Peru
  • Learning Enrichment and Academic Resources Network (LEARN) in Orange County
  • Women Thrive Worldwide, Washington DC
  • The Doula Project, New York City
  • MADRE, New York City
Program Highlights
  • Applied Gender Studies hosts lectures by leading feminist scholars, connecting you with professionals in the field each semester.
  • The program undertakes major internships at the local, national, and international levels to create positive, lasting impact that empowers women and communities.
  • You can also pursue a dual Master’s degree with another discipline, such as Public Health, Psychology, Public Policy, or Education.
  • CGU also offers a certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies that you can pursue with any CGU degree program or as a stand-alone certificate if you already have a degree.

Program At-a-glance

  • 36 units

    required units

  • MA in Applied Gender Studies

    degree awarded

  • In Person

    modality

  • Spring, Fall

    program start

  • 1.5 years | full time*

    estimated completion time

Areas of Concentration

  • American Studies

    The American Studies concentration takes a multidisciplinary approach to the study of United States culture, society, civilization, and identity through the curricular lenses of history, literature, critical theory, and more.

    Learn more

  • Early Modern Studies

    The Early Modern Studies concentration undertakes interdisciplinary examination of history, culture, politics, and society within the transitional and transformative period that stretched between Medieval and modern societies, marked especially by the advent of print, Christian confessional war, and the rise of the modern state.

    Learn more

  • Hemispheric & Transnational Studies

    A comparative analysis of culture in the Americas, the concentration in Hemispheric & Transnational Studies explores how scholarship on the Atlantic, borderlands, and diaspora have reshaped U.S. American Studies, Caribbean Studies, and Latin American Studies, emphasizing the topics of empire, race, religion, and revolution.

    Learn more

  • Media Studies

    Situated at the bustling intersection of cultural studies, new media, critical theory, and popular culture, the burgeoning field of Media Studies examines the creative and critical practices of media consumers, producers, artists, and scholars, focusing on questions of representation, power, technology, politics, and economy.

    Learn more

  • Museum Studies

    The Museum Studies concentration investigates the history and political role of museums in society, the interpretation and display of a wide variety of cultural productions, and topics of special concern to museums as cultural organizations, using a multidisciplinary, practice-based approach to understand the historical development of this evolving field.

    Learn more

Where You Can Find Our Alumni

Faculty

  • Portrait of Linda Perkins

    Linda Perkins

    University Professor
    Director, Applied Gender Studies

    Research Interests

    Women and African-American higher education, history and contemporary issues on women in higher education, especially Black women, global gender issues.

    View profile
  • Portrait of Eve Oishi

    Eve Oishi

    Associate Professor of Cultural Studies

    Research Interests

    Cultural studies, Media studies, Feminist and queer theory, Asian American studies

    View profile

Extended Faculty

  • Candida Jaquez

    Scripps College

    Research Interests

    Latino popular and Mexican traditional music with a specialty in women’s mariachi performance across the complexities of performativity, ethnographic research, race, class, and gender

    View profile

Curriculum

MA Unit Requirements

  • Required courses (16 units)
  • Concentration (12 units)
  • Electives (8 units)

Courses

  • Feminist Theory
  • Applied Feminist Applications
  • Research Methods

Special Program

  • Internship
    At the heart of Applied Gender Studies is an internship requirement. Internships afford you unique opportunities far beyond the walls of the classroom and are tailored to your interests. Often the internships turn into full-time paid positions.

Application Guidelines

University Requirements
Application Fee

$80 (fee is non-refundable)
Official Transcripts
English Proficiency Exam
Resume

Applicants must submit an up-to-date copy of their resume.
Program Requirements
Statement of Purpose

Please submit a 2-3 page statement of purpose that details your academic and/or professional achievements, your specific areas of research interest within your desired field of study, why you are a strong candidate for graduate studies at CGU, and your career goals.
Letter of Recommendation
Standardized Test Scores
Writing Sample

All applicants are required to submit a writing sample of previous work in addition to the statement of purpose. You may submit samples of any length you feel indicate your writing ability, but please note that we will be unable to return any items submitted as part of your application (please, no books). Most applicants submit one or two scholarly papers or excerpts of around 10-15 pages. Writing samples should not exceed 30 pages.

Key Dates & Deadlines

CGU operates on a priority deadline cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit complete applications by the priority dates in order to assure maximum consideration for both admission and fellowships.

Once the priority deadlines have passed, the University will continue to review applications for qualified candidates on a competitive, space-available basis. The final deadlines listed are the last date the University can accept an application in order to allow sufficient time to complete the admissions, financial aid, and other enrollment processes.

Spring 2025
Priority Deadline – November 1, 2024
Final Deadline (International) – November 15, 2024
Final Deadline (Domestic) – December 1, 2024
Classes begin – January 21, 2025

Fall 2025
Priority Deadline – February 1, 2025
Final Deadline (International) – July 5, 2025
Final Deadline (Domestic) – August 1, 2025
Classes begin – August 25, 2025

Apply Now

Cost & Aid

ESTIMATED TUITION (CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS, NON-RESIDENTS, INTERNATIONAL)
Program 36 units
Tuition per unit* $2,020

*Based on 2024-2025 tuition rates.

 

STUDENT FEES (PER SEMESTER)
$245 Student Fee
$150 Technology Fee
International Student Services Fee*: $661 fall semester, $776 spring semester
**Applies to all international students (F-1 visa only) who are registered in coursework, doctoral study, or continuous registration. The fee is assessed each fall and spring semester for annual ISO accident and sickness plans and administrative fees. Subject to change.

For estimates of room & board, books, etc., please download CGU’s Cost of Attendance 2024-2025.

review financial aid

Back to the tabs
Interdisciplinary Concentrations

As a student in the School of Arts & Humanities, you have the option of completing one of five interdisciplinary concentrations.

American Studies

The American Studies concentration takes a multidisciplinary approach to the study of United States culture, society, civilization, and identity through the curricular lenses of history, literature, critical theory, and more.

View Concentration

Early Modern Studies

The Early Modern Studies concentration undertakes interdisciplinary examination of history, culture, politics, and society within the transitional and transformative period that stretched between Medieval and modern societies, marked especially by the advent of print, Christian confessional war, and the rise of the modern state.

View Concentration

Hemispheric & Transnational Studies

A comparative analysis of culture in the Americas, the concentration in Hemispheric & Transnational Studies explores how scholarship on the Atlantic, borderlands, and diaspora have reshaped U.S. American Studies, Caribbean Studies, and Latin American Studies, emphasizing the topics of empire, race, religion, and revolution.

View Concentration

Media Studies

Situated at the bustling intersection of cultural studies, new media, critical theory, and popular culture, the burgeoning field of Media Studies examines the creative and critical practices of media consumers, producers, artists, and scholars, focusing on questions of representation, power, technology, politics, and economy.

View Concentration

Museum Studies

The Museum Studies concentration investigates the history and political role of museums in society, the interpretation and display of a wide variety of cultural productions, and topics of special concern to museums as cultural organizations, using a multidisciplinary, practice-based approach to understand the historical development of this evolving field.

View Concentration

 

These concentrations are available for students pursuing the following degree programs:

Master’s Degrees

Doctoral Degrees

Apply now

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