Gender and Women's Studies, Certificate

The certificate program requires 15 credits of coursework in gender and women's studies. Students can tailor the certificate to reflect their interest, complement their major or plan for graduate or professional school.

The Department of Gender and Women's Studies developed the following learning outcomes for undergraduate certificate students:

1. Knowledge of core concepts of gender and women’s studies, including: gender, intersectionality, feminist theory, epistemology, class, race/ethnicity, global processes, sexuality, disability & embodiment, health and science, and contemporary and historical issues.
2. Intellectual and practical skills relating to gender and women’s studies, including: problem solving, interdisciplinarity, critical thinking, writing, oral communication, collaboration, and creativity.
3. Personal and social responsibility anchored through active involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges. This category may include things like developing critical self and social awareness, applying ethical frameworks, learning through engaged practices.
4. Integrative learning demonstrated through the application of knowledge, skills and responsibilities to new settings and complex problems. Understand and recognize the importance of the relationship between Gender & Women’s Studies and various other disciplines and fields of study.

All undergraduate students at UW–Madison must complete the university-wide General Education Requirements, which are designed to convey the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. These requirements provide for breadth across the humanities and arts, social studies, and natural sciences; competence in communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills necessary for success in college and beyond; and investigation of the issues raised by living in a culturally diverse society. This core is intended to provide students with intellectual and practical skills, basic knowledge of human cultures and the physical world, strategies for understanding these topics, and tools intended to contribute to their sense of personal and social responsibility. General Education complements the work students do in their majors and degrees. Together, these requirements help students learn what they need to know not just for making a living, but also for making a life.

Completing the General Education Requirements is an important part of achieving these competencies, and to do so, students choose from many courses in communication, ethnic studies, quantitative reasoning, and breadth of study across disciplines in the natural sciences, humanities, literature, and arts, and social and behavioral sciences.

Completing the General Education Requirements is an important part of achieving these competencies, and to do so, students choose from many courses in communication, ethnic studies, quantitative reasoning, and breadth of study across disciplines in the natural sciences, humanities, literature, and arts, and social and behavioral sciences.

Each school and college may choose to allow General Education courses to count toward other degree and/or major requirements. Students should always check with their advisors to discuss any additional degree requirements and determine if students are required to take specific General Education courses or to complete the requirements in a particular order. Students should review their Degree Audit (DARS) report to see how they are progressing toward fulfilling the General Education requirements. Please refer to.

Undergraduate Advising for the Gender and Women's Studies certificate

Connecting and working with the undergraduate advisor in Gender and Women's Studies as early as possible helps you create a meaningful course plan and stay on track as you complete the certificate requirements.

The undergraduate advisor is available to consult on a variety of topics including: declaring the certificate, course selection, study abroad, volunteer and internship opportunities on campus and in the community, applying to graduate programs, and preparing for the job market after graduation.