Gender, Race, and Identity, M.A

I. Contact Information

Jennifer Hill, Ph.D., Graduate Advisor
jmhill@unr.edu
(775) 682-6484

Mailing Address
Gender, Race, and Identity Program
1664 N/ Virginia Street, Mail Stop 0046
Reno, NV 89557-0046

Department Website:
https://www.unr.edu/gender-race-identity

II. Brief Description

The Graduate Certificate in Gender, Race and Identity Studies provides students with a solid methodological and theoretical foundation on which they can build an individualized program of study.

Through coursework and completion of a thesis, students will:

• study how identities of gender, race, and sexuality are constructed and how they intersect;
• learn about the methodologies in scholarship and learning in diverse cultures, the roles identity plays in diverse cultural settings and how these roles change over time;
• consider the historical significance of identity through politics, public policy, and decision-making; and
• explore the effects gender, race, and identity have in societies and communities.

The M.A. program allows students to investigate intersections of identity beyond the GRI Certificate, master critical theory and apply it to a focused area of study, explore special topics with faculty mentors, and use interdisciplinary tools in humanities and social sciences to make new connections.

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

The goal of the M.A. in Gender, Race, and Identity is to provide students with a framework and mentorship to study the topic of identity with an individualized focus.

IV. Admissions Requirement

Students pursuing the Masters of Arts degree must satisfy all graduate school requirements and specific departmental requirements. The department deadlines for application are August 1 for fall admission and December 1 for spring admission. Candidates must provide the following application materials to the department:

• Graduate admission application form, including fees
• Official college transcripts
• A brief statement of purpose and goals
• Two sealed letters of recommendation

Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university. A cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (unless the applicant has demonstrated unusual promise during his or her junior and senior years) is also required for admission to Graduate Standing in Gender, Race, and Identity.

V. Program Requirements

The Gender, Race, and Identity Program offers courses leading to the Master of Arts. The program provides students with a solid methodological and theoretical foundation on which they can build an individualized program of study. Students will select a mentor (chair) and a thesis committee from among faculty participating in this interdisciplinary program.  Students will work closely with their committee to develop an area of concentration and thesis.

• The M.A. consists of 30 credits.
• All students are required to take a 9 credit core of courses, after which they may select an area of study reflective of their interest. The Core Courses, all 700 level, will be taken during the first full year.
• With the approval of the committee, the student will develop a 21 credit area of concentration, in which 6 of the credits will be thesis credits.
• A thesis is required. Optional emphases for the thesis are approved by the student and student’s advisor.
• A total of 21 credits (including thesis credits) must be at the 700 level.

The department also administers the Women’s Studies Bachelor of Arts and Minors with concentrations in Ethnic Studies; Holocaust, Genocide, and Peace Studies; Religious Studies; and Women’s Studies, described earlier in this catalog.

VI. Recommended Schedule

VII. Program Total Hours (30 Units)