Gender, Race, and Identity, Graduate Certificate

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The Gender, Race and Identity Certificate is a 12-credit, interdisciplinary course of study designed to enhance students’ understanding of how identities are constructed and the ways in which they intersect. The program draws from multiple disciplines to expose students to a variety of theories and methodologies used in scholarship, teaching, and professions that are concerned with the diversity of experiences that shape multicultural communities. Ideas about gender, race, and difference have played central roles in shaping historical developments, public policy, and individual identities in the United States and around the world. The Certificate program offers participants a deeper understanding of these processes, making it a valuable asset for students and professionals in virtually any field. The program complements and enriches participants’ endeavors in areas such as academic scholarship, business, counseling, education, government, health care, international relations, media, political advocacy, public relations, research, social work, and many others.

There are two ways to earn the GRI Certificate. Students already enrolled in graduate programs at UNR can incorporate the Certificate into their existing programs of study, taking additional courses if necessary to meet the requirements of both programs. Students not currently enrolled in other programs at UNR may complete the Certificate independently as Graduate Special students. Students may transfer up to 12 credits taken under Graduate Special status to the GRI master’s degree program or another graduate program at UNR.

Note: Students who are enrolled in this program solely are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

Contact Information

Dr. Deborah Boehm, Graduate Director of GRI
dboehm@unr.edu
775-682-6480

Department of Gender, Race, and Identity
Thompson Building 106

Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

The goal of the Graduate Certificate in Gender, Race, and Identity is to provide students with interdisciplinary training in intersecting identities, enhancing graduate programs throughout the university and student

Admissions Requirement

Students currently enrolled in graduate programs at UNR should discuss interest in the GRI program with your main advisor in your home department and obtain that person’s permission to complete the Certificate along with your existing program of study. In most cases, GRI courses can be counted toward both the Certificate and main program requirements. Submit the completed GRI Certificate Application form to the GRI Graduate Committee along with a copy of academic transcripts and a personal statement by either May 1st (to be considered for the following fall semester) or November 1st (to be considered for the following spring semester). Applicants to the Certificate program must meet the requirements stipulated for Graduate School admission in the University of Nevada, Reno Catalog.

I. Program Requirements

Students in the Certificate program take one 700-level Core Seminar and three Elective courses (600 or 700 level), representing at least two different disciplines.

Students must earn at least a “B” in course work used to complete Certificate requirements and maintain a 3.0 Certificate GPA. Coursework in which a grade of “C” or lower is earned may not apply toward completion of the Certificate. If the course is required for the Certificate, it must be repeated to earn a grade of “B” or better.

A. Core Seminar (3 units)

GRI 710 - Feminist Theory (3 units)
GRI 712 - Theories of Identity and Difference (3 units)
GRI 730 - Theories of Oppression (3 units)
GRI 790 - Special Topics (1 to 3 units)
700-Level GRI (3 units)

B. Electives (9 units)

These courses may be any GRI courses or graduate level courses in related fields from a range of disciplines including but not limited to Sociology, History, English, Anthropology, Communication Studies, Art, Education, Social Work, Geography, and Health Sciences. GRI seminars not taken to fulfill the Core Seminar requirement can be taken as Interdisciplinary Electives.

Courses are selected in consultation with the student’s committee chair or the Director of Graduate Studies.

Topics courses, such as GRI 790, may each be taken twice for credit–as the Core Seminar and/or as Elective(s)–when topic varies.