Women’s and Gender Studies Graduate Certificate and Minor

To foster a deeper understanding of global gender dynamics, East Texas A&M offers both a graduate certificate and a graduate minor in Gender Studies. These programs aim to equip you with the analytical tools to critically assess and engage with gender issues in different cultural and societal contexts.

Offered Hybrid Online and Face-to-Face in Commerce.
1 to 1.5 years
12 credit hours
No thesis required
No foreign language credits required

Challenge Yourself

East Texas A&M offers a Graduate Certificate and Graduate Minor in Women's and Gender Studies, providing an interdisciplinary exploration of masculinity, femininity and sexuality. These programs invite you to critically examine societal assumptions, gender roles and social inequalities across global cultures. Through advanced coursework, you can develop analytical, research and critical thinking skills that are highly valued by employers. Our programs are designed to enhance your understanding of gender dynamics in both professional and personal contexts. Taught by faculty from across the university, they complement many graduate degrees, offering a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary perspective on contemporary gender issues.

Spring 2026 Graduate Flex Term.

What you need to know

What Are My Job Opportunities?

Our graduate certificate and minor can provide a versatile foundation for careers in education, research, advocacy and social services, offering you critical skills applicable in various professional sectors.

Careers Possibilities

Gender Studies Educator

$ 63,000

Social Services Manager

$ 77,030

Current Median Salaries from US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023

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Program Details

Our programs offer an interdisciplinary foundation in gender, sexuality and social justice, providing a flexible pathway to explore these issues within global contexts.

What Can I Learn?

You will have the opportunity to gain experience in a number of key areas.

Examine how gender, race and class inequalities are embedded in societal structures and affect individual lives.

Research Methods

Develop research skills to analyze gender-related topics using qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Media and Gender Representation

Analyze gender portrayals in media and culture and understand their impact on societal norms and identities.

Learn how gender influences public policy and gain tools to advocate for social and legal reforms.

Taking Classes

Designed for working professionals, our programs offer a flexible 12-credit-hour program combining hybrid online courses with in-person classes at our Commerce campus. This dynamic format allows you to balance your career while advancing your education.

Please check the schedule of classes for up-to-date information on locations and times, as they may be subject to change.

Course Offerings

GDRS 500 Gender Theory

ARTS 532
Gender, Art, and Popular Culture
CJ 533
Gender and Crime
EDCI 559
Diversity & Equity in Edu
ENG 780
Text and Genders
GDRS 597
Special Topics
HIST 572
Themes in Gender and Sexuality History
SOC 512
Soc Perspcts Marr/Family
SOC 514
Family Violence
or CJ 514
Family Violence
THE 513
Survey of Marginalized Theatre

Gender Studies Minor

Adding Value with Certificates

Broaden your expertise with additional certificates to strengthen your career and specialize in key areas like Women's and Gender Studies.

Public History Graduate Certificate

This certificate helps you develop specific skills related to public history. The practical, theoretical and analytical training provided in the certificate program will enhance your ability to compete for jobs in museums, historical societies, cultural resource centers, parks and historic preservation.

Studies in Children’s and Adolescent Literature Culture Graduate Certificate

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Graduate Certificate

This certificate is ideal for students who either already hold a completed graduate degree or are actively in the process of earning a graduate degree and wish to earn this certificate in conjunction with their degree. In addition to the enhanced professional status that the Certificate in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) brings, this Certificate will enable the holder to meet the 18-hour SACS requirement to teach at the College level.

Finding My Community

We believe that education thrives in an environment where collaboration, support, and mutual respect flourish. Our community of students and professors embodies these values, creating an enriching and dynamic atmosphere for learning and growth. Our students come from unique backgrounds and bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the table. Our professors are not only experts in their respective fields but also dedicated mentors who are committed to guiding and nurturing the next generation of scholars.

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Zachary Palmer, Ph.D.

Faculty

The campus community is very welcoming and is a place where people can come together and learn from …

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Shannon Carter, Ph.D.

Faculty

Humans are inherently storytelling creatures. This is our refrain. This is how we know who we are–…

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Julia Meszaros, Ph.D.

Faculty

Sociology gave me the critical thinking tools to analyze the things I see every day in new and inter…

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Student Organizations

At East Texas A&M, students can join student organizations focused on gender equality, social justice and cultural differences. These groups offer networking, professional development, and community engagement opportunities, helping students to build leadership skills and deepen their expertise in gender-related issues.

Two students in graduation cap and gown smile holding their diploma

Financing My Future

Financial Aid

Financial aid includes a variety of programs, like scholarships, federal and state grants, and federal and state work-study programs. Find out how you may be eligible for scholarships, grants, loans and/or a graduate assistantship. Financial Aid and Scholarships

Learn More

On-Campus Employment Opportunities

Enhance your expertise through on-campus employment opportunities.

Graduate Assistant/Research/Teaching

Graduate assistant teaching (GAT), graduate assistant research (GAR), and graduate assistant non-teaching (GANT) assistantships at East Texas A&M offer financial support and professional development for graduate students. Assistantships are available in academic and non-academic departments.

Cost Before Financial Aid

East Texas A&M is one of the most affordable colleges around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Our tuition rates are some of the most competitive in Texas.

$3,669

for Texas residents

$7,341

For non-residents

Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents. But don’t worry: there are

Semester

Summer 2025 Fall 2025 Spring 2026

Hours

Residency

Texas Resident Non-Resident

TUITION AND FEES

Per Semester

Additional Fees May Apply

Online Courses ($50 per hour)
Remote Locations ($20 per hour)
Lab Fees ($5 – $30 per course)

How Do I Get Started?

If you have not already done so, complete the Request Information form. You will be connected with your enrollment specialist, who can answer your questions. When you’re ready, go ahead and follow the steps below to apply.

Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission, you must first meet the following criteria.

GPA minimum 2.5
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution

Once admitted, you must:

Submit a Completion of Certificate Request while taking your final graduate certificate courses.

Earn a 3.0 GPA on all required coursework (No course substitutions may be applied on graduate certificates)

Admission Process

Domestic International

Admission Requirements

The Graduate Minor in Gender Studies is open to any degree-seeking student at East Texas A&M University and can be combined with any major/degree program. Students who complete the Graduate Minor in Gender Studies will also receive the Certificate in Women's and Gender Studies.
The Graduate Certificate in Women's and Gender Studies is open to any non-degree seeking student and any degree-seeking student. Students will need to apply to the Graduate School in order to complete the certificate.

Submit Application

Create an account or login if you already have one
Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
Choose the semester you wish to begin

Select “Women’s & Gender Studies Graduate Certificate” as your “Program.”

Pay the $50 application fee.

Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.

Within two business days of your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.

Provisional Status

After you submit your application, you may be granted provisional status, which means you can enroll in one semester of courses. You will not be eligible for financial aid until you submit all of your documents and are accepted into the program.

Submit the following documents to your graduate coordinator after you receive an application confirmation email.

Your Graduate Coordinator

Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.

We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.

All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.

We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.

If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.

If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011

We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.

Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status

Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.

Note: This graduate certificate does not qualify from Financial Aid.

Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.

View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.

Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.

Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist

Jennifer Faunce Director of Graduate Enrollment Management/Graduate Enrollment Specialist for Doctoral Programs

Note: International students interested in graduate certificates must do so in conjunction with a graduate degree.

Submit Application

Create an account or login if you already have one
Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
Choose the semester you wish to begin

Select “Women’s & Gender Studies Graduate Certificate” as your “Program.”

Pay the $75 application fee

Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.

After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.

Submit the following documents to your graduate coordinator after you receive an application confirmation email.

Your Graduate Coordinator

Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428

Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status