Graduate Academics

Gender, Justice and Environmental Change
International Development
Interdisciplinary Specialization in Women and Gender
Advising

Useful Links for Students:

• Graduate courses related to gender
• Courses with possible LGBTQ content
• Core and Consulting Faculty
• Resources for students
• Student Paper Competition

What is a Specialization?

A specialization is a set of interdisciplinary coursework designed to enrich a variety of academic degrees with a topical focus. Students in the College of Social Science (SSC), the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) may give their degree added definition by completing a specialization.

While the Center does not grant graduate degrees, the following specializations will be offered through the Center. Each link will give more information on the specific specialization, including its requirements.

What can I do with a specialization in gender and global change?

Graduate Specializations

Gender, Justice and Environmental Change

Gender, Justice and Environmental Change, administered by GDG and sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Social Science, is an elective available for students enrolled in master's and doctoral degree programs at MSU. This specialization is the first of its kind to focus on local and global intersections of gender, social and environmental justice, and environmental change. Examples of emerging scholarship in this field include the intersection of gender, class, race, and ethnicity in: environmental politics of international issues such as biotechnology and globalization; grassroots environmental justice movements; use and management of natural resources; feminist environmental economics; and human-environment relations in history and literature.

The GJEC program is flexible, allowing students to tailor the curriculum to their interests, capabilities, and professional goals. Students in natural science fields can use the specialization to integrate gender and justice concerns with their regular program. Students in social sciences will be exposed to the background, concepts, and methods of environmental studies necessary to communicate with natural scientists and policy makers. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student's degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the master's or doctoral degree. The certification of the specialization will appear on the student's transcript.

The GenCen Advisor will assist the student in planning a personalized program of study within the GJEC specialization. To set up an appointment, please contact our office at gjec@msu.edu or gencen@msu.edu.

View requirements for this specialization (MSU Registrar's Office)

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Graduate Specialization in International Development

In conjunction with the Center for Advanced Study of International Development (CASID), WID offers a Graduate Specialization in International Development, available as an elective for students who are enrolled in master's and doctoral degree programs at MSU. The specialization, administered by the College of Social Science, is designed to: provide an opportunity for graduate students to obtain a comprehensive and contemporary academic experience in the field of international development studies; sensitize graduate students with an interest in development studies to their professional obligations and responsibilities; and develop an intellectual environment that will foster the growth of research and teaching in the area of development studies. Students may design individualized programs with a focus on gender relations in the areas of health, work, rural development, environment and development, development administrations, nongovernmental organizations in development, and politics of development.

View requirements for this specialization (MSU Registrar's Office)

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Interdisciplinary Graduate Specialization in Women and Gender

The Graduate Specialization in Women and Gender is designed for completion by either Master's or doctoral students. The graduate specialization in Women and Gender is designed to foster the study of women and gender across disciplines and national borders, provide opportunities for graduate students to obtain a comprehensive, cross/interdisciplinary academic experience in women and gender, and to foster the growth of interdisciplinary research and teaching on women and gender. Emphasis is given to understanding the diversity of women's lives nationally and globally. The graduate specialization is open to graduate students with adequate undergraduate preparation in women and gender. The specialization should complement advanced, discipline-based degrees by providing an interdisciplinary, feminist component. All students are encouraged to develop competence in the foreign language most relevant to their field of work and area of interest.

View requirements for this specialization (MSU Registrar's Office)

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Advising for All Specializations

GenCen's academic advisor is able to assist students with all the specializations offered through the center.

To set up an appointment or to request more information, please contact our office at gencenad@msu.edu.

Center for Gender in a Global Context
206 International Center
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: (517) 353-5040
Fax: (517) 432-4845

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