The Ph.D. program is designed for students seeking advanced interdisciplinary training in the field of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Since the entering class each year is very small (3-5 funded students), admissions are highly competitive.
Preference is given to students who demonstrate excellence in analytical abilities and creativity in interdisciplinary research pertaining to women, gender, and/or sexuality. Students applying to the doctoral program will be selected both on the basis of the excellence of their preparation for doctoral level work, and on the intersection of their research interests with those of the faculty at Rutgers.
The deadline for applications is December 21st
Eligibility:
All applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or a comparable institution in another country.
Application Materials:
- A non-refundable application fee, the amount set by the Graduate School of New Brunswick.
- A Personal Statement specifying your past experiences, reasons for applying, and your areas of interests. It should explain your intellectual and personal goals, why you are interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary degree rather than a more traditional disciplinary one, and how this degree fits into your intellectual and personal future.
- A résumé listing academic background, work experience, honors, affiliations with professional organizations, papers presented at conferences, published work, language ability, etc.
- A writing sample (15-20 pages). Typically the writing sample will be an undergraduate senior thesis, a seminar paper, or an article or other published work that demonstrates strong analytical abilities.
- Three letters of recommendation. Ideally the letters are from professors and scholars who can speak to the applicant's abilities and suitability for graduate study at Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Letters from an academic in another discipline or from professionals would also be acceptable.
- One official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.
- Test Recommendations: GRE General is recommended, not required. Rutgers Graduate ETS Code 2790.
For application information and to apply on-online, please go to Graduate and Professional Admissions
Graduate School New Brunswick Student Resources
International Applicants:
TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants whose undergraduate education was completed in a non-English speaking country. Even if you hold a master's-level degree from a U.S. or other English-speaking country, you must still take the TOEFL or IELTS test. Scores must be current within 2 years of the applied semester.
The only exemptions are for U.S. trained undergraduates and international applicants coming from English-speaking countries with a minimum of 3 years undergraduate education where the mode of instruction was English.
- The minimum Paper based TOEFL score is 550.
- The minimum Computer based TOEFL score is 213.
- The minimum IBT-internet based TOEFL is as follows:
- Writing 22
- Speaking 23
- Reading 21
- Listening 17
- The acceptable IELTS score is bandwidth 7.
Click here to view specific information on admission requirements for international students.
Deadline:
The deadline for applications is December 21. All materials including transcripts, personal statements, writing samples, resume, and letters of recommendation must arrive by the application deadline. To avoid delays in the processing of applications, all materials should be submitted on-line, at http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/
If the applicant has hard copy materials that cannot be submitted on-line, they should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.
The mailing address is:
Graduate & Professional Admissions
56 College Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Tel: 848-932-7711
Fax: 732-932-8231
Review process:
A Committee of the Graduate Faculty in Women’s & Gender Studies carefully reviews all application materials and makes recommendations for admission to the Graduate School. Every effort will be made to inform students of decisions concerning their admission by early March.
While all the applications received are reviewed by faculty over a period of several weeks, the formal process for applying to the Ph.D. program is handled centrally by the Rutgers Office of Graduate Admissions. Students who have been accepted will be notified by the Graduate Director and the Office of Admission. Please do not call the Department after the deadline to inquire about your application.
Fellowships and Funding Opportunities:
Most students admitted to the Ph.D. Program are funded through fellowships and teaching assistantships in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Additional work and research opportunities are available in the units of the Institute for Women’s Leadership.
Students receiving departmental funding in the form of fellowships, assistantships, tuition remission, or other assistance are expected to maintain good academic standing, to be pursuing full-time graduate studies, and to be making demonstrable progress toward their degrees.
For additional information please contact:
Director of Graduate Program
Tel: 848-932-9331
Email: