Gender and Cultural Studies
Simmons University's Master of Arts in Gender and Cultural Studies (GCS) program examines intersecting systems of power and privilege and the ways in which race, ethnicity, nationality, class, ability, gender, sexuality, and sexual orientation are constructed within the United States and in international contexts. Simmons fosters a supportive, stimulating environment with small class sizes, diverse student cohorts, faculty mentors, and a flexible curriculum. The master’s degree consists of 32 credit hours. Most students complete the degree in four semesters of study over two years. Part-time students may take up to five years to complete the degree
Why study Gender and Cultural Studies?
At Simmons, the Gender and Cultural Studies program strives to prepare and inspire the next generation of scholars, educators, activists, entrepreneurs, and professional leaders. We place special emphasis on research-based, action-oriented inquiry. Our students locate themselves in key debates within the fields of feminist studies and critical race studies, take a stand on issues and problems, and publicly offer solutions.
At Simmons, you will learn how to:
- Engage with research in feminism, critical race studies, queer theory, and cultural studies.
- Situate current realities of gender, sexuality, race, ability, class, and culture within broader, intersectional, historical and geopolitical contexts
- Translate those insights into public settings, and make broadly significant, culturally impactful interventions
What courses will you take?
Gender and Cultural Studies degree candidates take two required courses:
- Introduction to Gender and Cultural Studies: Theory into Practice
- Race Theory
In addition to these courses, most students take five core elective courses and at least 4 credit hours of capstone work. View a sample list of Gender and Cultural Studies elective courses in the Program Requirements section below.
Simmons' Gender and Cultural Studies students gain access to additional elective options through the dynamic team-taught course offerings available to students from the nine member institutions of The Consortium for Graduate Studies in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality (GCWS).
In addition to their coursework, all Gender and Cultural Studies students complete a final capstone project—consisting of at least 4 credit hours —that furthers their individual academic and professional interests. Capstone projects may take the form of an internship, a research project, or a thesis.
Recent Capstone Projects
- Violence, Neglect, and Premature Death: An Introspective Analysis of the Politics of Dying in Providence
- Building Radical Resilience at the Intersection of the Housing and Climate Crises”
- Looking Back to Look Forward: Queer Imaginings of the Future Throughout Time
- Simmons University’s Undergraduate Admission Test Policy: An Assessment of the Test-Optional Movement and Equitable Access
- Our Flag Means Representation? Our Flag Means Death and the Cultural Legacy of Queerbaiting
- Raven Teaches Us’: How Whitestream Feminism Can Utilize a Native Feminist Theoretical Lens as a Method for Decolonizing the Feminist Literary Canon”
- Not Worthy of Equal Treatment: U.S. Women's Social Movements and the Exclusionary Politics of Mother’s Pensions Programs and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Gourmetization Smothered in Gravy: The Racial Politics of Biscuits and Cornbread
Students may further tailor their studies by completing a dual degree with our Master in Public Policy.
What can you do with a Master's Degree in Gender and Cultural Studies?
Drawing from coursework in the humanities and social sciences, the Gender and Cultural Studies program offers flexible paths of study to prepare graduates to pursue career interests across a variety of sectors. The majority of recent survey respondents work in higher education teaching, higher education administration, social services, and non-profit roles, while others work in secondary education, technology, consulting, and as business owners.
Following graduation, 32% of our alumni/ae enrolled in PhD programs. GCS provides rigorous intellectual preparation and training for students who wish to pursue doctoral studies across a range of disciplines, including Africana Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Cultural Studies, English, Gender Studies, Race Studies, Sexuality Studies, Sociology, and Women's and Gender Studies.
Learn more about our Master's in Gender and Cultural Studies!
Are you looking for more than just a gender studies degree? The Gender and Cultural Studies program at Simmons University takes a culture-centric approach to women and gender studies. We'll guide you through the requirements and deadlines — and get you on your way. Learn more about our program in our Gender and Cultural Studies program booklet.
Our Faculty
Suzanne Leonard
Professor and Program Director for Gender and Cultural Studies
Renee Bergland
Professor
Tatiana M.F. Cruz
Assistant Professor and Interdisciplinary Program Director of Africana Studies and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Diane Grossman
Professor
Kelly Hager
Associate Provost, Curriculum, Assessment, and Accreditation
Foster Kamanga
Assistant Teaching Professor
Valerie Leiter
Professor and Chair of the Public Health Department and Director of the Bachelor's Program in Public Health
Sarah Leonard
Associate Professor and Graduate History Program Director
Briana Martino
Associate Professor and Department Chair
Cathryn Mercier
Professor and Graduate Program Director of Children's Literature
Amy Pattee
Professor
Saher Selod
Associate Professor
Dawna Thomas
Professor and Chair of the Department of Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Becky Thompson
Professor
Lena Zuckerwise
Associate Professor and Department Chair
Outcomes
Our passionate and dedicated students understand the important framework of a wide-range of social issues. The flexible paths of study prepare graduates to offer impactful solutions and create tangible societal change.
96%
Employment Rate
In a 2019 survey, 96% of graduates surveyed reported that they were employed.
Common Career Paths
Common careers sought by Gender Studies alums include: Education, Social Services, Non-profit, Technology, Public Policy, Consulting
Spotlight on Gender and Cultural Studies Students and Alums
Gender and Cultural Studies Alumna Publishes Breakthrough Book on Adoption History
In her new book, Dr. Rebecca Wellington ’02MA reveals the unsavory underbelly of adoption practices in the United States. Part memoir and part scholarly monograph, Who Is a Worthy Mother? An Intimate History of Adoption demonstrates how adoption became entangled with the histories of assimilation, race, patriarchy, and law.
Silicon Valley's Gender Equity Advisor, Femily '00 '02MA, Reflects on Activism at Simmons
The gender and cultural studies major shared stories of her activism while at Simmons and her current work diversifying workplaces in Silicon Valley.
Karla Alba ’23, Inaugural Jennifer Eckert Leadership Fellow for DEI, Knows the Importance of Difficult Conversations
Jennifer Eckert '08MSW, a member of the Simmons University Board of Trustees, provided a generous donation to support the mission of Simmons University to become a beacon of leadership in the world of higher education. A portion of these funds...
"Boston's Welfare Rights Movement" An Interview with Tatiana M.F. Cruz
Below is a conversation with historian Tatiana M.F. Cruz, Assistant Professor of Critical Race, Gender, and Cultural Studies and Interdisciplinary Program Director of Africana Studies at Simmons University. Talking with Taylor Eubanks, graduate student of Gender and Cultural Studies, Professor...
"Narrative Practice as Tapestry" An Interview with Hugo Kamya
The following interview between Professor Hugo Kamya from the School of Social Work at Simmons University and Taylor Eubanks, graduate student of Gender and Cultural Studies, discusses Professor Kamya's work on narrative practice and how our stories get told. What...
Ifill Graduate Students’ Thesis Presentations: Abolition, Women’s Social Movements, and Southern Baking
On December 15, 2021, Ifill College students from the Graduate programs in History and Gender & Cultural Studies presented their research at the virtual fall 2021 Colloquia. Thirteen students shared their work in front of peers, faculty, family, and friends...
Rayna Danis ’22MA, ’22MPP Makes an Impact with the Joint Master's in Gender and Cultural Studies and Public Policy
Rayna Danis '22MA, '22MPP never expected to get her masters, but then she found her passion for affecting inclusive policy change. We spoke with Rayna about the joint master's program and how it's helping her on this journey.
Giavanna Worthy '20MA: Simmons Helped Me Steer My Interests Into Clear, Feasible Goals
When Giavanna Worthy entered the gender and cultural studies masters program, she wanted to expand on her interests. Now, not only is she an HIV Prevention Instructor with the YWCA, but she also played a key role in diversifying the hit CBS series, "Survivor."