2026-2027

Women's and Gender Studies, Graduate Certificate

Women's and Gender Studies Program

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Graduate Certificate in Women's and Gender Studies, offered by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, offers historical and contemporary perspectives on women's contributions to culture, society, politics, academic disciplines, professions, social movements, the arts, and many other elements of human experience.

Students will also examine issues of gender, class, race, age, and sexuality—gaining new vocabulary and perspectives that underscore ways of making sense of the world.

    • Graduate certificate programs require a minimum of 12 credit hours. Many graduate certificate programs require more than 12 credit hours.
    • No more than one 400-level NAU course (3 - 4 units) may be used on a graduate certificate program.
    • No more than twenty-five percent of the units required for the certificate program may be transferred from another university.
    • A 400-level course (undergraduate course) completed at another university is not eligible for transfer credit.
    • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be achieved to obtain a graduate certificate. No more than three units of coursework with a Grade of "C" may be used in a certificate program.
    • A graduate student may pursue a graduate certificate concurrently with a graduate degree. Each graduate degree program must decide which, if any, certificate courses can be counted toward the graduate degree.
    • Students who are admitted to a graduate certificate program will be eligible for the official posting of the graduate certificate to their transcripts when all applicable coursework has been successfully completed and approved by the academic unit and the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

  • Federal financial aid is not available for some certificates if the certificate is pursued and completed as a stand-alone certificate (i.e., not completed concurrently with a degree program). See the “Details” tab for additional information.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 12

Graduate Admission Information

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • Essay/Letter of Intent/Personal Statement*
Certificate Requirements

  • Take the following 12 units:

     

    The following courses have additional prerequisites:


    A typical path for certificate students is to take WGS 600, WGS 601, a WGS elective or other applicable course from another discipline, and 3 units toward graduate project completion (either as a 685/697, or another elective from the student's primary discipline). However, students have flexibility in which courses they take for these latter two requirements, and are encouraged to take courses that can best inform the WGS aspect of their primary degree and project.

    • We will accept only one 400-level course toward this certificate, pending approval from the WGS director;
    • No courses may be transferred into this plan from another university;
    • Only 3 units of Northern Arizona University coursework prior to admission to the certificate program can be applied to these requirements;
    • We may add additional courses to this list, including one-time offerings. Refer to the Women's and Gender Studies website for current approved courses.

  • This certificate may be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program or as a stand-alone certificate. Federal financial aid cannot be used if the certificate is completed as a stand-alone certificate.

Additional Information

  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.