Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies

University of Massachusetts Amherst Massachusetts, USA / 208 Bartlett Hall, University of Massachusetts. Amherst, MA 01003 (413) 545-1922, womens-studies@wost.umass.edu www.umass.edu/wost Admission for University of Massachusetts Amherst is competitive. The most important criteria is the high school academic record (quality and level of the classes, average GPA, and grade trends) and SAT-I (average of 1140) or ACT tests. The committee also considers the personal statement, talents, work experience, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities. Generally, the average GPA of accepted students was of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale, and if this criterion is not met SAT-I or ACT results “kick in” to make up for it. Students must also complete the college preparatory work of 4 years of English, 3 years of Mathematics, 3 years of Natural Science, 3 years of Social Science, 2 years of Foreign Language, and 3 electives, with a C or better. Additionally, students thinking about major at the Isenberg School of Management must have four more math units taken in high school. International students must take the TOEFL and get a minimum score of 550 or better (213 or better on the computer-based TOEFL). Finally, the Women Studies major has no entry prerequisites, but students must complete an application form, obtain a faculty sponsor, and attend an orientation session, in order to be formally admitted. The BA in Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary field that has made gender the focus of its analysis, compensating initially for the lack of women’s contributions to society; bringing a feminist critique to all pre-existing conceptual frameworks. UMass offers one of the oldest women studies program in the country, and the investigative analysis is at the center of the curriculum. Students pursuing the major are able to design the curriculum that best suits them according to their interests, bearing in mind that they must complete 36 credits in Women’s Studies courses numbered 200 or above. Candidates must complete 5 required core courses; at least two courses on women of color; and electives, which can include a practica related to the major. Students have the option of focusing on a specific concentration, such as women’s health & sexuality, African American Women, etc. Bachelor's Degree