宾州州立大学帕克分校

Dual-title degrees in History and Women's Studies foster interdisciplinary scholarly work that is grounded in historical study, research, and teaching. A dual-title program will enhance the intellectual rigor and breadth of graduate work through core courses in feminist theory and methodologies; by exposure to a range of interdisciplinary approaches to scholarship that focuses on the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, nation, and citizenship; and by offering students a pedagogical framework that encourages an interdisciplinary approach to teaching.

QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

There will be a single qualifying examination, containing elements of both History and Women’s Studies. The qualifying examination committee must include at least one member of the Women’s Studies Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. Dual-title graduate degree students may require an additional semester to fulfill requirements for both areas of study and, therefore, the qualifying examination may be delayed one semester beyond the normal period allowable.

Students must meet the Ph.D. qualifying examination requirements specified by the History department. In addition, the student will be required to present a portfolio of work in Women's Studies to their committee. Such a portfolio would include: a statement of the student's interdisciplinary research interests, a program plan, and samples of writing that indicate the student's work in Women's Studies.

DISSERTATION COMMITTEE COMPOSITION

In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for dissertation committees, the dissertation committee of a History and Women’s Studies dual-title Ph.D. student must include at least two members of the Women’s Studies Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. If the chair of the dissertation committee representing History is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in Women’s Studies, one of the members of the dissertation committee representing Women’s Studies must be appointed as co-chair.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS

The Women's Studies affiliated faculty members on the student's dissertation committee are responsible for ensuring that Women's Studies content constitutes a portion of the student's comprehensive exams. The Women Studies' content will focus on the following areas: feminist theory, feminist methodology, global feminism, and feminist studies

DISSERTATION

Ph.D. candidates must complete a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their dissertation committee and reflects their original research and education in both History and Women’s Studies. In order to earn the dual-title Ph.D. degree, the dissertation must be accepted by the dissertation committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School, and the student must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense).