JD/MA in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies

Q: Who should I contact if I need additional information?

Please contact the Admissions Office ( applylaw@wustl.edu ) to discuss this joint degree opportunity.

This dual degree combines legal training with critical analysis of gender, race, and sexuality to prepare graduates for justice-focused careers.

Program Overview

Combine rigorous legal training with critical analysis of how gender, race, and sexuality shape—and are shaped by—legal institutions and agencies. This dual degree prepares you to work effectively across organizations committed to justice and equity.

Who Should Consider a JD/MA in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies (WGSS)?

This program is designed for students interested in:

Gender, law, and social justice organizations
Employment discrimination in workplaces
Sexual harassment in the workplace and educational institutions
Family law practice and policy
Reproductive rights organizations
Violence against women prevention and redress
LGBTQ+ rights in the workplace
Immigrant women’s rights in policy and law

Why WashU Law?

Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Law faculty have built deep collaborative partnerships at WashU. Law faculty with WGSS affiliations co-teach courses and serve on department committees, creating an intellectually vibrant environment where legal frameworks meet critical theory. These connections enable coordinated guidance throughout your program and career planning through the Law School’s Career Center, helping you find positions that draw on both areas of expertise.

FAQs

Your questions answered.

A separate application must be submitted to both the Law School and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Please indicate to both schools at the time of application that you are seeking admission as a dual degree candidate.

The program takes four years to complete—one year less than if both degrees were completed separately. You’ll spend five semesters (86 credits) at the law school and three semesters (32 credits) in the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in Arts & Sciences. Nine credits from each program count toward the other degree.

Students who start in the Law School can apply to the dual program during their first year and begin the dual program in their second year if accepted.

Please contact the Admissions Office (applylaw@wustl.edu) to discuss this joint degree opportunity.