Prospective Students, Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the deadlines for applying?
We admit both MA and PhD students in the Fall only. The deadline for PhD admissions is December 15th and for MA admissions it is January 15th. All applications and their attendant materials must be submitted online. Please access the Graduate School page for information on application materials and the portal for submission of your application: https://www.stonybrook.edu/grad/
What is a good personal statement?
The personal statement should be approximately two (2) pages in length, and should address the following topics:
1. Who are you? Introduce yourself. Your introduction should include experience relevant to this field and your history of academic/professional work.
2. What do you want to achieve in SBU’s WGSS program? With whom do you see yourself working?
3. What skills and experiences do you possess that will assist your success in the WGSS graduate program?
4. Why are you pursuing this degree? What do you plan to achieve within 5 years after you complete the degree? What are your long-term goals?
Who should write my letters of recommendation?
Ask for letters from those who know you well, who have worked with you, and who can speak to your potential for success in a PhD program in WGSS. Thus most of your recommenders should be faculty, as faculty can best assess the skills necessary for successful graduate work
Please ask those who are writing letters of recommednation for you to address the following in their letters:
1 - Describe your personal/professional relationship with the student.
2 - Provide specific examples of the student's abilities and work ethic.
3 - (When applicable) describe the student's teaching abilities, problem soliving, and leadership abilities.
4 - Consider the specific job (WGSS @ SUNY Stony Brook) in writing the letter.
5 - Please describe any other areas of strength or ability (curricular and/or extracurricular).
What kind of writing sample should I submit?
The writing sample is a 15-20 page scholarly paper that demonstrates originality of ideas, familiarity with the conventions of academic research, and writing proficiency. Ideally, the writing sample should closely align with the research interests you describe in your statement of purpose, but if you do not have a writing sample that closely reflects those interests, it is perfectly acceptable to send us an example of your best academic work. Obviously a paper on topics related to questions of gender and sexuality is most relevant for an application to a graduate program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
TIPS:
- Don’t over think the writing sample. Send us your best work but do try to observe page length.
- Multimedia are acceptable as a supplement but we also need a writing sample.
- These materials must be uploaded to your online application. We are not accepting hard copies.
Do I need an MA to apply for the PhD in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies?
No- you are not required to have a Masters degree or WGSS background prior to starting the program. We have admitted applicants without Masters degrees and from a variety of academic backgrounds. However, we find that students who have Masters degrees in WGSS or a related discipline, are often better prepared for Ph.D. level work in the field.
What about funding?
We typically offer four years of funding (a tuition waiver and a tuition stipend) to all students accepted into the PhD program. We are not able to offer such funding to our MA students, but these students have applied for and received campus employment in the past. For stipend rates please see the graduate school website.
Who has to take the TOEFL or IELTS?
If your native or primary language is not English, English proficiency must be established based on the results of your TOEFL or IELTS examinations. For more information, please consult the Graduate School's website.
When does the department decide?
We send out admissions letters after the file review is complete. Offer letters are generally sent out in February.
What if it's April, and I haven't received my letter yet?
If you have not heard anything by April, please email the ATC of WGSS, Jackie Donnelly at jacqueline.m.donnelly@stonybrook.edu with your full name, and the degree you applied for. She will look into it and get back to you.
Can I call for my decision?
Results are only given in writing. There is only one person processing all of these letters, so please refrain from calling to find out about the status of your letter.
For questions not answered in the FAQs, feel free to contact our Graduate Program Director, Ritch Calvin at ritchie.calvin@stonybrook.edu