A completed graduate application. An admissions committee of WGSS professors and one graduate student representative will review all applications submitted for admissions into the program.
Applicants with domestic credentials must submit official transcripts from the colleges/institutions where their degree was conferred.
Applicants with international credentials must submit an official English translation of all coursework showing a complete course-by-course record, GPA, degree, and institution, in addition to the original documents. SBU graduate admissions personnel will evaluate coursework, GPA, degree requirements and institutional equivalence. In some instances where the coursework, degree equivalency, GPA, and/or institution cannot be verified, a course-by-course evaluation from one of Stony Brook University's approved NACES members listed below, may be requested from the applicant.
- World Education Services (WES)
- International Education Evaluations, Inc. (IEE)
- Education Credential Evaluators (ICE)
Unofficial copies for both domestic and international credentials are acceptable for an admission decision to be made. If admitted, the applicant must submit final official transcripts/evaluations sent directly from the college/university or evaluation agency as noted above.
Three letters of recommendation:
Please ask those who are writing letters of recommendation 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).
GRE's are NOT required for the MA or PhD programs.
If your native or primary language is not English, English proficiency must be established based on the results of your TOEFL or IELTS examinations. Any applicant with a degree from an English language institution, including high school, a bachelors, masters or PhD do not need to take an English language proficiency test as long as they select one of these on their application. Additionally, Any applicant who served as a Teaching Assistant at an institution where the primary instruction was in English do not need to take an English language proficiency test as long as they select this on their application.
What are the minimum scores required for admission? Click here for more info.
One writing sample of representative scholarly work
Statement of Purpose:
The statement of purpose 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?
$100 application fee
If admitted, please remember to send final, official transcripts to:
The Graduate School
The department is currently unable to fund M.A. students. Check out Stony Brook's current tuition rates.
Graduate & Family Housing Information:
All new international and domestic graduate students are guaranteed housing as long as your advance housing deposit and housing request are received by the application deadline, which is May 15th for Fall admission. Please note that the application process is an online process. All new admitted graduate students should wait until you are assigned a Stony Brook ID number, and then pay your housing deposit online by credit card on the Solar System.
If you wish to pay by check or money order you may do so. Mail a check or money order payable to "Stony Brook University" and mail it to the Bursar's office with a notation that it is a Graduate Housing deposit. Additionally, include your Stony Brook ID number in the memo section of the check and in the letter you enclose with your payment.