The Master’s program in Women’s History program is not accepting applications for fall 2024. Please complete our Request More Information form to be added to our mailing list to receive information about the program.
This pioneering MA invites you to rethink the role of women and gender in society, providing new intersectional, theoretical and methodological approaches to one of the most exciting areas of history. Built on a legacy of political activism and social justice, this program was the first of its kind in the country and remains one of the few places that gives you the opportunity to do individualized research at the MA level. Graduates learn to be close, deep readers of historical texts, cogent analysts of historical evidence, and strong writers, using that training in their professional lives to address some of today’s most pressing problems.
Why pursue your Master’s degree in Women’s History at Sarah Lawrence?
- You will have the opportunity to do individualized research working one on one with nationally recognized faculty
- We offer an intersectional approach studies of women, race, class, sexual orientation, religion, disability and gender
- You will develop analytical skills, writing skills of all kinds, the ability to do oral presentations, close readings of work, and both macro and micro analyses of historical phenomena and current issues.
- This program facilitates entrance into top PhD programs and more expansive career opportunities
- Our graduates have gone onto lucrative, successful, and meaningful careers in academia, law, public policy, non-profit work, teaching, and more, and many are leaders in their fields in relation to questions of women, sexuality and gender.
Curriculum
Program Requirements
A total of 48 course credits (24 credits per year) are required for an MA in Women’s History. The majority of credits are earned in seminars in which students undertake conference work (independent research) in close consultation with professors.
- Research Seminar (10 credits)
- Visions/Revisions: Issues in the History of Women and Gender (10 credits)
- History Colloquium (4 credits)
- Research Methods Workshop (noncredit)
- Thesis Seminar (10 credits)
- Independent study with thesis adviser (2 credits)
- Master’s Thesis (12 credits)
Typical Course of Study
Two-Year Program
While most students will follow the program outlined below, other arrangements may be available depending on a student’s previous academic experience and individual needs. At the discretion of program faculty, students may be awarded transfer credits for graduate courses completed elsewhere.
Research seminars vary from year to year. Visions/Revisions, History Colloquium, and the Thesis Seminar are offered annually.
Year 1
- Visions/Revisions: Issues in Women’s History (10 credits)
- Research seminar (10 credits)
- History Colloquium (4 credits)
- Research Methods Workshop (noncredit)
Year 2
- Thesis Seminar (10 credits)
- Independent study with thesis adviser (2 credits)
- Master’s Thesis (12 credits)
Joint Degree in Women’s History and Law
In cooperation with Pace University, Sarah Lawrence College offers a joint degree in Women’s History and Law.
By earning two degrees, students gain a broader context for thinking and writing about women’s issues and the educational foundation to advocate for women in more diverse ways and from a position of greater authority.
Master’s Thesis
MA students complete a master’s thesis during the second year of the program. The thesis must: be well written; be based on primary research along with relevant secondary literature; present an original argument grounded in historical evidence; and demonstrate the author’s analytical skill and methodological rigor.
Sample Part-Time Tracks
Three-Year Track
Year 1
- Visions/Revisions
- Research Methods
Year 2
- Research Seminar
- History Colloquium
Year 3
- Thesis Seminar
Four-Year Track
Year 1
- Visions/Revisions
Year 2
- Research Seminar
- Research Methods
Year 3
- History Colloquium
Year 4
- Thesis Seminar