PhD Minor

The PhD minor in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies equips graduate students pursuing PhDs with broad interdisciplinary knowledge and methodologies in the field that can be applied to their own research and varied career trajectories. 

The goal of the program is to bring together graduate students and faculty from across departments, programs, and schools who engage with FGSS-related issues in their research and teaching. Interested students are encouraged to apply as early as possible in their graduate studies. Students must ensure they can complete all minor requirements without delaying progress toward their degree or TGR status, and they must remain in good academic standing in their home departments.

See the bulletin or check out our list of FAQs for more information.

NOTICE: This information pertains to students who declared after the start of the 2024-25 academic year. For students who declared before, please download the below study plan to view the old requirements. 

Download the old PhD Minor Study Plan

How to Declare

  1. Read over the PhD Minor FAQs
  2. Email the Assistant Director of Student Services (winnini [at] stanford.edu (winnini[at]stanford[dot]edu)) to express interest in the minor
  3. Meet with the Associate Director (fgss_staff [at] stanford.edu (fgss_staff[at]stanford[dot]edu)) to develop and review study plan
  4. Download and complete the PhD Minor Study Plan. Plan must be signed by the student’s home department faculty adviser
  5. Email your study plan to the Assistant Director of Student Services
  6. Once your plan is approved, fill out the PhD Minor Application form through the Student eForms tab on Axess
  7. Email the Assistant Director of Student Services a photo and bio so you can be added to the FGSS website
election poster for Shirley Chisholm

Requirements

20 units total of FGSS courses including: 

  • FEMGEN 303
  • 1 quarter of FEMGEN 299: Graduate Workshop. (Students may enroll in FEMGEN 299 a maximum of two times for a total of 5 units counting towards the PhD Minor)
  • A minimum of 3 elective graduate-level courses or related courses (students may take additional elective courses to meet the 20-unit minimum for the PhD minor)