Frequently Asked Questions

How many students applied last year; how many were accepted?
This varies each year. As our reputation grows the number and quality of the applications increase. We accept approximately four to six students each year - a combined total of masters and Ph.D. students.

What GPA do I need to be accepted? What GRE score do I need to be accepted?
Because of the highly competitive nature of the program, applicants are expected to have strong GPA and GRE scores. Nonetheless, students are accepted on the basis of their entire admission packet, not just test scores or GPA's. Most important are: Personal Statement of why you want to enroll in this program, fit between your interests and members of our faculty, and letters of reference.

Do I really have to take the GRE and when must I take it?
All applicants must present GRE scores. They must be in the hands of the Admissions Committee by the time we begin deliberations: about mid-January. Scores from a GRE test taken in the academic year prior to application for admission will be accepted, but no earlier. To ensure that your scores are received by our application deadline, please do not schedule your GRE exam any later than NOVEMBER. Scheduling the GRE exam in December will NOT allow sufficient time for your scores to reach us.

Can I apply to the Ph.D. and then switch to the M.A. program? or vice versa?
No. Admission to each program is separate. If you wish to change programs, you must reapply.

What makes me a foreign student?
If you have questions regarding your status, please consult The Graduate Division's Admissions Office at (310) 825-1711. If the applicant is a citizen of a country outside the United States or graduated from an institution outside the United States she or he needs to qualify for a visa to study in the United States.

To qualify for a visa to study in the United States, you must provide the U.S. consulate or embassy with substantial proof of adequate funding for the entire course of your study at UCLA. According to U.S. Immigration and Naturalization regulations, the University may issue Certificates of Eligibility for visas only to applicants who have been offered admission and who have submitted documented evidence (e.g., bank statements, letters of sponsorship, etc.) of sufficient funds for their study at UCLA.

Anticipated expenses to qualify for a visa to study in the United states for the year 2002-03 for one academic year is 1) US$ 16,345.25 for tuition and fees for three quarters, and 2) US$ 15,944.75 for basic living costs (food, rent, laundry, local transportation, books and supplies etc.). (Please note: These figures are subject to change without notice.) Therefore, you need to prove that you will have at least US$ 32,290.00 at your disposal for the first year. If you plan to bring your family, you should expect to add the following costs: US$ 4,000.00 for your spouse, plus US$ 1,800.00 for each child. Health insurance is mandatory and is included in the above figure for tuition and fees.

The difficulty of gaining off-campus employment and of non-immigrant visa holders obtaining permission for such employment, is strongly emphasized. Spouses of F-1 visa holders, who hold F2 visas, are not permitted to work under any circumstances.

Can I apply to two different departments or programs at UCLA at the same time?
Yes.

What courses are you offering?
Each year we offer the following required sequence of courses:
201 (Theory); 202 (Multicultural Perspectives); 210 (Public Policy). These are the only graduate courses originating from within Women's Studies. Other graduate courses originate within particular fields (History, English, Anthropology, Public Health, etc.) and are offered episodically. Elective course offerings shift dramatically year by year. Please visit our Courses page for more information.

What about fellowship support?
Fellowship support is competitive from the University, and for teaching assistance from the program (usually available after the first year). Be sure that you fill the fellowship application material requested on the Women's Studies Programs website.

What can I do to strengthen my application?
Begin by reading all the material on the website carefully. If you have particular questions not answered on the website, you may contact the Graduate Advisor. You should try to identify Affiliated Faculty with interests congruent with your own. You can also write a clear and personal statement of your intention for graduate work in Women's Studies at UCLA. REMEMBER: The program is meant to train you in the interdisciplinary field of women's studies and at the same time to pursue individual research in some particular area.

How long does the program take?
The Masters program should take about two years of fulltime study. The Ph.D. program is harder to predict. Average time toward completion throughout UCLA is seven years. Completing course work can take two to three years. Planning, researching and writing a dissertation can take anywhere from two to five years. The pace at which you work is what will determine how quickly you finish the program.

Can I transfer credits from another masters or Ph.D. program into your program?
Courses from a previous MA program will not count toward our required courses. Such courses may be considered for credit towards elective units. Upon approval of the Graduate Committee, students may transfer up to 8 units of coursework from a pervious program. Students should submit a syllabus and their submitted work. The material will then be reviewed for approval as acceptable doctoral-level work.

If I am accepted, with whom will I be working?
As Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary department, you will find our participating faculty are housed elsewhere. For a list of faculty currently associated with the Women's Studies Program, please visit our Associated Faulty page. It is up to the applicant to browse through this listing and learn about the research interests of our faculty and how they may coincide with your own. The body of UCLA faculty is enormous and although you should become especially familiar with the faculty member associated with Women's Studies, you should not feel limited by working only with them.