The Center for Women’s and Gender Studies is a unique interdisciplinary program that offers courses, degrees and organized events each year. The focus of the program is on understanding women’s experiences from a variety of perspectives as well as the role that gender plays in shaping society. Started by a handful of faculty and students in 1979, CWGS now has over two hundred faculty affiliates from fourteen different schools and colleges who contribute to our programs. Among them are several award-winning teachers and nationally recognized scholars. Our faculty teach many bright and gifted students, who go on to become political leaders, legal advocates, socially oriented writers, teachers, and artists, as well as scientists and engineers dedicated to addressing the problems faced by women, men, and families.
The central mission of CWGS is to further knowledge and understanding of the role of gender and the experience of women in our society. Every year the Center for Women's and Gender Studies brings together scholars and researchers trained in different methodologies and disciplinary traditions around a common theme.
For the 2007-08 academic year, the annual theme will be Gender and Technology.
Read more about our annual theme...
Download our Annual Theme Events Poster
Current News
WGS and Information School Dual MA Degree Officially Approved
The graduate dean and provost have approved the proposal for a dual degree for an MA in Women's and Gender Studies and an MS in Information Studies!
It will be available starting Fall 2007 and should be listed in the 2007-2009 version of the Graduate Catalog in both print and online versions.
Dual MA requirements 
People Spotlight
This spring, Dr. Noël Busch-Armendariz was awarded the Lucia, John, and Melissa Gilbert Teaching Excellence Award in Women's and Gender Studies for her work with CWGS.
Noël Busch-Armendariz is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, teaching graduate courses in administration and planning, social policy, research, and domestic violence. She also recently developed a course on sexual assault. Dr. Busch-Armendariz is the Principal Investigator of the UT Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. IDVSA is a collaboration between the School of Social Work, the School of Nursing, and the School of Law with over a dozen other affiliate community organizations. Since joining UT six years ago, Dr. Busch-Armendariz has managed over $1.4 million dollars of external funding and previously directed research for the Office of the Attorney General, the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, and the Texas Health and Human Service Commission. To date, she has managed more than 20 research projects. Her areas of specialization are interpersonal violence, refugees, victims of trafficking and asylees, and international social work.
Dr. Noël Busch-Armendariz's home page
Office of Public Affairs: Confronting Sexual Assault
Ms. Prudence Komujinya is from Uganda and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education majoring in Literature and English from Makerere University, Kampala Uganda. She also holds a Post graduate diploma in Project Planning and Management from The Uganda Management Institute Kampala Uganda. Prudence taught Literature and English at Muntuyera High School in Ntungamo District Uganda and later co-founded The Acid Survivors Foundation Uganda where she worked as a Case worker and Programme officer.
In 2006, Prudence won a scholarship from Ford Foundation International Fellowship programme and enrolled for a Masters in Women's and Gender Studies at The University of Texas at Austin. In recognition to her contribution in bettering the lives of disadvantaged women and children in Uganda, The World Bank Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund awarded Prudence's a research grant that Prudence used to conduct research for her MA thesis. Prudence's thesis examines the impact of state politics religion and culture on women's rights in Uganda. Upon completion of her studies at The University of Texas, Prudence will go back to Uganda and continue her social justice work that aims at improving the lives of disadvantaged girls and women. Prudence plans to enroll in law school in Uganda in order to gain expertise in law that would enable her effectively campaign for women's rights.