Gender and Cultural Studies + Public Policy
The joint Master’s in Gender and Cultural Studies and Public Policy is designed for students who would like to combine the pragmatic approach of public policy with the broader, creative insights of gender and cultural theory.
Blend theory with practice with our Master's in Gender and Cultural Studies and Public Policy degree
Simmons University's Master’s in Gender and Cultural Studies and Public Policy is ideal preparation for those with a particular interest in issues of diversity, race, gender, class, ethnicity, ability, and sexual orientation in public policy.
This program affords students the core skills and most essential content knowledge of public policy, at the same time that it offers students broad exposure to field of gender and cultural theory. Students in the program will be taught to apply this integration to real world issues. As a result, this program prepares graduates equally well to work in a policy setting or a nonprofit organization, where policy knowledge and analysis skills can heighten marketability.
This degree is designed for students who have a background and interest in interdisciplinary work. Students will ideally have an undergraduate degree in one or more of the following:
- Communications
- Critical Race Studies
- English
- Economics
- History
- International Relations
- Modern Languages
- Political Science
- Public Policy
- Media Studies
- Philosophy
- Women’s and Gender Studies.
While there is no one path to a successful degree application, prospective students must demonstrate an interest in applying their knowledge to real-world policy issues.
Our Faculty
Suzanne Leonard
Professor and Program Director for Gender and Cultural Studies
Gregory Williams
Associate Professor and Program Director, Master of Public Policy
Tatiana M.F. Cruz
Assistant Professor and Interdisciplinary Program Director of Africana Studies and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Leanne Doherty
Associate Provost, Academic and Faculty Affairs
Sarah Leonard
Associate Professor and Graduate History Program Director
Zinnia Mukherjee
Associate Professor
Saher Selod
Associate Professor
Dawna Thomas
Professor and Chair of the Department of Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Lena Zuckerwise
Associate Professor and Department Chair
Spotlight on Gender and Cultural Studies Students and Alums
Karla Alba ’23, Inaugural Jennifer Eckert Leadership Fellow for DEI, Knows the Importance of Difficult Conversations
Jennifer Eckert '08MSW, a member of the Simmons University Board of Trustees, provided a generous donation to support the mission of Simmons University to become a beacon of leadership in the world of higher education. A portion of these funds...
Rayna Danis ’22MA, ’22MPP Makes an Impact with the Joint Master's in Gender and Cultural Studies and Public Policy
Rayna Danis '22MA, '22MPP never expected to get her masters, but then she found her passion for affecting inclusive policy change. We spoke with Rayna about the joint master's program and how it's helping her on this journey.
Be the Change: Gender and Culture Studies Alum Promotes Intersectional Feminist Policy with Mass NOW
Co-Director of Mass NOW, Bria Gambrell ’19MA, ’19MPP, shares her motivation behind pursuing a dual degree in gender and cultural studies and public policy, and why she finds her position with Mass NOW so rewarding.