Student Opportunities

The Humphrey School is unique in that it is one of a few top public policy schools to offer a pre-designed concentration in gender and public policy. We offer the opportunity to learn with a diverse cohort of students from around the world and from talented faculty within and beyond the Humphrey School.

We train students to advance gender equity in professional, institutional, and civic arenas. Whether you seek to work in nonprofits, philanthropy, business, research, government, or political office, your ability to identify systemic gender inequalities and implement strategies and approaches to mitigate gender equalities and their intersections with other inequities is invaluable.

Students interested in pursuing this concentration should schedule a meeting with their advisor and meet with the concentration’s faculty director, Professor Christina Ewig, to discuss course selection, plan internships, and explore professional papers or capstones to fit their career goals.

Concentration Requirements

Students in the Gender and Public Policy concentration must fulfill three requirements.

• Meet the core requirements for their degree program
• Complete the core course, PA 5601: Global Survey of Gender and Public Policy
• Design and complete a 6-credit plan for additional coursework

Faculty and Courses

Find additional information on current faculty affiliated with the concentration and potential course and internship combinations by interest area.

The GAINS workshop series is a one-credit, two semester leadership course that prepares students to identify and challenge institutional biases and inequalities. Through invited talks with practitioners, case studies, self-reflection, simulation, and peer learning, students learn how to confidently negotiate and engage in conflict resolution, discuss strategies for promoting organizational wellbeing and inclusion, and develop their own leadership style. GAINS offers the kind of close-knit learning experience and professional network that defines one’s graduate and professional path.

Internships can offer a wealth of professional development experience, but are sometimes short on pay. We provide annual summer awards to assist Humphrey School students who have unpaid internships with a feminist organization. Funding is made possible through the generosity of Julia Henderson, a 1946 University of Minnesota alumni who held senior leadership roles at the United Nations and the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

Students may apply through the general Humphrey School Internship application process, by answering the question about how your internship will serve women or advance gender equity. Applications are reviewed by Center faculty and staff.

Internships can provide excellent development opportunities and are a requirement of the Master of Human Rights, Master of Public Affairs, and Master of Urban and Regional Planning degrees. Want to locate an internship focused on gender and sexuality issues? We maintain a database of gender and public policy internship opportunities.

Each fall, we welcome applications for the Graduate School’s Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship, which includes a $25,000 stipend, tuition, and health insurance. The IDF is awarded to outstanding PhD students who would benefit from interacting with faculty mentors at one of the University’s interdisciplinary research centers, including the Center on Women, Gender, and Public Policy. IDF applicants must include a letter of support from the sponsoring center in their application to the Graduate School. We will provide a letter of support from Center Director Christina Ewig to successful applicants prior to the Graduate School’s deadline.

To learn more about the fellowship, visit the Graduate School's IDF website or watch a recording of a 2019 IDF information session held by the Institute for Advanced Study.

The 2024 Graduate School IDF application deadline is November 8, 2024. To be considered as a fellow hosted by the Center on Women, Gender, and Public Policy, application materials must be submitted to Center Director, Professor Christina Ewig by 5PM Friday, October 18, 2024. The Center will review applications and inform of a decision by the end of October. It is advisable for prospective fellows to reach out to Professor Ewig prior to submitting their application to discuss their fit with the Center’s mission and expertise, and to identify an appropriate mentor from among our affiliated faculty.

The ability to write for a public audience is an increasingly important skill for scholars. Every summer, our managing editor works closely with two CLA PhD students – teaching them how to translate their research for a public audience interested in policy. With sponsorship from the College of Liberal Arts and the Center for Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender & Sexuality Studies, we have supported 15 summer fellows from across the University. Learn More

The University of Minnesota is home to leading scholars of gender, sexuality, and feminism, spanning many disciplines and fields. Humphrey students pursuing the gender and public policy concentration can take courses with affiliate faculty who teach graduate courses in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies; Global Studies; Public Health; Law; Sociology; Communications; Social Work; Sociology; and more.