Women and Gender Studies program is in the School of Social Transformation at ASU. Our faculty members and students examine the historical, cultural and social forces that shape our society and are committed to cultural diversity and global engagement.

Established in 1974, women and gender studies offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and certificates. Students in our master’s and doctoral programs receive advanced training in feminist theory and methodologies and contemporary research in an interdisciplinary setting that pulls from the social sciences, humanities, arts and physical sciences.

Our learners work closely with our award-winning, interdisciplinary faculty and have the opportunity to pursue advanced research in a wide range of topics, including:

• reproductive health
• women’s history
• gender and media
• gender in science and technology
• gender violence
• the “girl effect”

Internships in our program are hosted at 180+ job sites across the country, including programs in law firms, domestic violence shelters, advocacy organizations, government work and many more.

Our graduates are employed by law firms, domestic violence shelters, advocacy organizations and all levels of government, or go onto graduate studies to become researchers and professors.

Arizona State University's School of Social Transformation is a transdisciplinary, collective of programs offering degrees and certificates in African and African American studies, Asian Pacific American studies, social and cultural pedagogy, justice and social inquiry, women and gender studies.

Founded in 2009, the school pioneers innovative research methods that closely examine themes and questions in relation to historical, social and cultural subject matters. As the nation continues to address diversity and social justice, the school plays a key role in leading these discussions. In addition to expertise in research and teaching, our faculty members provide cutting-edge insight and unique sensibilities to the media and community around some of the most talked about social issues of our time.

Students in the school are mentored by dedicated faculty who inspire them to develop innovative methods to social challenges through teaching, research, and collaboration in the community.  

Students learn to think critically about the human experience and communicate effectively while working within, outside and across the boundaries of traditional liberal arts disciplines.

With a broad range of programs available, students can select from 17 bachelor’s degrees, 17 minors and certificates, and one graduate program. Our students are actively engaged with our esteemed faculty who are Emmy- and Grammy award-winning artists and leading researchers in many interdisciplinary fields.

Students from our school have access to a wide range of labs and artistic spaces including Second Stage West, a dance studio, media lab, painting studio, the Oral History and Ethnography Collaborative, a photography lab, and a state-of-the-art sound studio.

We strive to create out of the classroom opportunities that immerse students in a traditional liberal arts experience. One such opportunity is with the literary magazine, Canyon Voices, which seeks to publish works that engender thought and enrich the discourse around language, style, culture and gender. Canyon Voices features the works of emerging writers and artists including our students who also design and edit each issue.

Additionally, our faculty have created study abroad opportunities to locations like Harlaxton, England where students read classic British literature and explore the places that make these works come alive. They visit London, the Lake District, the northern seacoast, the moors, castles, cathedrals, and other stunning locales, one month each summer.

Our students study in a liberal arts environment that is built on a seamless interdisciplinary experience that prepares them for a future of endless possibilities. Recent graduates from our school are professional artists, performers, and creative professionals. In addition, many move on to graduate school, and successful careers in business and the nonprofit sector.

Project Humanities brings together individuals and communities, within and around Arizona State University, to instill passion and knowledge of humanities study, research, and humanist thought. By exploring shared ideas and experiences, Project Humanities facilitates conversations across diverse communities to build understanding through talking, listening, and connecting.

An award-winning initiative at ASU, Project Humanities facilitates critical conversations with individuals and communities across disciplines, generations and professions. In just under four years, we have become a leader in local, national and international conversations about our shared humanity.

Under the banner of our Project Humanities efforts, we created Humanity 101 as a toolbox of diverse programs and activities which focus on the question: “Are we losing our humanity?”  Our response to this question is an ambitious Movement to prove that humanity is bound by shared experiences, instead of the social disconnect and divisiveness suggested by current headlines and news stories. Indeed, this movement creates local synergy, empowerment and awareness through our seven Humanity 101 principles: kindness, compassion, integrity, respect, empathy, forgiveness and self-reflection.

Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary academic program and research center hybrid. The Center for Jewish Studies focuses on knowledge production and community engagement through research conferences, public lectures, exhibits, films and concerts.

Working in collaboration with Jewish institutions and civic organizations in metropolitan Phoenix, the Center for Jewish Studies focuses on Judaism, science, and medicine; Judaism and the arts; Post-Holocaust Jewish life and Jewish diasporas.

Awarded through the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, the Jewish Studies program offers a BA and a certificate in Jewish Studies, as well as a vast array of undergraduate courses in the humanities and the social sciences. Graduate-level courses that lead to master's and doctoral degrees are also available through the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies; the School of International Letters and Cultures; the Department of English and the School of Social Transformation.

Together the Jewish Studies program and the Center for Jewish Studies foster critical inquiry as they disseminate accurate information about the Jewish experience from antiquity to the present. With nationally and international renowned faculty, ASU Jewish Studies enhances the quality of Jewish life in the ASU community, in Phoenix metropolitan area and around the world.

The Hispanic Research Center is a university-wide, interdisciplinary research unit founded in 1985, it conducts basic and applied research on a broad range of topics related to Hispanic studies, disseminates research findings to the academic community and the public, and provides public service in areas of importance to Hispanics.

Its affiliated faculty, staff and advanced graduate students are organized into working groups dedicated to a range of research projects in the humanities, arts, education, science and technology, business, information technology and new media, and other fields. Current and ongoing projects in the humanities include examination of the role of birds such as the eagle and the resplendent quetzal in Aztec, Maya, and Mixtec cultural beliefs; research on the impact of Franciscanism in colonial Latin America; and study of the history and work of Chicana/o artists. The Hispanic Research Center holds a major art history archive of Chicana/o artists that is available for study by researchers and students.

The Hispanic Research Center faculty includes a number of educators who have earned national awards for their work, including: the Charles A. Dana Foundation Award for Pioneering Achievement in Education, the 2002 Art Educator of the Year Award from the National Art Education Association. Ongoing activities of the Hispanic Research Center, primarily funded by external grants, include the Bilingual Press, the Community Art and Research Outreach, More Graduate Education at Mountain States Alliance (MGE@MSA), and the Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities.

Asian Pacific American Studies is in the School of Social Transformation at ASU. Our interdisciplinary faculty members have expertise in:

• Ethnic studies, including race relations between different groups
• History
• Gender studies
• Literature
• Film and media
• Psychology and behavioral health
• Cultural geography
• Education and equality

What can students do with a degree in Asian Pacific American Studies? Anything and everything! Our learners gain knowledge and skills that are relevant to the real world, including critical thinking, communication and community engagement. Social science graduates are more likely to be employed and move into managerial and senior official roles than graduates in other areas of study, and tech companies are looking for researchers to optimize their ability to reach communities.

Students are also given the opportunity to gain valuable research experience by working closely with faculty and gain career experience through an internship at one the 180+ job sites across the country.

The program is also home to the summer K-12 APACE (Asian Pacific Advocacy, Culture and Education) Academy, a 5-day summer program with a focus on Asian Pacific American history, culture and contemporary issues, as well as cultural competency, public-speaking, and civic engagement. The academy is open to 30 students from Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

Asian Pacific American Studies make us all more globally aware, socially engaged and knowledgeable about today’s society and prepared to thrive in any environment, career or pursuit.

African and African American Studies is an interdisciplinary program in the School of Social Transformation at ASU. Our faculty members examine a wide array of issues and accomplishments of African-descended peoples at various times and places in history. Our faculty members are experts in a variety of areas, including anthropology, education, history, journalism, literature, psychology, sociology, political science and women’s studies. 

Our students can study real­-world issues in African and African American history, migration patterns (African Diaspora), art, literature, religion, family life and education, as well as how race and institutional racism have impacted the development of African descended people in America and around the world. Student pursuing a BA can specialize in either African studies or African Disapora studies. 

Our learners also gain hands-­on experience with faculty dedicated to social justice and become a part of an inclusive and supportive community of learners. Research experiences with faculty are encouraged and more than 180 internships available across the country. 

Our program's graduates have gone on to graduate school, medical school and law school, pursued careers in jounalism, law enforcement, human right and social policy, and written novels.