Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Minor
Program Overview
The goal of the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program is to educate students in interdisciplinary approaches to feminist and queer theories of gender, sexuality, culture, and society. Students are exposed to a variety of forms of critical thinking in relation to:
- the social construction of knowledge and philosophy
- intersections of race/ethnicity, social class, gender, and sexuality in social systems of power and privilege
- historical and cross-cultural accounts of gender and gender inequality
- literary criticism
- approaches to science and medicine informed by "feminist empiricism" and "feminist standpoint" theories
- contemporary theories of art, performance, language, jurisprudence, social science, and religion in the context of varied gendered identities and sexualities
- studies of the body as a focal point for theorizing relations among the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences
- social justice and activism as it pertains to women and gender both locally and globally
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies prepares students to think critically and creatively within a framework employing gender and sexuality as central categories of analysis. Through course work offered across departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, students build their understanding of how gender organizes institutions, practices, and social behavior; explore the diversity of gender and sexual identities and how those intersect with other forms of identity, such as race and class; engage transnational and global perspectives on gender and sexuality; and develop critical thinking and research skills. The program prepares students for a variety of professional pathways, including public policy, social work, the nonprofit sector, and social justice, as well as for graduate study.
Undergraduate Policies
For undergraduate policies and procedures, please review the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.
Program Requirements
Fulfillment of the minor requires completion of 18 credit hours according to the following course distribution:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| WGST 201 | Introduction to Gender Studies | 3 |
| Electives | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
To help ensure a comprehensive course of study in a particular area of interest, each student's combination of courses and the structure of an independent study must be approved by one of the program's academic representatives.