The interdisciplinary women and gender studies undergraduate major and minor offer students a rigorous and flexible program of study that examines women, gender and sexuality in relation to race, class, ability, nation and empire, among other variables. Students explore how gender and sexuality intersect with structures of power in a range of cultural, historical and geopolitical contexts. Drawing from approximately 50 courses, many cross-listed with other academic units, students fulfill the requirements of the major or minor and can design an emphasis relevant to their interests by focusing on one of three cognate areas: 1) gender/sexuality, 2) race/ethnicity and 3) global/transnational.

Requirements

Program Requirements

Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses listed below.

Students must complete a minimum of 33 credit hours with grades of C- or better in approved women and gender studies courses, a minimum of 24 credit hours of which must be upper-division (3000- or 4000-level). No more than 45 credits in WGST may be applied to overall graduation requirements. Students must have a grade point average of at least 2.000 in the major in order to graduate. 

Required Courses and Credits

Required Courses
WGST 2000Introduction to US Gender, Race and Sexuality Studies3
or WGST 2600 Introduction to Global Gender, Race and Sexuality Studies
WGST 3020Feminist Methods of Inquiry and Praxis3
WGST 3100Feminist Theories3
WGST 4800Senior Colloquium in Feminist Studies3
Cognate Areas
At least three courses, one from each of the three cognate areas (see below)9
Electives 1
Two upper-division approved WGST elective courses (those listed under upper-division electives or cognate areas below)6
Two additional lower- or upper-division approved WGST elective courses (see below)6
Total Credit Hours33

Cognate Areas 

Students must take three courses (for a total of 9 credit hours), one each from the three following cognate areas.  Select topics offerings of special topics courses may apply to cognate areas; see advisor or department for more information.

Gender/Sexuality Cognate Area
At least one course (3 credit hours) from the gender/sexuality cognate area3
Screening Race, Class & Gender in the U.S. and the Global Borderland (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)
Queer Theory
RUSS 4251
Topics in Sex and Gender
Disney's Women and Girls
Gender, Sexuality and U.S. Law
Violence Against Women and Girls
Gender, Sexuality and Global Health (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)
Gender and Sexuality in Africa (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)
Feminist Fictions (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)
Gender, Genocide and Mass Trauma (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)
Sex, Gender and Society 2
Special Topics in Queer Literature
Critical Inquiries in Transgender Studies
A Global History of Sexuality: The Modern Era (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)
Lesbian and Gay History: Culture, Politics, and Social Change in the U.S.
Race/Ethnicity Cognate Area
At least one course (3 credit hours) from the race/ethnicity cognate area3
Dancing Histories: Sex, Gender and Race in U.S. Concert Dance
Women of Color: Chicanas in U.S. Society
Race, Class, Gender, and Crime
Chicana Feminisms and Knowledges
American Indian Women
Gender and U.S. Politics: Protest, Polls and Policy
Historical and Contemporary Issues of African American Women
Latina/x Studies
Gender, Race, Science and Technology
Women of Color and Activism
Black Feminist and Womanist Theories
Gender and Politics in Latin America (may count for global/transnational or race/ethnicity, but not both)
Gender and Indigeneity in Literature and Films of the Americas (may count for global/transnational or race/ethnicity, but not both)
Gender, Race and Immigration in Germany and Europe (may count for global/transnational or race/ethnicity, but not both)
Gender, Race, Class, and Sexuality in Popular Culture
Women in East Asian History
Global/Transnational Cognate Area
At least one course (3 credit hours) from the global/transnational cognate area3
Gender, Culture, and Sexuality
Screening Race, Class & Gender in the U.S. and the Global Borderland (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)
Gender, Islam and Modernity
Gender and Development
Women in Islam
Gender, Sexuality and Culture in the Modern Middle East
Global Gender Issues
Gender, Sexuality and Global Health (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)
Gender and Sexuality in Africa (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)
Gender and Politics in Latin America
Gender, Race, Sexuality and Global Migration
Who Runs the World? Sex, Power, and Gender in Geography
Feminist Fictions (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)
Gender, Genocide and Mass Trauma (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)
Gender and Indigeneity in Literature and Films of the Americas (may count for global/transnational or race/ethnicity, but not both)
Sex, Power, Politics: International Perspectives
Gender, Race and Immigration in Germany and Europe (may count for global/transnational or race/ethnicity, but not both)
Gender Politics and Global Activism
A Global History of Sexuality: The Modern Era (may count for gender/sexuality or global/transnational, but not both)

Lower-Division Electives

No more than 6 credit hours of lower-division electives0-6
Language, Gender and Sexuality
Introduction to Queer Literature
The Social Construction of Sexuality
Sex, Gender, and Society 1
Sex, Gender, and Society 1
Introduction to World Literature by Women
Introduction to American Literature by Women
Introduction to American Literature by Women
Femininities, Masculinities, Alternatives
Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
Gender, Sexuality, and Popular Culture
Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greece
Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Rome
Women, Gender, Literature, and the Arts
Philosophy and Gender
Gender, Race, Sex and the Body
Psychology of Gender and Sexuality
Women and Religion

Upper-Division Electives

Select additional courses from the three cognate areas above or from the following upper-division electives below, total credits toward the degree must equal 33 credit hours6-12
Art, Culture, and Gender Diversity, 1400--1600: Renaissance Art Out of the Canon
Women and Film
Gender and Communication
Topics in Gender and Sexuality
Italian Feminisms: Culture, Theory, and Narratives of Difference
Women's Mental Health: A Biopsychosocial Approach
Marriage and the Family in the United States
Feminist Practical Ethics
Sex, Power, and Politics: U.S. Perspectives
Religion and Feminist Thought
Women, Gender & Sexuality in Jewish Texts & Traditions
Women Writers
Facilitating Peaceful Community Change
Gender, Personality, and Culture
German Women Writers
Women in Buddhism
Advanced Writing in Feminist Studies
Performing Voices of Women
Family and Society
Religion and Reproductive Politics in the United States
Special Topics in Women Writers
Women in 20th-21st Century Russian, East European and Eurasian Cultures
History of Gender and Sexuality in the United States to 1870
History of Gender and Sexuality in the United States from 1870
Women, Gender and War
Gender in Hagiography

Honors

Students may take up to 6 credit hours of honors in women and gender studies; credit hours apply to upper-division electives in the major.  For more information about pursuing departmental honors, visit the department honors webpage and the main Honors Program webpage describing qualifications, requirements and deadlines.

WGST 4950Honors Research3
WGST 4999Senior Honors Thesis1-3

Internship

Students may take up to 6 credit hours of internship in women and gender studies; credit hours apply to upper-division electives in the major. See advisor or department for more information.

WGST 3930Women and Gender Studies Internship1-6

Special Topics

Students may take up to 6 credit hours in WGST topics courses; course topics vary each semester. Ask the women and gender studies advisor or department about how each course applies to major cognate area requirements, if applicable.

WGST 3701Topics in U.S. Gender and Sexuality Studies (AH)3
WGST 3702Topics in U.S. Gender and Sexuality Studies (SS)3
WGST 3711Topics in Global Gender and Sexuality Studies (AH)3
WGST 3712Topics in Global Gender and Sexuality Studies (SS)3
WGST 4001Advanced Topics in Gender and Sexuality Studies (AH)3
WGST 4002Advanced Topics in Gender and Sexuality Studies (SS)3

Graduating in Four Years

Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for more information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress in women and gender studies, students should meet the following requirements:

  • By the beginning of the second semester, declare the major.
  • By the end of the fourth semester, complete WGST 2000 or WGST 2600, WGST 3020 and 9 additional credit hours of major requirements.
  • By the end of the sixth semester, complete WGST 3100 and 6 additional credit hours of major requirements (24 credit hours total of the major requirements completed).
  • During the seventh and eighth semester, complete WGST 4800 and 6 additional credit hours of the major requirements.

Students should consult with their advisor for specific recommendations. The following sample plan will outline the major requirements, but the order of some classes can vary greatly.  It is important for students to check the degree audit and work with the major advisor each semester to make sure of the requirements and graduation timeline.  

Four-Year Plan of Study

Through the required coursework for the major, students will complete 9 credit hours of the Social Sciences area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement and both the US Perspective and Global Perspective categories of the Gen Ed Diversity Requirement. Depending on other courses taken for the major, students could easily complete the remaining 3 credit hours in the Social Sciences area and much of the Arts and Humanities area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
WGST 2000
Introduction to US Gender, Race and Sexuality Studies
or Introduction to Global Gender, Race and Sexuality Studies
3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences with Lab) 4
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-division Written Communication) 3
Elective/MAPS 3
Elective/MAPS 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring Semester
WGST Lower-division elective 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Arts & Humanities/Global Perspective) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Elective/MAPS 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Two
Fall Semester
WGST 3020 Feminist Methods of Inquiry and Praxis 3
WGST Lower- or upper- division elective 3
Gen. Ed. Skills course (QRMS) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
WGST Cognate area requirement or upper-division elective (one course from each of three cognate areas required) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Three
Fall Semester
WGST Cognate area requirement or upper-division elective (one course from each of three cognate areas required) 3
WGST 3800 Advanced Writing in Feminist Studies (not required, but fulfills Gen. Ed. Skills: Upper-division Written Communication and WGST Elective) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
WGST 3100 Feminist Theories 3
WGST Cognate area requirement or upper-division elective (one course from each of three cognate areas required) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Elective (Upper Division) 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
WGST Cognate area requirement or upper-division elective (one course from each of three cognate areas required) 3
Elective or Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities, if needed) 3
Elective (Upper Division) 3
Elective (Upper Division) 3
Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed) 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
WGST 4800 Senior Colloquium in Feminist Studies 3
WGST Cognate area requirement or upper-division elective (one course from each of three cognate areas required) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences, if needed) 3
Elective (Upper Division) 3
Elective (Upper Division) 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours121

Knowledge

Students will be able to:

  • Analyze how power and privilege function at the intersection of gender, sexuality, race, class, ability, nationality and colonialism
  • Think critically about the historical and global variability of social norms of gender and sexuality
  • Identify the varying forms of feminism across the globe, and the relationships between feminism and other movements for social justice

Practical Skills

Students completing their degree with the Department of Women and Gender Studies are expected to acquire the ability and skills to:

  • Analyze a range of social events, structures and movements using intersectional and decolonial feminist theories
  • Communicate complex ideas from the field of women and gender studies to academic and general audiences
  • Work collaboratively to implement and organize around a range of theoretical and methodological perspectives used in women, gender, and sexuality studies