The Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies major is an interdisciplinary academic program that provides students with a knowledge of the history and evolution of feminist theory and practice. It imparts to students an understanding of the feminist debates that take place in a multitude of disciplines and the role that these play in broadening and restructuring other disciplines. The program situates Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies within a cross-cultural context and enhances students' awareness of issues affecting women in different cultural, religious, ethnic, economic, and class settings. Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies empowers students to participate in transforming repressive cultural and political practices and to use their knowledge to create a personal and communal agenda aimed at social change.
The Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies major prepares students for postgraduate education in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies and for careers in fields related to social services, education, psychology, communications and the media, the arts, law, health professions and community action work.
120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA.
Program Requirements
Students must complete General Education requirements and World Languages and Cultures Requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| GLQS 100 | Introduction to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (GLBTQ) Studies | 3 |
| GLQS 201 | Queer Identities in a Transforming World: The Trouble with Normal | 3 |
| GSWS 102 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| GSWS 200 | Transnational Feminisms | 3 |
| GSWS 402 | Sexuality, and Women's Studies | 3 |
| Distribution Electives | ||
| Historical Issues | ||
| HUMN 283 | Women, Gender, and Sexuality in the Ancient World | 3 |
| or GSWS 201 | Inventing Feminism | |
| Theoretical Issues | ||
| GLQS 301 | Queer Theory | 3 |
| or GSWS 301 | Feminist Theory in Transnational Contexts | |
| Professional Development | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Entrepreneurial Mindset and Innovation | ||
| Workplace Writing | ||
| Psychology of Leadership: Theory and Application | ||
| Writing Women Safe: Writing, Rape Prevention, and Community Activism | ||
| Major Electives | ||
| Select three of the following with at least 6 credits at the 200 level or above: | 9 | |
| English | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in Film | ||
| World Literature: Voices of Tradition and Challenge | ||
| Queer Fiction | ||
| Images of Muslim Women in Twentieth Century Literature and Culture | ||
| Contemporary Chinese Women's Literature | ||
| Black Women Writers: US | ||
| Women Poets | ||
| The Novels of Toni Morrison | ||
| Women Prose Writers | ||
If focus is appropriate, the following may be used: | ||
| Special Topics in English or American Literature | ||
| Seminar in Comparative Literature | ||
| Seminar in American Literature | ||
| Seminar in English Literature | ||
| Entrepreneurship | ||
| The Entrepreneurial Mindset and Innovation | ||
| Special Topics in Entrepreneurship | ||
| Creating Your Startup Business Model | ||
| Preparing to Pitch and Launch Your Startup | ||
| Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies | ||
| Queer Theory | ||
| Special Topics in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies | ||
| Inventing Feminism | ||
| Men and Masculinities | ||
| Feminist Theory in Transnational Contexts | ||
| Special Topics in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in Asian American Literature | ||
| Women and Migration | ||
| Victimology | ||
| Imaging Medieval and Early Modern Women | ||
| Writing Women Safe: Writing, Rape Prevention, and Community Activism | ||
| Human Trafficking | ||
| Feminist Jurisprudence | ||
or JURI 376 | Feminist Jurisprudence | |
| Independent Study: Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies | ||
| Seminar on Gender and Crime | ||
| Cooperative Education: Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies | ||
| Washington, D.C. Internship | ||
| The Legal Rights of Women | ||
| History | ||
| U.S. Women’s History | ||
| Feminist Ideas in Western Thought | ||
| Women and Gender in the Middle East: Past and Present | ||
| Philosophy/Religion | ||
| Contemporary Continental Philosophy | ||
| Women and Religion | ||
| Feminist Views of Religion | ||
| Political Science | ||
| Women and the Law | ||
| Women in Politics | ||
| Special Topics in Political Science (if focus is appropriate) | ||
| Public and Professional Writing | ||
| Workplace Writing | ||
| Digital Writing: Composing with Text, Image, and Sound | ||
| Community Writing: Theories, Practices, and Partnerships | ||
| Sociology | ||
| Sociology of Sexuality | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (if focus is appropriate) | ||
| Other Electives | ||
| The Black Woman: An Introductory Course | ||
| The Anthropology of Work | ||
| Anthropology: Gender and Sexuality | ||
| Community and Health | ||
| Women and Art | ||
| Special Topics in Art History (if focus is appropriate) | ||
| Culture and Appearance | ||
| Special Topics in Economics (if focus is appropriate) | ||
| Gender Issues in Education | ||
| Women in Contemporary Society | ||
| Gender in a Changing World | ||
| Introduction to Women Authors of French-Speaking Africa | ||
| Women, Gender, and Sexuality in the Ancient World | ||
| Women in Antiquity | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Sexuality Education in the Schools | ||
| Women's Health | ||
| Women and Prison | ||
| Image and Identity: Representation of Latin American Women in Film and Fiction | ||
| Language and Gender | ||
| Special Topics in Music History (if focus is appropriate) | ||
| Psychology of Women | ||
| Psychology of Leadership: Theory and Application | ||
| Women in Russian Literature | ||
| Sexual Subversion in Contemporary Hispanic Literature and Film | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |