2017-2018 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
- Requirements for a Major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
- Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Requirements for a Major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Students majoring in women, gender and sexuality studies are required to complete at least 30 credit hours, including Introduction to Gender Studies, Foundations of Feminism, Women/Gender Studies Research Methods, Global Feminisms, and the Senior Capstone. Students must also take four electives at the 200 level or higher, one of which must come from the high impact/civic engagement emphasis. The required courses are:
- WGS 200 - Introduction to Gender Studies Credits: 3
- WGS 360 - Foundations of Feminism Credits: 3
- WGS 395 - Women and Gender Studies Research Methods Credits: 3
- WGS 450 - Global Feminisms Credits: 3
- WGS 495 - Capstone Credits: 3
High impact/civic engagement emphasis: Students must complete one of the following courses:
- WGS 490 - WGS Internship Credits: Variable.
- WGS 491 - Contemporary Theory and Practicum Credits: 3
- WGS 492 - Community Collaborative Credits: 3
- WGS 493 - Community Collaborative in South Africa Credits: 3
Electives
For the remaining four electives, students have a wide range of WGS courses, courses cross listed with other departments, and other courses approved for meeting program requirements. These courses include:
- WGS 224 - Introduction to LGBTQ Studies Credits: 3
- WGS 280 - Special Topics in Women Gender, and Sexuality Studies Credits: 3
- WGS 302 - Women, Politics, and Public Policy Credits: 3
- WGS 310 - Sexual Orientation and the Law Credits: 3
- WGS 315 - Psychology of Sex Differences Credits: 3
- WGS 316 - Human Intimacy and Sexuality Credits: 3
- WGS 317 - Sociology of Gender Credits: 3
- WGS 318 - Sociology of Sexuality Credits: 3
- WGS 320 - Crimes Against Women Credits: 3
- WGS/ LIB 326 - Sexuality, Justice, and Advocacy Credits: 3
- WGS 335 - Women, Health and Environment Credits: 3
- WGS 336 - Lesbian, Gay and Queer Literature Credits: 3
- WGS 343 - Black Feminist Thought Credits: 3
- WGS 350 - Family and Gender in the Developing World Credits: 3
- WGS 352 - Black Women's Culture and Communities Credits: 3
- WGS 358 - Women and Gender in South Africa Credits: 3
- WGS 370 - Women and the Law Credits: 3
- WGS 371 - Historical Perspectives on Gender and Sexualities Credits: 3
- WGS 380 - Special Topics in Women Gender, and Sexuality Studies Credits: 1 to 4
- WGS 399 - Independent Readings Credits: 1 to 3
- WGS 402 - Feminist Visionary Thinkers Credits: 3
- WGS 460 - Spanish Women Authors Credits: 3
- WGS 461 - Language and Gender Credits: 3
- WGS 490 - WGS Internship Credits: Variable.
- WGS 491 - Contemporary Theory and Practicum Credits: 3
- WGS 492 - Community Collaborative Credits: 3
- WGS 493 - Community Collaborative in South Africa Credits: 3
- WGS 499 - Independent Study and Research Credits: 1 to 4
- AAA 351 - Perspectives on African American Males Credits: 3
- ANT 370 - Cross-cultural Perspectives on Gender Credits: 3
- BIO 325 - Human Sexuality Credits: 3
- CLA 320 - Women in the Classical World Credits: 3
- ECO 350 - Economics of Gender Credits: 3
- ENG 436 - Women and Literature Credits: 3
- HST 371 - Historical Perspectives on Gender and Sexualities Credits: 3
- PHI 370 - Sex Matters: Feminist Philosophy in the Contemporary World Credits: 3
- SOC 285 - Families in Society Credits: 3
- SOC 379 - Sociology of Love Credits: 3
- SOC 381 - Class, Race, Gender, and Sexuality Credits: 3
- SOC 389 - Child Maltreatment Credits: 3
- SW 333 - Community Work with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Credits: 3
- Other courses that have a significant amount of the course devoted to the study of women, gender, and/or sexuality during a particular semester may also be counted toward the minor on an individual case basis with director approval.
B.A. or B.S. Degree Requirements
Candidates for the B.A. degree must demonstrate third semester proficiency in a foreign language, either by completing successfully a 201 level language course or by passing a proficiency examination in the language chosen. Candidates for the B.S. degree must complete one of the following tracks:
Track One:
- Women and Gender Studies Research Methods (WGS 395)
- College Algebra (MTH 122) or Calculus 1 (MTH 201)
- Problem Solving Using Spreadsheets (CIS 231)
Track Two:
And one of the following:
- AHS 301 - Introduction to Health Care Research Credits: 3
- ANT 300 - Research Methods in Anthropology Credits: 3
- BMS 301 - Introduction to Research in the Biomedical Sciences Credits: 3
- COM 375 - Communication Research Credits: 3
- GPY 300 - Research Methods in Geography and Planning Credits: 3
- HST 290 - Research Methods in History Credits: 3
- PLS 300 - Political Analysis Credits: 3
- STA 216 - Intermediate Applied Statistics Credits: 3
- STA 314 - Statistical Quality Methods Credits: 3
- STA 318 - Statistical Computing Credits: 3
- STA 340 - Statistics in the Media Credits: 3
- STA 345 - Statistics in Sports Credits: 3
Double Major
A double major in women, gender, and sexuality studies and another disciplinary area of study carries many advantages for students with multiple interests.
Study Abroad
Students interested in women, gender, and sexuality studies are encouraged to seek study abroad experience in programs that examine issues of gender and its relationship to economics, political movements, society, and empowerment.
WGS faculty currently facilitate a study abroad program in Cape Town, South Africa which combines academic curriculum with service to the community. Participants examine how issues such as reproductive health, education, violence, political representation, and Apartheid have intersected to impact the role of women within various societal and class structures. Students participate in several excursions in and around Cape Town as well.
For more information about opportunities to study women, gender, and/or sexuality abroad, students should contact the women, gender, and sexuality studies program and the Padnos International Center.
Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
First Year
- Three general education Foundations courses
- Two foreign language courses (B.A. Candidates)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits) or CIS 160 - Programming with Visual Basic (3 credits) (B.S. Candidates)
- WGS 200 - Introduction to Gender Studies (3 credits)
- MTH 110 - Algebra (4 credits)
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits)
Second Year
- Four general education Foundations courses
- One foreign language course (B.A. candidates)
- One approved course that focuses on mathematics, statistics, quantitative reasoning or scientific analysis (B.S. candidates)
- WGS 360 - Foundations of Feminism (3 credits)
- WGS 450 - Global Feminisms (3 credits)
- WGS elective
Third Year
- Four general education Foundations courses
- General education Issues courses
- WGS 395 - Women and Gender Studies Research Methods (3 credits)
Fourth Year
- Four general education Foundations courses
- General education Issues course
- WGS 495 - Capstone (3 credits)