Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies (BA)
This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2021–Spring 2022 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Arts in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Academic Plan Code(s): WGSTBA, WGSTBA_O
Program Information
This program can be completed in a traditional classroom format or entirely online.
Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies is an interdisciplinary major that draws its questions and approaches from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and arts. It helps students to develop theoretical, empirical, and methodological perspectives for studying gender as a crucial category for understanding the world. We offer extremely flexible scheduling for our majors: we have three core courses, offered regularly; students are allowed a fair amount of control in selecting the classes that will be most helpful to them in their chosen career path to complete the remainder of their requirements. Our students are required to engage in service learning opportunities outside the university, giving them useful career experience. Students in our program also find it easy to double major, if they so desire.
WGST majors learn to:
- Apply gender analytics at the micro and macro level for research and practices of social change;
- Examine complex social problems using gender–informed analysis, research and design;
- Select appropriate methodologies from the humanities and social sciences for analyzing data and texts;
- Provide appropriate theoretical interpretation based on discipline-related concepts;
- Draw conclusions based on the analyses of texts and qualitative and quantitative information;
- Demonstrate effective written and oral communications tailored to specific audiences and contexts to increase the understanding and utilization of research findings;
- Identify how social, cultural and scientific knowledges are produced by institutions such as academic disciplines, media, arts, and politics;
- Understand how gender intersects with other structures of power such as race, class, sexuality, disability and other structures of power in the U.S. and globally;
- Draw from multiple fields of study to evaluate and generate information and experiences related to gender, race, class, sexuality, disability, etc.
Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | 31 | |
| College/School Requirements | 13 | |
| Program/Major Requirements 1 | 36 | |
| Supporting Courses | 41 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121 | |
| 1 | Some courses required in this degree program can satisfy multiple requirements. Using other courses to satisfy General Education requirements will require additional hours to complete the degree requirements or reduce the number of available electives. See the Degree Requirements and Track tabs for specific coursework. |
Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.
Accelerated BA-BS/MA in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies majors who are considering pursuing a master’s degree in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master's degree. Students accepted into the Accelerated BA-BS/MA take three graduate courses (9 credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the eventual master's degree.
Interested students must apply to the program during their Junior year (i.e., when they have accumulated 60-90 hours of credit). Students must complete an application for admission to the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department's Master of Arts program (including transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a writing sample). Applicants must have a minimum overall grade point average and major grade point average of 3.35 and must meet all other requirements for admission to the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department's Master of Arts program.
Students must retain a 3.35 GPA in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies during their senior year to remain in the program.
Departmental Admission Requirements
Admission to the BA in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on courses in the major.
The Application for Major form can be found on the Arts and Sciences Advising Center website.
Accelerated BA-BS/MA in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Interested students should apply for entry into the accelerated program no later than the end of their Junior year.
To be considered for admission to the Accelerated Master of Arts in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies program, students must:
- Complete an application for admission to the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department's Master of Arts program (including transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a writing sample) no later than the end of their junior year.
- Have a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.35, a Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies GPA of 3.35, and meet all other requirements for admission to the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department's Master of Arts program.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 31 | |
The following courses are required by the program and satisfy the respective General Education Requirement(s): | ||
| Women In American Culture - AH, D1 | ||
| Additional coursework may satisfy program and General Education requirements (e.g., WGST 203 or WGST 207). | ||
All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
College/School Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences Requirements | ||
| GEN 100 | Student Success Center First Year Experience | 1 |
| or GEN 101 | Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | |
| Electives in Humanities, Social Sciences, or Natural Sciences at the 300 level or above 3 | ||
| Foreign Language 2 | 12 | |
| WR - two approved courses at the 300 level or above 3 | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 13 | |
Program/Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Core Courses | ||
| WGST 201 | Women In American Culture - AH, D1 | 3 |
| WGST 401 | Community Internship | 3 |
| WGST 500 | Senior Seminar in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences - CUE, WR | 3 |
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Humanities Electives | ||
| Select up to 3 courses, of which one must be at the 400+ level: | 6-9 | |
| Seeing Gender: Introduction to Gender in Visual Studies - AH, D1 | ||
| Gender Issues in Public Dialogue - OC, D1 | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy through Cultural Diversity - AH, D2 | ||
| Humanities and Gender - AH, D2 | ||
| Women in Music: A History - AH, D1 | ||
| Women and Global Literature - D2, AH | ||
| Gender and Children's Literature - AH, D1 | ||
| Women and Religion - AH, D2 | ||
| Black Women Novelists - D2, AH, WR | ||
| Women in Africa: Historical and Literary Perspectives | ||
| Philosophy and Feminism - AH, D1 | ||
| Women Writers and Filmmakers - WR | ||
| LGBTQ Literature in the United States - AH, D1 | ||
| African-American Women in Theatre - WR, AH, D1 | ||
| Women, Media and Culture - AH, D1 | ||
| Queer Performance | ||
| Women's Personal Narratives | ||
| The Body in Popular Media - WR | ||
| Gender and Popular Music - WR | ||
| Art and Trauma | ||
| Feminist Philosophical Literature | ||
| Francophone Women Writers - WR | ||
| Gender, Race and Culture in Health Care | ||
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Social Science Electives | ||
| Select up to 3 courses, of which one must be at the 400+ level: | 6-9 | |
| The Digital Get Down: Feminism and the Internet - D2, SB | ||
| Sex, Gender, and Culture | ||
| Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies | ||
| Sociology of Women's Health | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Gender, Sexuality & Law | ||
| Queer Politics | ||
| Communication and Gender | ||
| The History of Women, 1700 to the Present | ||
| History of Childhood in America - WR, SBH, D1 | ||
| Women in Latin American History | ||
| Faces of Global Poverty - WR | ||
| Black Lesbian Lives | ||
| Racism and Sexism - SB, D1 | ||
| African-American Women - WR | ||
| Color Complex of Black Women | ||
| Women in American Politics | ||
| Women's Health Issues - D1, SB | ||
| Lectures in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Black Feminism in Action | ||
| Psychology of Women | ||
| Gender and Work | ||
| Sociology of Disabilities | ||
| Women: International Perspective | ||
| Gender in the Middle East | ||
| Gender, Race, Work, and Welfare | ||
| U.S. Social Justice Movements | ||
| Feminism in Western Civilization, 1790-1920 - WR | ||
| Women in the Twentieth Century in Europe and the U.S. - WR | ||
| History of American Sexualities - WR | ||
| Women in 19th-Century America - WR | ||
| Woman and Sport | ||
| Women's Health in Africa - WR | ||
| Black Women's Voices - WR | ||
| Language, Race, Class, and Gender | ||
| Feminist Theory - WR | ||
| Women in Developing Countries - WR | ||
| Women in East Asian History | ||
| Elective in Women/Gender and Race | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Black Women Novelists - D2, AH, WR | ||
| Faces of Global Poverty - WR | ||
| Black Lesbian Lives | ||
| Women in Africa: Historical and Literary Perspectives | ||
| Racism and Sexism - SB, D1 | ||
| African-American Women - WR | ||
| Color Complex of Black Women | ||
| African-American Women in Theatre - WR, AH, D1 | ||
| Black Feminism in Action | ||
| Gender, Race, Work, and Welfare | ||
| U.S. Social Justice Movements | ||
| Women's Health in Africa - WR | ||
| Black Women's Voices - WR | ||
| Southern Women: Black and White | ||
| Language, Race, Class, and Gender | ||
| Gender, Race and Culture in Health Care | ||
| Elective in Women/Gender and History | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The History of Women, 1700 to the Present | ||
| History of Childhood in America - WR, SBH, D1 | ||
| Women in Latin American History | ||
| U.S. Social Justice Movements | ||
| Feminism in Western Civilization, 1790-1920 - WR | ||
| Women in the Twentieth Century in Europe and the U.S. - WR | ||
| History of American Sexualities - WR | ||
| Women in 19th-Century America - WR | ||
| Southern Women: Black and White | ||
| Women in East Asian History | ||
| Elective in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the 300-level or above | 3 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 36 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Courses | ||
| Select either an approved A&S minor OR one of the concentration options below | 27-30 | |
| Minor Options (Choose one of the following) | ||
1. Minor in a Social Science discipline (18-21 hours) with 9 hours of electives at 300+ level in Humanities or Natural Sciences | ||
2. Minor in a Natural Science discipline (18-21 hours) with 9 hours of electives at 300+ level in Humanities or Social Sciences | ||
3. Minor in a Humanities discipline (18-21 hours) with 9 hours of electives at 300+ level in Social Sciences or Natural Sciences | ||
| Concentration Options (Choose one of the following) | ||
| 1. Concentration in Social Sciences (18 hours of Social Science electives) with 9 hours of electives at 300+ level in Natural Sciences or Humanities | ||
• At least 9 hours in a single Social Science discipline | ||
• No more than 6 hours taken at the 200-level may be counted towards the concentration | ||
• At least 12 hours must be 300+ level | ||
• Up to 6 hours in the concentration can double-count in the major | ||
| 2. Concentration in Natural Sciences (18 hours of Natural Science electives) with 9 hours of electives at 300+ level in Humanities or Social Sciences | ||
• At least 9 hours in a single Natural Science discipline | ||
• No more than 6 hours taken at the 200-level may be counted towards the concentration | ||
• At least 12 hours must be 300+ level | ||
• Up to 6 hours in the concentration can double-count in the major | ||
| 3. Concentration in Humanities (18 hours of Humanities electives) with 9 hours of electives at 300+ level in Natural Sciences or Social Sciences | ||
• At least 9 hours in a single Humanities discipline | ||
• No more than 6 hours taken at the 200-level may be counted towards the concentration | ||
• At least 12 hours must be 300+ level | ||
• Up to 6 hours in the concentration can double-count in the major | ||
| Minimum Electives | 11-14 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 41 | |
Students should consult a Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies advisor about how topics and independent study courses count in the major (see list below).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement) | ||
| Requirement fulfilled by completing: | ||
| Senior Seminar in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences - CUE, WR | ||
Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Topics/Independent Study courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WGST 390 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Humanities | 3 |
| WGST 391 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences | 3 |
| WGST 392 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences - WR | 3 |
| WGST 393 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Humanities - WR | 3 |
| WGST 490 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Humanities | 3 |
| WGST 491 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences | 3 |
| WGST 492 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences | 3 |
| WGST 493 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Humanities - WR | 3 |
| WGST 498 | Senior Honors Thesis: Social Sciences - WR | 3 |
| WGST 499 | Senior Honors Thesis: Humanities - WR | 3 |
| WGST 589 | Independent Study: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Humanities | 1-3 |
| WGST 590 | Independent Study: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies-Social Sciences | 1-3 |
| WGST 591 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences | 3 |
| WGST 592 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences - WR | 3 |
| WGST 593 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Humanities | 3 |
| WGST 594 | Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Humanities - WR | 3 |
| 1 | In addition to the Humanities courses required in the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Core |
| 2 | Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language |
| 3 | May be incorporated into other degree requirements |
| 4 | Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree. |
Flight Plan
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| WGST 201 | Women In American Culture - AH, D1 | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences Lab - SL | 1 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| WGST 203 | Gender Issues in Public Dialogue - OC, D1 | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Global Diversity - SBD2 | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Humanities elective or general elective | 3 | |
| MATH 105 | Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| WGST 199 or ENGL 102 |
Writing in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies - WC or Intermediate College Writing - WC |
3 |
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Race & Gender elective | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 1 | 3-4 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Foreign Language 2 | 3-4 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies History elective | 3 | |
| Course in minor or focus | 3 | |
| Supporting course (outside of division of minor or focus) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Humanities WR elective | 3 | |
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Social Science elective or general elective | 3 | |
| Course in minor or focus | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 3 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Social Science electives | 6 | |
| Supporting course (outside of minor or foucs) | 3 | |
| Supporting course (outside of minor or focus) | 3 | |
| Course in minor or focus | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 4 (if necessary) | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| WGST 401 | Community Internship | 3 |
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Humanities elective (400 level or above) | 3 | |
| Course in minor or focus | 3 | |
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Race & Gender Elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| WGST 500 | Senior Seminar in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences - CUE, WR | 3 |
| Course in minor or focus | 3 | |
| Course in minor or focus (if needed) or general elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Social Science elective (400 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 122-125 | |
Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan. What-if reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan. Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.
To create either report:
- Log into your ULink account.
- Click on the Academic Progress tile.
- Next, click on "View my Degree Audit" to run a Degree Audit report in the Undergraduate Advising area.
- To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
Click here to run a Degree Audit report, or create a What-if report.
Flight Planner
Based on your major, the Flight Planner tool may be available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan. The Flight Planner can be found in the ULink Student Center. Consult with your advisor for assistance with the Flight Planner.
