Women's and Gender Studies (BA)
This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2018–Spring 2019 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies (WGSTBA)
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Women's and Gender Studies
Program Information
This program can be completed in a traditional classroom format or entirely online.
Women's and gender 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.
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 | 71-83 | |
| 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 WGS
Women's and Gender Studies majors who are already thinking about pursuing an MA in Women's and Gender Studies can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master's degree. The basic idea is to take three graduate level courses/nine hours (either 500-level with the additional graduate level assignments, or 600-level) while still an undergraduate, and then have those credits apply both toward the undergraduate degree and towards an eventual master's degree from UofL.
Students in the accelerated Master of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies program may take a maximum of nine hours for graduate credit, which will also apply to the requirements for the baccalaureate degree. To be considered for admission to the Accelerated Master of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies program, students must:
- Complete an application for admission to the Women's and Gender Studies Department's Master of Arts program (including GRE scores, 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 and Gender Studies GPA of 3.35, and meet all other requirements for admission to the Women's and Gender Studies Department's Master of Arts program.
Students must retain a 3.35 GPA in Women's and Gender Studies during their senior year to remain in the program. Once admitted to the accelerated BA/MA program and starting the graduate work, students are expected to maintain a full graduate load of 9 credit hours.
Students in the accelerated BA/MA program must meet all of the MA requirements including receiving at least 18 of their 36-hour program in 600-level, courses.
Departmental Admission Requirements
Admission to the BA in Women’s and Gender 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: louisville.edu/artsandsciences/advising/apply.
Accelerated BA-BS/MA in WGS
Interested students should apply for entry into the accelerated program no later than the end of their Junior year.
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 - D1, SB | ||
| 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 Orientation | 1 |
| or GEN 101 | Arts and Sciences Orientation | |
| 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 and Gender Studies Core Courses | ||
| WGST 201 | Women In American Culture - D1, SB | 3 |
| WGST 401 | Community Internship | 3 |
| WGST 500 | Senior Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: Social Sciences - CUE | 3 |
| Women's and Gender Studies Humanities Electives | ||
| Select 3 courses, of which one must be at the 400+ level: | 9 | |
| Gender Issues in Public Dialogue - D1, OC | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy through Cultural Diversity - AH, D2 | ||
| Humanities and Gender - AH, D2 | ||
| Women in Music: A History - AH, D1 | ||
| Women and Global Literature - AH, D2 | ||
| Gender and Children's Literature - AH, D1 | ||
| Women and Religion | ||
| Black Women Novelists - AH, D2, 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 - AH, D1, WR | ||
| Women, Media and Culture - AH, D1 | ||
| 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 and Gender Studies Social Science Electives | ||
| Select 3 courses, of which one must be at the 400+ level: | 9 | |
| 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 - D1, SBH, WR | ||
| Women in Latin American History | ||
| Faces of Global Poverty - WR | ||
| Black Lesbian Lives | ||
| Racism and Sexism - D1, SB | ||
| African-American Women - WR | ||
| Color Complex of Black Women | ||
| Women in American Politics | ||
| Women's Health Issues - D1, SB | ||
| Lectures in Women's and Gender 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 | ||
| American Woman in Sports | ||
| 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 one of the following: | 3 | |
| Black Women Novelists - AH, D2, WR | ||
| Faces of Global Poverty - WR | ||
| Black Lesbian Lives | ||
| Women in Africa: Historical and Literary Perspectives | ||
| Racism and Sexism - D1, SB | ||
| African-American Women - WR | ||
| Color Complex of Black Women | ||
| African-American Women in Theatre - AH, D1, WR | ||
| 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 - D1, SBH, WR | ||
| 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 and Gender Studies at the 300-level or above | 3 | |
| Supporting Courses | ||
| Select one set: | 27-33 | |
Set 1: Minor in a Social Science discipline (18-21 hours) with electives at 300+ in Humanities or Natural Sciences (9 hours) OR focus in Social Sciences (18 hours, 200+ level, of Social Science electives). 12 hours must be 300+; at least 9 hours in a single Social Science discipline; only 6 hours in the Social Science focus can double-count in the major. Electives at 300+ in Humanities or Natural Sciences (9 hours). | ||
Set 2: Minor in a Natural Science discipline (18-22 hours) with electives at 300+ in Social Sciences or Humanities (9 hours) OR focus in Natural Sciences (18 hours, 200+ level of Natural Science electives). 12 hours must be 300+; at least 9 hours in a single Natural Science discipline; only 6 hours in the Natural Science focus can double-count in the major. Electives at 300+ in Humanities or Social Sciences (9 hours). | ||
Set 3: Minor in a Humanities discipline (18-24 hours) with electives at 300+ in Social Sciences or Natural Sciences (9 hours) OR focus in Humanities (18 hours, 200+ level of Humanities electives). 12 hours must be 300+; at least 9 hours in a single Humanities discipline; only 6 hours in the Humanities focus can double-count in the major. Electives at 300+ in Social Sciences or Natural Sciences (9 hours). | ||
| Minimum electives 4 | 8-14 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 71-83 | |
Students should consult a WGST 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 and Gender Studies: Social Sciences - CUE | ||
WGST Topics/Independent Study courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WGST 390 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Humanities | 3 |
| WGST 391 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Social Sciences | 3 |
| WGST 392 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Social Sciences (WR) - WR | 3 |
| WGST 393 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Humanities (WR) - WR | 3 |
| WGST 490 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Humanities | 3 |
| WGST 491 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Social Sciences | 3 |
| WGST 492 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Social Sciences (WR) | 3 |
| WGST 493 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Humanities (WR) - WR | 3 |
| WGST 498 | Senior Honors Thesis: Social Sciences - WR | 3 |
| WGST 499 | Senior Honors Thesis: Humanities (WR) - WR | 3 |
| WGST 589 | Independent Study: Women's and Gender Studies: Humanities | 1-3 |
| WGST 590 | Independent Study: Women's and Gender Studies: Social Sciences | 1-3 |
| WGST 591 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Social Sciences | 3 |
| WGST 592 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Social Sciences (WR) - WR | 3 |
| WGST 593 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Humanities | 3 |
| WGST 594 | Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Humanities (WR) - WR | 3 |
| 1 | In addition to the Humanities courses required in the WGST 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 Orientation or Arts and Sciences Orientation |
1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| WGST 201 | Women In American Culture - D1, SB | 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 - D1, OC | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Global Diversity - SBD2 | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| Women's and Gender Studies Humanities elective | 3 | |
| MATH 105 | Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| WGST 199 | Writing in Women's and Gender Studies - WC | 3 |
| Women's and Gender 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 | ||
| Hours | 12-13 | |
| Spring | ||
| Foreign Language 2 | 3-4 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Women's and Gender 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 and Gender Studies elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Women's and Gender Studies Humanities WR elective | 3 | |
| Women's and Gender Studies Social Science elective | 3 | |
| Course in minor or focus | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 3 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Women's and Gender Studies Social Science elective | 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 |
| WGST 500 | Senior Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: Social Sciences - CUE | 3 |
| Women's and Gender Studies Humanities elective (400 level or above) | 3 | |
| Course in minor or focus | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Course in minor or focus | 3 | |
| Course in minor or focus (if needed) or general elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 9 | |
| Women's and Gender Studies Social Science elective (400 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 122-125 | |
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. For both reports, please consult with your advisor before editing your course schedule.
To create either report:
- Log into your ULink account.
- Click on the Student Services tab.
- Next, click on "View my Academic Advisement Report" 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.
