The Gender Studies Major

Gender studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that draws on feminist, gender, and queer theories and scholarship to analyze the experiences, perspectives, and contributions of women, men, and intersexed people and systems of gender relations in various cultural settings and time periods. The gender studies major is a multidisciplinary program that involves students in the exporation of topics such as the social construction and role of gender within various societies, women's historical and contemporary experiences, and multiple social identities.

Completion of the major strengthens students' preparation for further work in fields including gender studies, women's studies, law, public and international affairs, social sciences, the humanities, communications, and the arts. Through the major, students also gain a foundation for understanding the social, intellectual, and political forces that shape their personal and professional lives. The major leads to a bachelor of arts degree..

Students majoring in gender studies must successfully complete nine courses, at least three of which must be at the 300 level, for a total of at least thirty credit hours, including:

1. Introduction to Gender Studies. This requirement may be fulfilled in one of two ways:
   
   
   1. GW101, Introduction to Gender Studies
      
      
   2. In exceptional cases and only with permission of the director of the Gender Studies Program, two entry-level courses in the gender studies curriculum in different areas (social sciences, humanities, or the sciences). Students who take this option must successfully complete ten courses for the major.
      
      
2. GW201, Feminist Theories and Methodologies. Prerequisite: GW101.
   
   
3. At least one course from the gender studies curriculum which includes the analysis of the intersection of gender and race. This category includes courses with a non-Western focus (e.g., "Issues of Gender in African Art," "Women in the Global Economy") as well as those that deal centrally with culturally diverse groups within the United States and elsewhere (AM342, GW227, HI228, MB336H, RE220, SO203, SO316, SO331).
   
   
4. Five additional courses in the gender studies curriculum. These courses must reflect the interdisciplinary nature of ender studies by drawing from at least three different disciplines. Students select their courses in consultation with their advisor so as to constitute both breadth and depth.
   
   
5. W375: Senior Seminar in Gender Studies. Prerequisites: GW101 and GW201.
   

HONORS: Students desiring honors in Gender Studies must meet the requisite grade-point average and must complete a senior thesis under the supervision of a gender studies faculty member that receives at least an A-, and is approved for honors by the faculty on the Gender Studies Advisory Board.