The Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major consists of 28 credits of required courses and 18-20 credits of elective courses in the social sciences and arts/humanities offered across eleven different departments; special topics courses, cooperative education, and individual credits can also count towards electives.

To view detailed requirements of the major or minor of any catalog year, please see the university catalog for the appropriate year here.

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Major Requirements

I. Core courses: 28 credits

A. WGSS 201: Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (5 cr.)
B. WGSS 250: Introduction to Queer Studies (5 cr.)
C. WGSS 326 Intersections of Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality (5 cr.)
D. WGSS 340 Gender and Sexuality in a Global Context (5 cr.)
E. WGSS 351 Feminist Theory (5 cr.)
F. WGSS 489 Senior Capstone (3 cr.)

II. Elective Credits requirements: 18-20 credits

WGSS elective credits must include at least two courses from the Social/Natural Science division and two courses from the Humanities/Arts, Education and Professional Studies division with no more than 10 credits from any one discipline

Courses by Division

 Humanities/Arts, Education and Professional Studies

ENG 335     Women’s Literature

ENG 337     Gender, Sexuality, and LGBTQ+ Literatures

COM 402    Gender Communication
HIST 334    History of Gender & Sexuality in Africa from Pre-colonial Times to Present
HIST 344    American Manhood in Historical Perspective
HED 488     Sexual Health
PHIL 325    Women and Philosophy

PUBH 420  Women's Health Issues

PUBH 448  Sexual Health

RELS 376  Women and Western Religious Tradition

TH 377       Staging Gender

 Social/Natural Sciences

ANTH 356   Gender Roles in Cross-Cultural Perspectives.
ANTH 384   Language and Gender
LAJ 403      Sexual Minorities the Law and Social Justice
LAJ 453      Domestic Violence Issues
POSC 311   Women and Politics
PSY 312      Queer Theory and Sexuality
PSY 483      Psychology of Gender
SOC 348      Women and Crime
SOC 356      Sociology of Gender
SOC 357      Sociology of Families
SOC 358      Sociology of Sexualities
SOC 359      U.S. Feminist Movements

Total Credits:  46-48

Application Form:  Online Webform