Major Code BA4402

Women’s and Gender Studies addresses the influence and meaning of gender in the human experience as it intersects with ethnicity, sexuality, race, and various other elements of diversity. It is a liberal arts degree that emphasizes the development of critical thinking and effective communication skills, and can be applied to a variety of careers.

The major program features a global track, a sexuality track, and a gender track. The global track focuses on the study of women and gender from an international and cross-cultural perspective. The sexuality track focuses on the study of gender and sexuality as categories of social and cultural analysis. The general track offers a variety of courses that address gender and related topics. Students graduating with a major in Women’s and Gender Studies will have the ability to understand the well-developed body of feminist theories that grounds the discipline, and the ability to apply those theories to a wide range of contexts and experiences that vary within and across sexual and global cultures. Students are encouraged to complement their major in Women’s and Gender Studies with minors in other fields and/or double majors that are consistent with their educational and professional interests.

The major program offers a number of core courses in Women’s and Gender Studies, as well as elective courses in African American studies, art history, anthropology, classics and world religions, communication studies, English, film, geography, human and consumer sciences, history, international literature: modern languages, linguistics, physical education and sports science, political science, psychology, sociology, and media arts and studies.

The Bachelor of Arts in women’s and gender studies is an interdisciplinary major program within the College of Arts and Sciences and requires the completion of all Arts and Sciences requirements.

Courses that satisfy major credit, including track requirements, may not be used to fulfill Arts and Sciences area requirements.