The Women's and Gender Studies minor emphasizes intersectional approaches to the study of gender, race, class, ethnicity, and sexuality in national and transnational contexts. Course offerings examine social constructions of sex and gender and provide students with an opportunity to learn about women's historical and contemporary roles, gain a working knowledge of interdisciplinary feminist scholarship, and reflect critically on their life experiences as shaped by gender and other forms of diversity. Courses are drawn from various departments and schools, including Anthropology, Art, Communication and Media, Criminal Justice, Film, English, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Nursing, Social Work, Sociology, Theater, and the Women's and Gender Studies Program. Subcategories of focus include feminist theories, girl studies, queer studies, and global and transnational issues.
Minor Admission Requirements
Minor Requirements
- Students cannot earn both the minor in Women's and Gender Studies and the Certificate on Gender Studies.
Prerequisite Courses
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
12 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- WST3015 - Introduction to Women's Studies (3)
- WST3603 - Introduction to Gender Studies (3)
- Complete at least 2 of the following:
- WST3522 - First and Second Wave Feminisms (3)
- WST3561 - Third Wave Feminisms (3)
- WST3621 - Theories of Masculinity (3)
- WST4415 - Global and Transnational Feminism (3)
- LIT4554 - Advanced Feminist Theories (3)
- PHM3123 - Feminist Theories (3)
- WST3020 - Girls' Studies (3)
- WST3460 - Women, Race and Struggle (3)
- HUM4823 - Queer Theory in the Humanities (3)
- HUM3326 - Theories of Sex and Gender in Humanities (3)
- * From the second list, one course must be a WST prefixed course.
Restricted Electives
6 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
- Students should complete at least one of their two Elective courses from outside their major. Students may count additional courses from the Theories Group above as electives toward the minor. Course substitutions, internship, independent study, or Special Topics credit may be applied to the minor only with the approval of the program director. No more than one 2000-level course will count toward the minor.
- A list of approved restricted elective courses is found in the myKnight audit.
Women's Studies Disciplinary Approaches- Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
- WST3371 - Women and Leadership (3)
- WST3500 - Gender Issues and Community Activism (3)
- WST4002 - Research in Women and Gender Studies (3)
- WST4349 - Ecofeminism (3)
- WST4023 - Virtual Girls (3)
- WST4022 - Girls and the Body (3)
Women's History- Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
- AMH3561 - Women in American History I (3)
- AMH3562 - Women in American History II (3)
- ASH4304 - Women in China (3)
- EUH4610 - Women in European Society: From Medieval to Modern (3)
- AMH4680 - Women in American Science (3)
- JST3510 - Notable Women in Jewish History (3)
Representations of Women- Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
- AML3283 - Contemporary American Women's Fiction (3)
- ARH4871 - Women in Art (3)
- COM4014 - Gender Issues in Communication (3)
- COM4461 - Intercultural Communication (3)
- FIL3880C - Images of Women in Film (3)
- LIT3383 - Women in Literature (3)
- LIT3823 - Hispanic Women Writers (3)
- LIT3381 - Women Writers of Color (3)
- AML3286 - Early American Women's Words (3)
- ENC4374 - Gendered Rhetorics (3)
- THE3272 - Shakespeare to RuPaul: Drag in Entertainment (3)
- FRW4380 - Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales to Ex-Machina (3)
Women's Wellness- Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
- CLP3184 - Women's Mental Health (3)
- NSP4425 - Women's Health Issues (3)
- SOP3742 - Psychology of Women (3)
Gender and Social Policy- Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
- ANT3302 - Sex, Gender and Culture (3)
- CCJ4670 - Women and Crime (3)
- CCJ4681 - Domestic Violence and the Justice System (3)
- CPO4710 - Women in Comparative Politics (3)
- INR4085 - Women, Gender, and Globalization (3)
- PUP4323 - Women and Public Policy (3)
- SYD4810 - Women in Contemporary Society (3)
- SYD4813 - Women, Law and Social Change (3)
- SYO4100 - Family Trends (3)
- SYD3800 - Sex and Gender in Society (3)
- SYP3060 - Sociology of Sex and Reproduction (3)
- PHI3629 - Family Values (3)
- PHM3020 - Philosophy of Love (3)
Grand Total Credits: 18