Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minors
The WGSS Program offers two tracks of study for the minor, and there are a variety of electives to choose from including Queer Politics, Philosophy of Race and Gender and Global Postcolonial Literature and Film.
Explore the WGSS Minors
WGSS Minor
The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor focuses on the foundational ideas behind feminist theory and gender politics, incorporating electives in literature, political science and philosophy.
LGBT and Sexuality Studies Minor
The LGBT and sexuality studies minor encourages students to consider key social and academic issues through the lens of LGBT and sexuality theory and applied research.
"WGSS invited me to engage in nuanced conversations about women, gender, and sexuality. The coursework shined a light on stories surrounding gender and sex that I plan to share with my double major in journalism."
Halley Brown
BA '19
WGSS Minor Course Requirements
The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor focuses on the foundational ideas behind feminist theory, gender politics and literature.
The following requirements must be fulfilled: 18 credits, including 6 credits in required courses and 12 credits in elective courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| WGSS 2120 | Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | |
| or WGSS 2120W | Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | |
| WGSS 2125 | Varieties of Feminist Theory | |
| or AMST 2125 | Varieties of Feminist Theory | |
| Electives | ||
| Four additional courses (12 credits), which may include WGSS courses, any of the courses listed below, or courses approved by an advisor. At least three courses (9 credits) must be at the 2000-level or above. | ||
| AMST 3352W | U.S. Women's History to 1865 | |
| ENGL 2710 | Postcolonialism, Race, and Gender in Global Anglophone Literature and Film | |
| or ENGL 2710W | Postcolonialism, Race, and Gender in Global Anglophone Literature and Film | |
| ENGL 3560 | American Realism | |
| or ENGL 3560W | American Realism | |
| ENGL 3730 | Topics in Global Postcolonial Literature and Film | |
| or ENGL 3730W | Topics in Global Postcolonial Literature and Film | |
| ENGL 3840 | Gender and Literature | |
| or ENGL 3840W | Gender and Literature | |
| ENGL 3980 | Queer Studies | |
| or ENGL 3980W | Queer Studies | |
| HIST 3101 | Topics: Europe | |
| PHIL 2125 | Philosophy of Race and Gender | |
| or PHIL 2125W | Philosophy of Race and Gender | |
| PSC 2225 | Women and Politics | |
| PSYC 2550 | Psychology of Sex and Gender | |
| PUBH 6550 | Maternal and Child Health I | |
| SPAN 3570 | Women Writers of Spain and Latin America | |
| SOC 2175 | Sociology of Sex and Gender | |
| WGSS 1020 | Approaches to Women's History | |
| or HIST 1020 | Approaches to Women's History | |
| WGSS 2135 | A Study of Women and Media | |
| WGSS 2121 | The Anthropology of Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspectives | |
| or ANTH 2501 | The Anthropology of Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspectives | |
| WGSS 2380 | Sexuality in U.S. History | |
| or AMST 2380 | Sexuality in U.S. History | |
| or HIST 2380 | Sexuality in U.S. History | |
| WGSS 2385 | Sex and Citizenship | |
| or AMST 2385W | Sex and Citizenship | |
| WGSS 3136 | Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film | |
| or WGSS 3136W | Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film | |
| or CHIN 3136W | Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film | |
| WGSS 3352 | U.S. Women's History to 1865 | |
| or WGSS 3352W | U.S. Women's History to 1865 | |
| or AMST 3352 | U.S. Women's History to 1865 | |
| or HIST 3352 | U.S. Women's History to 1865 | |
| or HIST 3352W | U.S. Women's History to 1865 | |
| WGSS 3353 | U.S. Women's History II | |
| or AMST 3353 | U.S. Women's History II | |
| WGSS 3362 | African American Women's History | |
| or WGSS 3362W | African American Women's History | |
| or AMST 3362 | African American Women's History | |
| or AMST 3362W | African American Women's History | |
| or HIST 3362 | African American Women’s History | |
| or HIST 3362W | African American Women’s History | |
| WGSS 3410 | Lesbian History and Culture | |
| WGSS 3435 | Queer Politics | |
| WGSS 3470 | Sexuality and the Law | |
| WGSS 3481 | Women in Islam | |
| or REL 3481 | Women in Islam | |
| WGSS 3530 | Women in Africa | |
| or HIST 3530 | Women in Africa | |
| WGSS 3820 | Global Domestic Labor | |
| WGSS 3845 | Global Women's Prison | |
| WGSS 3881 | Women, Gender, and Religion in China | |
| or EALL 3881 | Women, Gender, and Religion in China | |
| or REL 3881 | Women, Gender, and Religion in China | |
| WGSS 3981 | Women in Western Religion | |
| or REL 2981 | Women and Religion | |
| WGSS 4183 | Practicum in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | |
The following requirement must be fulfilled: 18 credits in elective courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| At least two courses (6 credits) from the following: | ||
| WGSS 2120 | Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | |
| or WGSS 2120W | Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | |
| WGSS 2380 | Sexuality in U.S. History | |
| or AMST 2380 | Sexuality in U.S. History | |
| or HIST 2380 | Sexuality in U.S. History | |
| ENGL 3830 | Topics in Literary Theory and Cultural Studies | |
| or ENGL 3830W | Topics in Literary Theory and Cultural Studies | |
| ENGL 3980 | Queer Studies | |
| or ENGL 3980W | Queer Studies | |
| Four additional courses (12 credits) chosen from the courses listed above or from the following: | ||
| ENGL 3840 | Gender and Literature | |
| or ENGL 3840W | Gender and Literature | |
| PHIL 2125 | Philosophy of Race and Gender | |
| or PHIL 2125W | Philosophy of Race and Gender | |
| PSYC 2550 | Psychology of Sex and Gender | |
| SOC 2175 | Sociology of Sex and Gender * | |
| WSTU 2121 | ||
| or ANTH 2501 | The Anthropology of Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspectives | |
| WGSS 3410 | Lesbian History and Culture | |
| WGSS 3435 | Queer Politics | |
| WGSS 3470 | Sexuality and the Law | |
*Course requires prerequisites or permission of instructor.
Note: No more than two courses (6 credits) may count towards a student's major and the LGBT and sexuality studies minor.