Women's and Gender Studies (Minor)

Faculty: Scott (Director), Adams, Browne, Etaugh (emerita), Fry, Gabor, Glassmeyer, Glover, Hawkins, Herbert, Hogan, Keist, Lalama, Lambie, Linn, Marcum, McQuerry, Metzger, Netzley, Portocarrero, Reed, Rios, Russell, San Juan, Schifeling, Toxqui, Whetstone, Williams, Worley.

Women's and Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary program that takes gender as its central category of analysis in the examination of social, cultural, economic, and representational systems. Coursework focuses on the social construction of gender identity, gender relations, and gender systems, emphasizing how gender intersects with race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, nationality, and ability. The program provides undergraduate research opportunities—culminating in the directed research capstone—community-engaged learning, and pathways for networking, internships, and professional development.

Learning Objectives

Students completing the minor will:

1. Integrate knowledge about gender into scholarship across disciplines and professions through engagement with feminist theories and practices;
2. Analyze how gender operates as foundational to social, cultural, economic, and representational systems;
3. Apply analytical frameworks to understand how gender interacts with race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, nationality, and ability;
4. Examine representations and lived experiences of gender in local, national, and global contexts;
5. Practice intergroup dialogue methodologies and facilitation skills;
6. Employ critical social research methodologies;
7. Complete an undergraduate research project in Women's and Gender Studies;
8. Connect coursework to professional and civic engagement through internships or community partnerships.

Minor Requirements

15 hours required; minimum GPA of 2.00

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
WGS 200	Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies	3.0
WGS 400	Directed Research in Women's and Gender Studies	3.0
Approved Electives 1		9.0
Select at least 3 hours at the 300-400 level with additional 6 hours at any level.
ART 490	Art Seminar (Gender in Art)
ART 490	Art Seminar (Women in Art)
BLW 446	Employment Law
COM 386	Media, Race, & Gender
ENG 129	Introduction to African American Literature
ENG 190	Women in Literature
ENG 331	Women Writers
ENG 347	Shakespeare
HIS 304	Women in American History
HIS 315	U.S. Social Movements
HIS 317	American Masculinities
HIS 339	Women in Global Perspective
HIS 382	European Women, Gender, and Sexuality Since 1600
NPL 381	Seminar in Leadership
NUR 217	Men's Health Issues
NUR 219	Women and Health
NUR 376
PLS 493	Seminar in Political Theory
PSY 300	Psychology of Women
PSY 309	Human Sexuality
SOC 300	Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective
SOC 311	Families in Cross-Cultural Perspective
SOC 313	Race, Ethnicity, and Power
SOC 315	Gender and Society
WGS 300	Internship in Women's and Gender Studies
WLS 345	Women's Voices of Latin America
WLS 346	Women's Voices of Spain
Total Hours		15

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This list is representative rather than exhaustive. Students are encouraged to consult with the program director about additional coursework that engages gender as a category of analysis.