B.S. in Women's and Gender Studies

The Women’s and Gender Studies Program is a cross-disciplinary program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The program invites students to examine gender across time, place, culture, and academic disciplines. WGS courses provide students with an understanding of women’s history, gender theories, and social structures. Students learn through research, discussion, and application that interrelated factors — e.g., race, ethnicity, class, age, disability, gender identity, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation — inform their understanding of women’s history, culture, and social roles. As a cross-disciplinary program, students take core courses in WGS and complete their major by choosing courses from areas that most interest them, including sociology, psychology, history, political science, English and communication, world languages, philosophy and religion, biology, art, and design. Students can tailor their coursework to the aspects of gender that fit their interests and career goals. Students acquire knowledge and skills relevant to careers in various fields, including social work, counseling, healthcare, nonprofit administration and advocacy, education, government, business, law, media, and the arts. By gaining a strong foundation in gender theories, an understanding of human experiences and social structures, and the ability to apply their knowledge in the real world, WGS graduates are well-prepared to contribute to their communities and workplaces. The major prepares students to work effectively with employers, colleagues, and clients by developing their ability to think critically, understand diverse perspectives, question assumptions, conduct thorough research, think creatively, and communicate effectively.

High school GPA requirement: Equivalent to a minimum 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. For more information on equivalency calculations. Core course requirements: Along with the GPA requirement, students must complete a minimum set of high school core courses, including four years of English (or their native language), three years of science with at least two years of laboratory science in biology, chemistry, and/or physics, three years of mathematics including algebra and geometry, and two years of social studies.