Academic Catalog

Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Bachelor of Arts

Kasia Bartoszynska, Assistant Professor, Department of Literatures in English, and Coordinator of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies


Women's and Gender Studies is a flexible interdisciplinary program that provides students with the opportunity for feminist study, research, internships, and community involvement. In the program, students investigate how gender and sexuality are constructed and how they interact with other social categories, such as race, class and nationality. Students can explore psychology, sociology, politics, history, literature, and art (among other disciplines) through the lens of feminist, critical race, and queer studies. Our classes promote an ongoing interrogation of power and privilege, and an understanding of how gendered inequalities are perpetuated, maintained, and subverted. We support intellectual projects and activities that foster community on our campus, and that contribute to the production of knowledge about women, gender and sexuality from an intersectional perspective. Students are able to declare a major or a minor in Women's, Gender, and Sexualities Studies. 

WGST 10000 Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (LA)

Provides a critical perspective that examines the world through the lens of gender and sexuality and encourages new ways of seeing and thinking about people and institutions. Interdisciplinary introduction to the questions, findings, methods, and theories of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies scholarship. Examines how multiple forms of feminisms have shaped the practice of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and enabled the field to increasingly recognize differences among women. Applies theory on gender and sexuality in order to analyze diverse conditions and experiences in the United States and across the world. This class is open to all interested students and is a requirement for the WGSS major and minor. (F,S,Y)
Attributes: DV, ESE
4 Credits

WGST 22000 Introduction to Queer Studies (LA)

Examines contemporary LGBTQ (also known as queer) studies, primarily from feminist/queer/trans theoretical perspectives and utilizing a social constructionist standpoint. Includes interdisciplinary and historical explorations of LGBTQ lives and practices, with a focus on intersectionality. (F,S,Y)
Attributes: CNSL, DV, ESE, HM, SO, TIDE, TPJ, WGS
4 Credits

WGST 26100 Psychology of Women (LA)

In-depth examination of the psychology of women in contemporary society. Review of the research on gender differences and consideration of the theories (social learning, psychoanalytic, and biological) that have attempted to explain the differences. Focuses on some of the central experiences of women's lives (including relationships, work, mothering, sexuality, and mental health), with particular attention to the ways in which women's psychological development differs from that of men's in a patriarchal society. Develops effective writing for different purposes and audiences, as well as oral and/or visual presentation skills. PSYC 26100 and WGST 26100 are cross-listed courses; students may not receive credit for both. Prerequisites: PSYC 10300 and PSYC 10500 (may be taken concurrently). (F,Y)
Attributes: ACS, CC, CNSL, DV, ESE, WGS, WGSC
4 Credits

WGST 28800-41000 Selected Topics: Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (LA)

Topics of current interest in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies that focus on women and gender as crucial categories of analysis, and explore their intersections with race, class, sexuality, and nation (among other social categories). Can be repeated once for a total of eight credits, when topics vary. (IRR)
Attributes: ESE, WGS, WGSI
3-4 Credits

WGST 42000 Independent Study: Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (LA)

Independent study projects are arranged individually between student and instructor. A proposal for the topic and specific plans must be approved by the coordinator of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Permission of instructor required. Prerequisites: WGST 10000. (F,S,Y)
Attributes: WGS, WGS3, WGSC, WGSI
1-4 Credits

WGST 43000 Internship: Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (NLA)

Internships are arranged individually at the student's request with individual instructors and a sponsoring agency. A learning contract for an internship must be approved by the coordinator of the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program and by the School of Humanities and Sciences dean's office. May be repeated once. Permission of instructor required. Prerequisite: WGST 10000. (F,S,Y)
Attributes: WGS, WGSC, WGSI
1-12 Credits