Campuses:
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Duluth Campus
Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies B.A.Justice Culture Social Change
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
This program is an interdisciplinary field that includes the study of: 1) the experiences, conditions, and social realities of women of different races, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, classes, abilities, and sexual orientations in a global context; 2) the ways in which gender distinctions and the construction and intersection of gender, sexuality, race, and class have affected human lives, and 3) feminist scholarship.
Academically, the program seeks to provide students with a solid background in knowledge about gender, sexuality, race, class, and international issues; feminist analysis; critical thinking; and oral and written communication; and actively engage students in the generation of new knowledge and areas of inquiry. The program aims to prepare students for meaningful participation and contribution in an inclusive and diverse society, to be local, national, and global citizens, and to participate effectively and contribute meaningfully in a diverse workplace. Finally, the program intends to provide a nurturing environment for the whole person to help each student find their own strengths, gifts, and path, as well as to raise awareness about the way that path concerns and connects with others in local and global contexts.
Students find meaningful work in a variety of fields, including work with non-profits, international agencies, peace and justice organizations, LGBTQ rights organizations, medicine and midwifery, public health, social work, education, law, business, and the arts.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
Program Requirements
1. A second field of study (either a minor, another major, or dual degree). Students majoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and minoring in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies must declare a third field of study (either another major, minor or dual degree). This addresses the overlapping of courses across programs.
2. Advanced writing requirement: WRIT 31xx must be completed before taking WS 4000.
3. Global experience is a UMD goal for all students, international study is encouraged. Talk with an academic or faculty advisor to explore academic options for fulfilling your degree requirements through study abroad.
Learning in Community (1 cr)
The Learning in Community requirement will be waived for transfer students with at least 30 credits taken post-high school, and for UMD students who started in a UMD program where this was not required. First-year students who have completed 30 PSEO credits may request a waiver to the student’s primary college.
UST 1000 - Learning in Community
(1.0-2.0 cr)
or
EHS 1000 - Into the World
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
or
ES 1000 - Global Cultural Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
or
LING 1000 - Language and Culture in the U.S. What does it Mean to Speak American
[CDIVERSITY]
(3.0 cr)
or
PSY 1100 - Living Your Best Life: Applying Positive Psychology
[CDIVERSITY]
(3.0 cr)
Advanced Writing (3 cr)
Advanced writing requirement must be completed before taking WS 4000.
WRIT 31xx - Adv Writing (3 cr)
Electives (18 cr)
Take 6 or more course(s) totaling 18 or more credit(s) from the following:
Take 4 or more course(s) from the following:
·
WS 3002 - Latin American Women: Culture and Politics
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3150 - Women-Identified Culture
[CDIVERSITY]
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3156 - Feminist Research Methods Across Disciplines
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3200 - Women's Autobiographies
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3300 - Women and Spirituality
[HUMANITIES, CDIVERSITY]
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3350 - Women and the Law
[CDIVERSITY]
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3400 - Women and Film
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3595 - Special Topics: (Various Titles to be Assigned)
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3600 - Ecofeminism: Theories and Sustainable Practices
[SUSTAIN]
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3750 - Voices of African Women
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3775 - Gender, Globalization and Food
[SUSTAIN]
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3800 - Feminist Activism and Community Organizing
(4.0 cr)
·
WS 5595 - Special Topics: (Various Titles to Be Assigned)
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3080 - Cultural Constructions of the Body
(4.0 cr)
or
ANTH 3080 - Cultural Constructions of the Body
(4.0 cr)
·
WS 3455 - American Indian Women
[CDIVERSITY]
(3.0 cr)
or
AMIN 3450 - American Indian Women
[CDIVERSITY]
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3628 - Women in Cross-Cultural Perspective
(3.0 cr)
or
ANTH 3628 - Women in Cross-Cultural Perspective
(3.0 cr)
·
WS 3xxx-4xxx
·
Optional Experience (consent required)
Take 0 - 9 credit(s) from the following:
·
WS 3891 - Independent Study
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
WS 3897 - Internship
(1.0-9.0 cr)
·
WS 5897 - Teaching Internship
(1.0-2.0 cr)
·
WS 5991 - Independent Study
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
Optional Related Electives
Take 0 - 2 course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3140 - Women in Art/Visual Culture in Latin America
(3.0 cr)
·
HLTH 3118 - Women's Health Issues
(3.0 cr)
·
LGBT 3000 - Queer Theory
(3.0 cr)
·
LGBT 3151 - Queer Cinema in International Perspective
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
·
LGBT 3152 - History of the International Homosexual Rights Movement (1895 - present)
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
·
LGBT 3153 - Queer Media
[CDIVERSITY]
(3.0 cr)
·
POL 3040 - Women and Politics
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3215 - Topics in Human Sexuality
(3.0 cr)
·
LGBT 3xxx
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Credits: | 1.0 -2.0 [max 2.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EHS 1000/UST 1000/ ES 1000 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EHS 1000/UST 1000/ ES 1000 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ANTH 3080/WS 3080 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ANTH 3080/WS 3080 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AMIN 3450/WS 3455 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AMIN 3450/WS 3455 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ANTH 3628/WS 3628 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ANTH 3628/WS 3628 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CRIM 4323/WS 4323 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CRIM 4323/WS 4323 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Soc 4925/WS 4925 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Soc 4925/WS 4925 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Soc 4947/WS 4947 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Soc 4947/WS 4947 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -9.0 [max 9.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -2.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3215/3216 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |