Women’s and Gender Studies Major

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

BA Degree

The WGS major requires 36 credits that are completed in the following way:

Requirements

Core Courses: 15 credits

Students must complete the core course WGS 101, WGS 201, WGS 312, and WGS 499. In addition, students must compelte ONE of the four Upper-Level Feminist Theory courses (WGS 302, WGS 305, WGS 306, WGS 307).

WGS 101 - Intro to Women’s and Gender Studies Credits: 3
WGS 201 - Introduction to Feminist Theory Credits: 3 (Note: this course is recommended as a prerequisite for upper-level feminst theory core courses.)
Upper-Level Feminist Theory Course (choose ONE of the following four courses): Credits / Units: 3
WGS 302 - Global Feminism Credits: 3
WGS 305 - Contemp Feminist Theory Credits: 3
WGS 306 - Third Wave Feminism Credits: 3
WGS 307 - Ecofeminism:Philosophy & Practice Credits: 3
WGS 312 - Feminist Research Methods Credits: 3
WGS 499 - Women’s and Gender Studies Capstone Credits: 3

Concentration-Specific Requirements - 12 credits

Students will be required to complete at least one course in each of the Women’s and Gender Studies’ four areas of concentration:

Gender Studies

Choose one:

WGS 104 - Identities: Gender, Race, Sexuality Credits: 3
WGS 200 - Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 210 - Special Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies. Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 260 - Gender and Sexuality in Lusophone Literatures Credits: 3
WGS 300 - Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 301 - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Identity Credits: 3
WGS 316 - Gender in Medieval & Early Modern Europe Credits: 3
WGS 319 - Gender Variation and Sexual Orientation across Cultures Credits: 3
WGS 325 - Sex, Marriage, and Family Credits: 3 (Dependent on instructor)
WGS 350 - Readings in Sociological & Anthropological Lit Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 359 - Men and Masculinities Credits: 3
WGS 366 - Race, Class, Gender and Ethnicity in the Media Credits: 3 (Dependent on instructor)
WGS 370 - Women, Writing, and the Media Credits: 3
WGS 375 - Psych of Sex Differences Credits: 3
WGS 376 - Women and Sexualities across Cultures Credits: 3
WGS 380 - Feminist Perspectives on Art History Credits: 3
WGS 391 - Topics African History Credits: 3
WGS 490 - Special Topics Credits: 3
WGS 495 - Independent Study Credits: variable; 1.00 to 6.00

Politics, Justice, and Policy

Choose one:

WGS 103 - Cities, Minorities, and Poverty Credits: 3
WGS 200 - Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 202 - Women’s Health and Environment Credits: 3
WGS 208 - Global Perspectives Credits: 3
WGS 210 - Special Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies. Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 213 - Sex Workers, Nannies, and Maids Credits: 3
WGS 216 - Politics of the Social Safety Net Credits: 3
WGS 300 - Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 302 - Global Feminism Credits: 3 (Applies to concentration area when not taken as a core requirement)
WGS 305 - Contemp Feminist Theory Credits: 3 (Applies to concentration area when not taken as a core requirement)
WGS 306 - Third Wave Feminism Credits: 3 (Applies to concentration area when not taken as a core requirement)
WGS 307 - Ecofeminism:Philosophy & Practice Credits: 3 (Applies to concentration area when not taken as a core requirement)
WGS 310 - America’s Working Women Credits: 3
WGS 321 - Women, Crime, and the Law Credits: 3
WGS 325 - Sex, Marriage, and Family Credits: 3 (Dependent on instructor)
WGS 327 - Witchcraft, Magic & Religion Credits: 3 (Dependent on instructor)
WGS 332 - Sex Roles and Politics Credits: 3
WGS 336 - Gender, Policy, and Social Justice Credits: 3
WGS 339 - Women and Public Policy Credits: 3
WGS 344 - The Economics of Sex and Race Discrimination Credits: 3
WGS 350 - Readings in Sociological & Anthropological Lit Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 352 - Disposable Women Credits: 3
WGS 365 - Women, Girls, and Social Control Credits: 3
WGS 369 - Global Women’s Health and Activism Credits: 3
WGS 399 - Women’s Studies Internship Credits: 3
WGS 445 - Seminar: Women and Politics Credits: 3
WGS 490 - Special Topics Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 495 - Independent Study Credits: variable; 1.00 to 6.00

Cross-Cultural Inquiry

Choose one:

WGS 200 - Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 208 - Global Perspectives Credits: 3
WGS 210 - Special Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies. Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 213 - Sex Workers, Nannies, and Maids Credits: 3
WGS 260 - Gender and Sexuality in Lusophone Literatures Credits: 3
WGS 270 - Latin American Civ Credits: 3
WGS 300 - Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 302 - Global Feminism Credits: 3 (Applies to concentration area when not taken as a core requirement)
WGS 317 - Hist of European Women Credits: 3
WGS 319 - Gender Variation and Sexual Orientation across Cultures Credits: 3
WGS 333 - Mothers and Daughters Credits: 3
WGS 347 - Special Topics in Women’s Literature Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 350 - Readings in Sociological & Anthropological Lit Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 352 - Disposable Women Credits: 3
WGS 362 - Women in World History Credits: 3
WGS 364 - Soc&Cult Hist of Russia Credits: 3
WGS 369 - Global Women’s Health and Activism Credits: 3
WGS 371 - Gender and Society in Brazilian Cinema Credits: 3
WGS 376 - Women and Sexualities across Cultures Credits: 3
WGS 391 - Topics African History Credits: 3
WGS 402 - Seminar:European History Credits: 3 (Content/Instructor-Dependent)
WGS 403 - Seminar:World History Credits: 3 (Content/Instructor-Dependent)
WGS 490 - Special Topics Credits: 3
WGS 495 - Independent Study Credits: variable; 1.00 to 6.00

Arts and Letters

Choose one:

WGS 200 - Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 209 - U.S. Women’s History:Colonies-Present Credits: 3
WGS 210 - Special Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies. Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 212 - Case of Lizzie Borden Credits: 3
WGS 214 - African American Literature Credits: 3
WGS 246 - Women Writers Credits: 3
WGS 260 - Gender and Sexuality in Lusophone Literatures Credits: 3
WGS 270 - Latin American Civ Credits: 3
WGS 300 - Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 316 - Gender in Medieval & Early Modern Europe Credits: 3
WGS 317 - Hist of European Women Credits: 3
WGS 318 - Women’s Biog & Autobiog Credits: 3
WGS 323 - Women, Film and Popular Culture Credits: 3
WGS 328 - Survey of African American Literature I Credits: 3
WGS 329 - Survey of African American Literature II Credits: 3
WGS 347 - Special Topics in Women’s Literature Credits: 3
WGS 348 - American Women Playwrights Credits: 3
WGS 362 - Women in World History Credits: 3
WGS 364 - Soc&Cult Hist of Russia Credits: 3
WGS 368 - History of Feminist Thought Credits: 3
WGS 370 - Women, Writing, and the Media Credits: 3
WGS 380 - Feminist Perspectives on Art History Credits: 3
WGS 391 - Topics African History Credits: 3
WGS 402 - Seminar:European History Credits: 3 (Content/Instructor-Dependent)
WGS 403 - Seminar:World History Credits: 3 (Content/Instructor-Dependent)
WGS 421 - Sem:American Lit Theme Credits: 3
WGS 490 - Special Topics Credits: 3
WGS 495 - Independent Study Credits: variable; 1.00 to 6.00

Specialization Requirement - 6 credits

Students will be required to complete at least two additional courses (a total of six credits) in one of the four concentration areas: Gender Studies; Politics, Justice, and Policy; Cross-Cultural Inquiry; Arts and Letters.

Elective - 3 credits

Choose one elective course in any of the four areas of concentration or in feminist theory, or an internship (WMS 399).

Total credits: 36

Note: Seven of the twelve required courses must be upper-level courses (300/400-level).

University Studies Requirements

In addition to the requirements in the major, students will be required to complete the University Studies requirements. For more information: http://www.umassd.edu/generaleducation/universitystudies/universitystudiescurriculum/.