Women’s and Gender Studies Major

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BA Degree

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

Requirements

Core Courses: 15 credits

Students must successfully complete five core courses: WGS 101, WGS 201, one upper-level feminist theory course, the capstone course, and WGS 499.

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 feminist theory core courses.)
Upper-Level Feminist Theory Course (choose from 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

Focus Area Requirements - 12 credits

Students must complete at least one course in each of the four focus areas:

Intersectional 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 316 - Gender in Medieval & Early Modern Europe Credits: 3
WGS 324 - Gender, Crime and In-Justice 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 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 321 - Women, Crime, and the Law Credits: 3
WGS 324 - Gender, Crime and In-Justice Credits: 3
WGS 325 - Sex, Marriage, and Family Credits: 3 (Dependent on instructor)
WGS 332 - Sex Roles and Politics Credits: 3
WGS 339 - Women and Public Policy Credits: 3
WGS 350 - Readings in Sociological & Anthropological Lit Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 352 - Disposable Women Credits: 3
WGS 369 - Global Women’s Health and Activism Credits: 3
WGS 374 - Transformative Justice Credits: 3
WGS 386 - Prison Industrial Complex Credits: 3
WGS 399 - Women’s & Gender Studies Internship Credits: variable; 3.00 to 12.00
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 and Transnational 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 347 - Special Topics in Women’s Literature Credits: 3 (Content-Dependent)
WGS 349 - Gender & Sexuality in Bollywood Films Credits: 3
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 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 490 - Special Topics Credits: 3
WGS 495 - Independent Study Credits: variable; 1.00 to 6.00

Politics of Cultural Representation

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 214 - African American Literature Credits: 3
WGS 246 - Women Writers Credits: 3
WGS 260 - Gender and Sexuality in Lusophone Literatures Credits: 3
(Satisfies University Studies Requirement: Cluster 3A: Literature)
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 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 349 - Gender & Sexuality in Bollywood Films 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 490 - Special Topics Credits: 3
WGS 495 - Independent Study Credits: variable; 1.00 to 6.00
WGS 337 - Reproductive Rights & Health Credits: 3

Specialization Requirement - 6 credits

Students must successfully complete at least two additional courses (a total of six credits) in one of the four focus areas: Intersectional Gender Studies; Politics, Justice, and Policy; Cross-Cultural and Transnational Inquiry; Politics of Cultural Representation.

Elective - 3 credits

Students must successfully complete one elective course in any of the four areas of concentration, or in feminist theory, or an internship (WGS 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/.