Gender is foundational to social, cultural, and economic systems
A minor in Women’s and Gender Studies will complement your major by increasing your understanding of how and why gender matters . Through knowledge you gain in the classroom and in the community, you will learn how to address gender issues in multiple careers—including business, nonprofits, counseling, law, medicine, religious service, social work, and teaching.
In core classes, you will analyze how gender is socially constructed and investigate how power and patriarchal institutions impact people’s actual lives. In elective classes, you’ll explore topics such as families and intimate relationships, LGBT literature and culture, gender communication, women in the Bible, the history of sexuality, and more.
Through your studies, you will learn to understand the concept of gender and its impact on people's lives. You will investigate how gender intersects with other identities like race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, class, ability, and sexuality. You will graduate with a multi-faceted understanding of gender issues so you can create a more just world.
For more information about the minor, please contact Associate Professor of Literature Alex Barron. The Women’s and Gender Studies minor is part of the Department of Literature, Writing and Rhetoric.
Outside the Classroom
Community Service
All students in the Women’s and Gender Studies minor will complete community service for course credit. You will get a chance to apply what you are learning to real-world problems. Previous students have worked in organizations and non-profits that focus on the places where gender intersects with health, violence, financial security, and many other issues.
Minor Requirements
The Women's and Gender Studies Minor consists of 18 hours, including:
Required courses:
- WGST 1301: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies (3 hours)
- WGST 2120, 2220 and 2320: Community Service in Women's and Gender Studies (students need 3 hours total, but can take the one- or two-credit courses over more than one semester)
- WGST 3330: Feminist Theories and Practice (3 hours)
Nine hours of elective classes in various disciplines and fields including Literature, Sociology, History, Communication, and Religious Studies. Six of these elective hours need to be upper-division courses.
To declare the minor, fill out the form called “Student Curriculum Change Request” on MyHilltop.