Gender Studies (GW)
Gender studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that draws on feminist, gender, and queer theories and scholarship to analyze the experiences, perspectives, and contributions of women, men, non-binary and intersexed people and systems of gender relations in various cultural settings and time periods. The gender studies major is a multidisciplinary program that involves students in the exploration of topics such as the social construction and role of gender within various societies, women's historical and contemporary experiences, and multiple social identities. Completion of the major strengthens students' preparation for further work in fields including gender studies, women's studies, law, public and international affairs, social sciences, the humanities, communications, and the arts. Through the major, students also gain a foundation for understanding the social, intellectual, and political forces that shape their personal and professional lives. The major leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Recommended courses for a prospective major
Fall 2025
GW 101 Introduction to Gender Studies
or
GW 251 Confronting Caste (Prerequisite GW 101 or Permission of Instructor)
Spring 2026
GW 101 Introduction to Gender Studies (if not already completed)
or one or more additional Gender Studies course offerings*:
GW 251 Special Topics in Gender Studies (Prerequisite GW 101 or Permission of Instructor)
GW 275 Feminist Theories (Prerequisites GW 101 Introduction to Gender Studies. Students are also encouraged, but not required, to take GW 202 Lived Feminism before GW 275, or to take the two concurrently.)
EN 223 Women and Literature
EN 229 Special Topics in Literature
ES 225 Human Rights and Development (Prerequisite SSP 100 and ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective or Permission of Instructor)
SO 204W Introduction to Race, Class, and Gender (Prerequisite SO 101 Sociological Perspectives)
SO 216 Food and Society (Prerequisites: SO 101 or SO 201 or SO 202 or SO 203 or SO 204 and SSP 100.)
SO 217 Families in the United States (Prerequisites: SO 101 or GW 101 and SSP 100.)
*As of April 2025 and subject to change
Gender Studies Department site
3rd Floor, Ladd Hall
518-580-5240