With a major or minor in gender, sexuality and women's studies (GSW), you can study gender and sexuality through the lenses of feminism, queer and trans studies, with special attention to critical intersections with race, class, religion, health, and geography. GSW is also a place for feminist, queer, and ally students to find community. We come together outside of the classroom for programs, events and service learning on campus and throughout Detroit.

A degree in gender, sexuality and women's studies is flexible and interdisciplinary with a focus on social justice, real-world praxis, and community engagement. Students often chose GSW as a co-major to complement another program of study, or use our minors to amplify their expertise in gender and sexuality and enhance their qualifications by signaling their commitment to diversity and equity.  

Our program offers a major in gender, sexuality, and women's studies and two minors, one in GSW and one in queer studies. A major or minor in GSW is great for careers in health, psychology, communications, business, law, education, and non-profit/community justice. Students wishing to pursue the major or minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies or the minor in Queer Studies should meet with the undergraduate advisor.

 

Candidates must complete 120 credits in course work including satisfaction of the University General Education Requirements and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Group Requirements, as well as the departmental major  requirements cited below. All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the University and the College governing undergraduate scholarship and degrees. 

Major Requirements

Major requirements consist of thirty-one credits distributed as follows:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Foundations Courses
Select two of the following course options:		6
GSW 2100	Introduction to Queer Studies
GSW 2500	Humanities Perspectives on Gender, Sexuality, and Women
GSW 2600	History of Women, Gender and Sexuality in the Modern World
GSW 2700	Social Science Perspectives on Gender, Sexuality, and Women
Interdisciplinary Gateway Course
GSW 3200	Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies	3
Two Additional GSW Courses
Select two GSW courses at the 3000-level or above (minimum of 6 credits)		6
At least three Electives Courses
Select nine credits from GSW electives list (see below); GSW courses beyond those meeting other requirements may also be counted toward elective credits.		9
Capstone Theory Course
GSW 5200	Feminist, Gender, and Queer Theory	3
Senior Project
GSW 5990	Senior Project Seminar	4
Total Credits		31

Electives

For elective credits toward the B.A. or minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, students may take any GSW course not fulfilling a requirement or any of the following:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
AFS/GSW 5110	Black Women in America	3
ANT 5240	Cross Cultural Study of Gender	3
COM 4041	Rhetoric and the Body	3
COM 5360	Gender and Communication	3
CRJ 2650	Gender and Crime	3
CRJ 2750	Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice	3
ENG 2570	Women Writers: Writing about Texts	3
ENG/GSW 5030	Topics in Women's Studies	3
ENG 5035	Topics in Gender and Sexuality Studies	3
HIS 3250	The Family in History	3-4
HIS 5200	Women, Gender, and Sexuality in US History	3
HIS 5251	History of Feminism	4
PH 3900	LGBTQ Health	3
PHI 2360	Feminist Philosophy	3
PHI 5260	Philosophy of Sex and Gender	3
PS 3080	Gender and Politics	4
PSY 3250	Psychology of Gender	3
PSY 3380	Human Sexuality	3
SOC 2202	Gendered Worlds	3
SOC 3900	LGBTQ Health	3
SOC 3400	Exploring Marriage and Other Intimate Relationships	3
SOC 4202	Seminar in the Sociology of Gender	3
SOC 5410	Marriage and Family Problems	3
SW 3110	Diversity, Oppression and Social Justice	3

In some cases, courses not listed here may be counted toward the GSW electives requirement based on their content and assignments. Please contact the GSW advisor if you would like to request that a course not listed above be counted toward this requirement.