Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies (B.A.)
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:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Foundations Courses | ||
Select two of the following course options: | 6 | |
Introduction to Queer Studies | ||
Humanities Perspectives on Gender, Sexuality, and Women | ||
History of Women, Gender and Sexuality in the Modern World | ||
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:
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 |
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.
Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies Honors
Qualified students, but especially those planning graduate studies in a GSW-related field or professional school, are encouraged to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree 'With Honors in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies.' Honors majors must have a 3.3 g.p.a. in GSW courses and a 3.3 cumulative g.p.a. in all courses. Honors majors must complete a minimum of twelve credits in honors designated coursework, comprised of one 42xx-level seminar offered through the Honors College and the following three GSW courses taken with an Honors Option: GSW 3200 (Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies), GSW 5200 (Advanced Feminism, Gender, and Queer Theory), and GSW 5990 (Honors-designated Senior Project Seminar). For information about honors-option coursework available each semester, visit the Honors College website.