Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Major and Minor

The Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Department at the University of Minnesota is one of the oldest and most respected in North America. Our interdisciplinary undergraduate major and minor programs include a major in GWSS, and minors in GWSS and GLBT Studies. They blend traditional studies like history, philosophy, sociology, geography, biology, and literature to create new areas of knowledge and new ways of solving old problems. By studying the way differences such as gender, race, class, ethnicity, and sexuality have affected women and men, you'll be able to understand an increasingly diverse and multicultural world. You will develop critical, analytical, and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills, enhance research skills and creative talents, and develop new ideas and theories about women and gender that challenge assumptions and contribute to social change. You can also incorporate GWSS or GLBT Studies concentration in an individualized degree program.

Beyond the Classroom

Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies graduates have successful careers in law, public policy, education, business, medicine, social work, community leadership, and the arts. Take advantage of our pre-professional training, career development opportunities, undergraduate research and mentorships.

Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Major Requirements

• GWSS 1001: Intro to Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies or GWSS 1002 Politics of Sex
• One of the following GWSS courses:
  

  	1003W: Women Write the World
  	3002: Gender, Race, Class: Women's Lives in the United States
  	3003: Gender and Global Politics
  	3004W: Point/Counter Point: Contemporary Feminist Debates

• GWSS 3102W: Feminist Thought and Theory
• GWSS 4402: Rebels, Radicals, and Revolutionaries: History of Western Feminism
• Upper-Level Courses satisfying the GWSS Cultural Pluralism requirement
• Upper-level course satisfying the GWSS International Studies Requirement
• Upper-level course satisfying the GWSS Advanced Theory requirement
• Two GWSS 4000/5000 courses, senior project completed in one of the 4000/5000 courses
• Six to nine credits upper-level GWSS elective courses as needed to reach 36 credits

Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Minor Requirements

Individualized Degree Programs

Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies is great for incorporating into a Bachelor of Individualized Studies (BIS) or Individually Designed Interdepartmental Major (IDIM). To find out how to include GWSS and GLBT Studies courses into your major, schedule an appointment with the undergraduate adviser by calling (612) 624-6809 or email gwssadv@umn.edu.