Women’s and Gender Studies, BA BA
Women's and Gender Studies is a discipline that critically examines gender and women's issues from an interdisciplinary perspective and challenges many traditional assumptions and theories. It examines the practice and expression of gender in different societies and at different historical moments.
Regardless of your gender, Women's and Gender Studies is crucial and relevant for anyone interested in working in criminal justice, social work, the non-profit sector, the arts, politics, business, and more. Students learn to look at the world and history through different perspectives and think about how gender and our perceptions of it impact culture, society, and daily interactions. It is a traditional liberal arts discipline where the knowledge and skills developed in the program can be applied to all types of career paths. Work experiences during college through internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer positions often shape career paths after graduation.
Students in Women's and Gender Studies master critical thinking, problem analysis, and communication through both classroom studies and service learning opportunities.
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
Many students find us through general education requirements and stay for a major or minor because they love what we offer:
- Critical thinking skills in analyzing social and cultural problems, interrogating gender and sexuality related cultural assumptions and norms, and imagining alternatives.
- Understanding of critical theories of gender and sexuality as they intersect with race, ethnicity, class, religion, nationality, geopolitical, and regional specificities.
- Knowledge about marginalized perspectives and the insights that can be drawn from them for social changes.
- Appreciation for the connections between everyday lives, personal experience, and issues of social justice.
- Strong analytical and organizational skills.
- Civic engagement and advocacy skills to make links between community, business, education, and government organizations.
Listed below are the requirements for the Women’s and Gender Studies major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all university and college general degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. We encourage you to consult your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track towards earning your degree. You can read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Women's and Gender Studies Major Requirements
The Women’s and Gender Studies major requires 30 credits drawn from Women’s and Gender Studies and cross-listed classes. The WGS major requires that 18 credits be taken in WGS courses. Completion of WGS 411, WGS 500, or WGS 501 satisfies the L&S research requirement.
At least 15 credits in the major must be taken upper-division courses in residence at UWM. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 in UWM major courses attempted. In addition, the College requires that students attain a 2.0 GPA in all major courses attempted, including any transfer work.
Majors should consult regularly with their advisor in Women's and Gender Studies about their course of study.
The major requires completion of the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Foundation - choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies: A Social Science Perspective | ||
| Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies: A Humanities Perspective | ||
| Theory - choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Queer Theory | ||
| Feminist Theory | ||
| Global - choose from: | 3 | |
| Global Feminisms | ||
| Research - choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Feminist Research and Practice | ||
| Advanced Social Science Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: | ||
| Advanced Humanities Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: | ||
| WGS electives | 6 | |
Select 6 additional credits in WGS courses. | ||
| WGS and other approved electives | 12 | |
Take 12 additional credits in WGS or other approved courses; see below for approved electives. | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Students may not receive credit for both WGS 200 and WGS 201. Only one of these courses can be taken for credit.
Electives
Students must take 18 credits of approved elective courses to reach a total of 30 credits. Of these, 6 credits must be in WGS subject area courses; 12 credits may be taken in WGS courses or from approved electives offered by other programs and departments. See the list of approved courses below and contact the WGS advisor with questions.
Numerous courses in a wide variety of disciplines have been approved as electives for the WGS major. For information about whether a special topics course in another program might be approved as an elective for WGS, please contact Women's and Gender Studies.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| WGS 150 | Multicultural America | 3 |
| WGS 192 | First-Year Seminar: | 3 |
| WGS 199 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| WGS 211 | Foundations of Women's and Gender Studies Scholarship | 3 |
| WGS 297 | Study Abroad: | 1-12 |
| WGS 301 | Queer Theory | 3 |
| WGS 302 | Gendered Bodies: | 3 |
| WGS 303 | Feminist Activism and Movements: | 3 |
| WGS 380 | Honors Seminar in the Social Sciences: | 3 |
| WGS 381 | Honors Seminar in the Humanities: | 3 |
| WGS 410 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
| WGS 411 | Feminist Research and Practice | 3 |
| WGS 489 | Internship in Women's and Gender Studies | 1-3 |
| WGS 497 | Study Abroad: | 1-12 |
| WGS 500 | Advanced Social Science Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: | 3 |
| WGS 501 | Advanced Humanities Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: | 3 |
| WGS 699 | Independent Reading | 1-3 |
| AFRIC 250 | Black Women and White Women in the Contemporary United States | 3 |
| AFRIC 344 | Global Black Social Movements | 3 |
| AFRIC 350 | The Black Family | 3 |
| AFRIC 351 | Sexuality, Gender, and Health in Africa and the Diaspora | 3 |
| AFRIC 352 | Extended Families in Black Societies | 3 |
| AFRIC 414 | The Black Woman in America, Africa, and the Caribbean | 3 |
| AFRIC 417 | Race, Class and Gender in Southern Africa | 3 |
| AFRIC 418 | Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| ANTHRO 250 | Women's Roles in Cross-Cultural Perspective | 3 |
| BIO SCI 206 | Biology of Women | 3 |
| BUS ADM 441 | Diversity in Organizations | 3 |
| COMMUN 401 | Communication in Marital and Family Relationships | 3 |
| COMMUN 402 | Gender and Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 474 | Rhetoric of Women's Rights in the US | 3 |
| CRM JST 385 | Women and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRM JST 416 | Intimate Partner Violence | 3 |
| ECON 248 | Economics of Discrimination | 3 |
| ED POL 624 | Gender and Education | 3 |
| ENGLISH 243 | Introduction to Literature by Women: | 3 |
| ENGLISH 295 | Women and Film 1 | 3 |
| ENGLISH 395 | Feminist Media Criticism and Theory: 2 | 3 |
| ENGLISH 465 | Women Writers: | 3 |
| ENGLISH 628 | Seminar in Literature by Women: | 3 |
| ENGLISH 629 | Seminar in Literature and Sexuality: | 3 |
| ETHNIC 255 | Migration and Gender: Starbucks, Sex Trafficking, and Nannies | 3 |
| ETHNIC 275 | Queer Migrations | 3 |
| ETHNIC 325 | Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Milwaukee: | 3 |
| FILMSTD 295 | Women and Film 1 | 3 |
| FILMSTD 395 | Feminist Media Criticism and Theory: 2 | 3 |
| FILMSTD 669 | Screening Sexuality: | 3 |
| GEOG 410 | Gendered Geographies | 3 |
| HIST 141 | Global History of the Family, Gender, and Sexuality | 3 |
| HIST 241 | Women and Gender in Europe: 1350 to 1750 | 3 |
| HIST 242 | Women and Gender in Europe: 1750 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 243 | History of Women in American Society | 3 |
| HIST 271 | The 1960s in the United States: A Cultural History | 3 |
| HIST 355 | Modern and Contemporary France | 3 |
| HIST 373 | Topics in Gender and History: | 3 |
| HIST 468 | The American Feminist Movement | 3 |
| JAMS 111 | Gender and the Media | 3 |
| JEWISH 332 | Women in the Bible | 3 |
| LGBT 200 | Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | 3 |
| LGBT 275 | Queer Migrations | 3 |
| LGBT 290 | Topics in LGBT Studies: | 3 |
| LGBT 599 | Selected Topics in LGBT Studies: | 3 |
| LINGUIS 212 | Language and Gender | 3 |
| MUSIC 449 | Women in Music: | 3 |
| NURS 204 | Global Maternal and Child Health: From Evidence to Action | 3 |
| NURS 327 | Nursing Science III: Health Concepts-Women & Children | 4 |
| NURS 620 | Global Food Security and Systems | 3 |
| PHILOS 235 | Philosophical Aspects of Feminism | 3 |
| POL SCI 110 | Sex and Power | 3 |
| POL SCI 425 | Women in Politics | 3 |
| POL SCI 464 | Sex, Gender, and the Law | 3 |
| PSYCH 319 | LGBTIQ Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 320 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
| SOCIOL 250 | Sex and Gender | 3 |
| SOCIOL 255 | Sociology of Sexuality | 3 |
| SOCIOL 260 | Blood, Sex, Money, Power: Families and Intimate Relationships | 3 |
| SOCIOL 442 | The Work-Family Intersection | 3 |
| SOCIOL 444 | Sociology of the Body | 3 |
| SOC WRK 630 | Families and Poverty | 3 |
- 1
ENGLISH 295 and FILMSTD 295 are jointly offered. In other words, they are the same course offered under different subjects. Only one can be taken for credit.
- 2
ENGLISH 395 and FILMSTD 395 are jointly offered. In other words, they are the same course offered under different subjects. Only one can be taken for credit.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.