Bachelor of Arts in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
The Bachelor of Arts in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies provides students with the tools to understand, critique and challenge all forms of social inequity.
Summary
The BA in WGSS is an interdisciplinary major that trains students to analyze gender and sexuality as fundamental aspects of society and culture, both within the US and globally. Building on a core curriculum that teaches students about how feminist thinkers and activists have addressed the social, political, and cultural challenges of their times to promote collective liberation, this major equips students with skills in critical analysis, writing, communication, and collaboration. It prepares students for diverse career paths, including government, policy, non-profit and advocacy work, communications, medicine, science, and technology, as well as for advanced graduate study in the social sciences, law, and the humanities.
Degree Structure
The BA in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies is 33 total credits.
- At least 24 credits must be at or above the 3xx level.
- No course with a grade less than "C-" may be used to satisfy the major.
- An overall GPA of 2.0 in the major it required for graduation.
The major has 4 main elements explained in the chart below: Introductory Coursework, Lower Level Coursework, Foundation Coursework, and Upper Level Coursework
For the full course list, including courses approved in the core and elective categories, please visit the Undergraduate Catalog. You can also view sample 4 Year Plan and 3 Year Plans.
* - For a full list of courses, visit the WGSS Course webpage or the Undergraduate Catalog, it is updated annually
** - No course with a grade less than "C-" may be used to satisfy the major. An overall GPA of 2.0 in the major it required for graduation. Students will design their programs in consultation with a Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies advisor
The WGSS major is part of the College of Arts and Humanities. Students meet several times throughout their time in the major with an ARHU advisor who reviews their progress towards the University's General Education requirements and the College level requirements. For more information about College requirements in ARHU, view the ARHU Academic Plans.
Students who joined the WGSS major before July 1, 2025 can ask to move into this structure and will create a new academic plan with their advisor, Gwen Warman. Students will not automatically be shifted over.
Degree Requirements - Revised and Effective July 1, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a core and an elective?
"Core" courses are taught within the department by our faculty and our graduate students. "Elective" courses are taught outside the Harriet Tubman Department. Many of the electives are cross-listed with either the WGSS or LGBT course code and some of the departmental core courses are cross listed outside of the department.
For example, ENGL 250/WGSS 255: Reading Women Writing is an Elective course because it is taught by faculty in the English department and cross-listed with WGSS.
Students are not expected to automatically know which courses are core and which are electives, that's why they are listed on the Undergraduate Catalog and by area as linked below. If you don't see the course you are wondering about you can look up the instructor to see if they are in the department or not.
Where do I find the approved classes?
You can find the full list of approved courses in the WGSS Major entry in the Academic Catalog (Last updated July, 2025) under the heading Requirements. This list separates out the core and elective courses and is updated annually
What if I find a relevant class that isn't approved?
You can petition the Director of Undergraduate Studies to review the course if you have the syllabus. When other departments add new courses we won't be automatically reviewing them but are happy to get requests for cross lists or inclusion from faculty and students
Can I add a second major?
Yes! Popular second majors among WGSS students have been:
- American Studies
- African American and Africana Studies
- Biological Sciences
- Biological Sciences - Physiology & Neurobiology
- Computer Science
- Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Community Health
- English
- Family Health
- Government and Politics
- History
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Public Policy
- Sociology
Can I be in pre-professional program as a WGSS major?
Yes! you can work with the Pre-Health Advising and Pre-Law Advising offices to take the necessary coursework to prepare for school in these professions.
Degree Requirements (for students who declared before Fall 2025)
Students who declared a Bachelor of Arts in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies prior to Fall 2025 may elect to continue to complete their major using the old requirements. In this version, students must complete a total of 37 credits. This course of student can be taken by itself or in combination with other majors, minors, and/or certificates.
For more detailed information about the requirements, visit the archived webpage of the B.A. in WGSS.