Gender and Women's Studies, University of Illinois

Undergraduate Major in Gender and Women's Studies

[What is Gender and Women's Studies?| Why Major in Gender and Women's Studies? | What Can I Do with a Major in Gender and Women's Studies?| Undergraduate Major Requirements|Departmental Distinction]

What Is Gender and Women's Studies?

Gender and Women’s Studies offers an interdisciplinary, liberal arts degree. Student majoring in Gender and Women’s Studies examine the ways in which sex and gender have structured human societies and cultures, past and present. The interdisciplinary curriculum of Gender and Women’s Studies explores women’s and men’s cultural identities and social roles in relation to race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, and globalization. Our courses are crosslisted with more than 20 departments, ranging from Anthropology to Theatre. Students may also choose electives from many more departments that offer related, approved courses. Because of its interdisciplinary focus, a major in Gender and Women’s Studies means that students develop a broad range of knowledge and practical skills; many students choose GWS as a second major to complement a more traditional area of study.

Why Major in Gender and Women's Studies?

Gender and Women’s Studies is an excellent major for students who are interested in:

Studying in more than one discipline
Building critical thinking, writing, and verbal skills
Building self-confidence
Working closely with professors
Attending graduate or professional school
Combining self-exploration with intellectual development
Working on individually designed projects
Broadening their perspectives on social and political issues
Seeking employment in non-profit, government, or social service agencies

What Can I Do With a Major in Gender and Women's Studies?

Many of our students attend graduate or professional school (law, social work, library science, medical school, etc.) Others take jobs in the non-profit sector, such as international relief agencies, domestic violence agencies, homeless shelters, after school programs, and children and family services. Still others find more traditional jobs in business or government. Some of the fields our students have entered include public relations, counseling, union organizing, public policy and research, victim advocacy, and human/civil rights.

Some of our students choose Gender and Women’s Studies as a second major to complement another degree. These students use their expertise in gender and women's studies to specialize within a particular field, such as advertising, publishing, or education. Visit our office to discuss which option meets your goals.

Undergraduate Major Requirements

Students must complete 15 hours of required, core courses and 18 hours of electives.

3	GWS 250 — Introduction to Gender & Women's Studies in the Humanities - OR - GWS 260 — Introduction to Gender & Women's Studies in the Social Sciences
3	GWS 350 — Introduction to Feminist Theory
3	Historical Perspectives — One course chosen from the following: GWS 287 — African-American Women GWS 285 — U.S. Gender History to 1877 GWS 286 — U.S. Gender History since 1877 GWS 380 — Black Women: Histories and Cultures GWS 383—History of Black Women’s Activism GWS 469---Women, Autobiography & History GWS 295, 395, & 495— Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Topic in Gender & Women's Studies (with approval from advisor)
3	Global and Comparative Perspectives — One course from the following: GWS 103—Black Women in the Diaspora GWS 261 — Gender in Transnational Perspective GWS 262—Women’s Lives GWS 361 — Women in East Asia GWS 403 — Women in Muslim Societies GWS 480 — Gender Roles and International Development GWS 295, 395, & 495— Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Topic in Gender & Women's Studies (with approval from advisor)
3	Senior Capstone Course GWS 498 — Senior Seminar: Contemporary Studies in Women, Gender & Sexualities (preferred for senior year)
15	Total Core Courses
18	Electives selected from an approved course list maintained by the Gender and Women's Studies Program and approved by the GWS advisor.
33	Total required hours

Twelve hours of advanced (300 or 400-level) courses must be taken on this campus. Students must earn at least 12 hours of distinct, advanced level coursework in each major.

Departmental Distinction

To be eligible for graduation with distinction, a student must have a college grade-point average of 3.5, a Gender and Women's Studies Concentration grade point average of 3.5, complete the Senior Seminar, GWS 498, with a grade of A, and complete a semester paper in GWS 498 that is deemed worthy of "distinction" by the instructor.

High distinction. To be eligible for graduation with high distinction, a student must have a college grade point average of 3.5, a Gender and Women's Studies Concentration grade-point average of 3.7, complete the Senior Seminar, GWS 498, with a grade of A, and complete a semester paper in GWS 498 that is deemed worthy of "high distinction" by the instructor.

Gender and Women's Studies