Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of General Studies in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Why study women, gender and sexuality?
- Confront social problems around gender and sexuality
- Collaborate with students and faculty from across the social sciences and humanities
- Build expertise on issues that matter most to you
If you are interested in how gender, race, class, and sexuality structure our world and interactions with one another, and if you are passionate about issues of social justice and inequality, then a degree in WGSS may be a great fit for you.
Students in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies develop a broad set of skills to critically analyze social issues from multiple disciplinary perspectives, including anthropology, history, law, literature, political science, psychology, and sociology. They learn to employ different methods and modes of analysis to better identify, critique, and productively understand the status of women in society and how structures of inequality interact with gender and sexuality.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
First- and Second-Year Preparation
It is recommended that students complete WGSS 101, the introductory course, and consult the undergraduate advisor.
Requirements for the B.A. or B.G.S. Major
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Major Course Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Majors must complete 30 total credit hours, with a maximum of 6 credits at the 100 or 200 level and a minimum of 12 credits at the 500+ level. In addition, majors must complete a course in each of the following areas. | ||
Introduction: | 3 | |
Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | ||
or WGSS 102 | Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Honors | |
Social Science Perspective: | 3 | |
Satisfied by any one course (3 hours) that is cross-referenced between WGSS and a social science department, including Anthropology; Applied Behavioral Science; Communication Studies; Economics; Geography and Atmospheric Science; Linguistics; Political Science; or Psychology. | ||
Eligible courses include: | ||
Sociology of Families | ||
Human Sexuality | ||
Language, Gender, and Sexuality | ||
Health, Gender, and Society | ||
Sociology of Sex Roles | ||
Anthropology of Sex | ||
Religion, Power, and Sexuality in Arab Societies | ||
Women and Leadership: The Legislative Process | ||
The Anthropology of Gender: Female, Male, and Beyond | ||
Intimate Relationships | ||
Communication and Gender | ||
Gender and Society | ||
Women and Work | ||
Psychology of Women | ||
Health and Human Sexuality | ||
Human Sexuality | ||
Politics of Human Trafficking | ||
Policing the Womb | ||
Women and Violence | ||
The Rhetoric of Women's Rights | ||
Gender and Politics | ||
Feminist Contemporary Political Theory | ||
Women and Health Care | ||
Politics of Identity | ||
Gender, Peace, and Conflict | ||
Gender and Politics in Africa | ||
Conceptual Issues in Human Sexuality | ||
Humanities Perspective: | 3 | |
Satisfied by any one course (3 hours) that is cross-referenced between WGSS and a humanities department, including African and African American Studies; American Studies; Classics; English; Environmental Studies; Film and Media Studies; Global and International Studies; History; History of Art; Humanities; Indigenous Studies; Jewish Studies; Latin American & Caribbean Studies; Philosophy; or Religious Studies. | ||
Eligible courses include: | ||
Women, Gender, and Sexuality in the North American West | ||
Global Environmental Literature | ||
Sex in History | ||
History, Women, and Diversity in the U.S. | ||
From Goddesses to Witches: Women in Premodern Europe | ||
From Mystics to Feminists: Women's History in Europe 1600 to the Present | ||
LGBTQ U.S. History, 1600-1900 | ||
LGBTQ U.S. History, 1900-Present | ||
History of Women and the Body | ||
Women in Contemporary African Literature | ||
Black Love and Romance | ||
Youth, Sex, and Romance in Post-WWII United States | ||
Pregnancy in Modern Literature | ||
Angry White Male Studies | ||
Religious Perspectives on Selfhood and Sexuality | ||
The Black Woman | ||
Women and Islam | ||
Sexual Politics in Chinese Literature and Culture: Premodern Times | ||
or EALC 618 | Sexual Politics in Chinese Literature and Culture: Premodern Times | |
African Women Writers | ||
Gender and Religion | ||
Philosophy of Sex and Love | ||
History of American Women: Colonial Times to 1870 | ||
History of American Women: 1870 to Present | ||
Gender and Sexuality in Greek Culture | ||
Gender and Sexuality in Roman Culture | ||
Rococo to Realism: Painting in Europe c. 1750-1848 | ||
Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: 1848-1900 | ||
Skin, Sex, and Disease | ||
History of Feminist Theory | ||
Women and Literature: _____ | ||
The Body, Self and Society | ||
Love, Sexuality and Gender in Japanese Literature | ||
or WGSS 376 | Love, Sexuality and Gender in Japanese Literature | |
or EALC 375 | Love, Sexuality and Gender in Japanese Literature | |
Sexuality and Gender in African History | ||
International Women Filmmakers | ||
Jazz and American Culture | ||
Theoretical Perspective: | 3 | |
Satisfied by one course (3 hours) that addresses theoretical issues in gender, sexuality, and feminism. | ||
Eligible courses include: | ||
Introduction to Queer Theory: Tools for Deconstructing Gender | ||
Black Feminist Theory | ||
Introduction to Feminist Theory | ||
Feminism and Philosophy | ||
Philosophy of Sex and Love | ||
History of Feminist Theory | ||
Race, Gender and Empire | ||
Feminist Contemporary Political Theory | ||
International Perspective: | 3 | |
Satisfied by any one course (3 hours) that focuses primarily on global or non-US contexts. | ||
Eligible courses include: | ||
From Goddesses to Witches: Women in Premodern Europe | ||
From Mystics to Feminists: Women's History in Europe 1600 to the Present | ||
Women in Contemporary African Literature | ||
History of Jewish Women | ||
International Women's Rights | ||
Fat, Food and the Body in Global Perspective | ||
Judaism and Sexuality | ||
Religion, Power, and Sexuality in Arab Societies | ||
Love, Sexuality and Gender in Japanese Literature | ||
or WGSS 576 | Love, Sexuality and Gender in Japanese Literature | |
or EALC 575 | Love, Sexuality and Gender in Japanese Literature | |
African Art and Gender | ||
The Anthropology of Gender: Female, Male, and Beyond | ||
Women and Islam | ||
Sexual Politics in Chinese Literature and Culture: Premodern Times | ||
African Women Writers | ||
Gender and Sexuality in Greek Culture | ||
Gender and Sexuality in Roman Culture | ||
Rococo to Realism: Painting in Europe c. 1750-1848 | ||
Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: 1848-1900 | ||
Making a Pandemic: The History and Politics of HIV/AIDS | ||
Race, Gender and Empire | ||
Gender, Culture, and Migration | ||
Love, Sex, and Globalization | ||
Sexuality and Gender in African History | ||
International Women Filmmakers | ||
Gender, Peace, and Conflict | ||
Gender and Politics in Africa | ||
General Electives | 9 | |
Satisfied by all WGSS courses. | ||
Eligible courses include all those listed above and the following: | ||
Introduction to Human Sexuality Studies | ||
First Year Seminar: _____ | ||
Study Abroad Topics in: _____ | ||
Perspectives in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | ||
Sex and Gender in New Media | ||
The Politics of Physical Appearance | ||
Feminism and Social Change | ||
Studies in: _____ (Can be designated as social science or humanities perspective by petition.) | ||
Study Abroad Topic in: _____ | ||
Independent Study | ||
Native Feminisms | ||
Gender, Sexuality and the Law | ||
Service Learning in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies | ||
Studies in: _____ | ||
Research Methods | 3 | |
Satisfied by: (suggested for the junior year) | ||
Doing Feminist Research (Fall Only) | ||
Capstone Project | 3 | |
Satisfied by one course (3 credit hours) dedicated to completing a summative capstone project (WGSS 499 is completed as part of a sequence with WGSS 498. When completed as a sequence, 498 fulfills an elective and 499 fulfills the capstone requirement.). Suggested for the senior year. | ||
Honors in Women, Gender and Sexualty Studies (By permission of honors supervisor) | ||
Seminar in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (Spring Only) |
Note: Courses with a blank (____) vary by semester and may be repeated for credit. These courses will always count as general electives. If they include significant theoretical, disciplinary, or international perspectives, they may count toward specific requirements within this program as well. Confirm with the major advisor.
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 30 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Hours at Advanced Levels
Satisfied by a maximum of 6 hours at the 100-200 level and a minimum of 12 credit hours 500+ level.
- 100 & 200 level: maximum 6 hours (1 requirement and up to 1 elective)
- 300 & 400 level: remaining credit hours (up to 5 electives)
- 500 & 600 level: minimum 12 credit hours (2 requirements and at least 2 electives)
Major Junior/Senior (300+) Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Overlap Policies
Students who wish to pursue more than one program offered by the department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies may do so with the following restrictions: No more than four courses may be used to fulfill requirements for both the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major and the Human Sexuality major – two of which would be WGSS 501 and WGSS 601. No more than two courses may overlap between any of our majors and minors, or between our two minors – one of which would be WGSS 501. Students earning an undergraduate certificate in addition to another WGSS program can overlap one course – the introductory-level requirement.
For students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree, refer to this sample 4-year plan for a BA in Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies or use the left-side navigation.
For students pursuing a Bachelor of General Studies degree, refer to this sample 4-year plan for a BGS in Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies or use the left-side navigation.
Summary
- 3.5 GPA in the WGSS major
- A senior honors thesis related to WGSS written over two semesters (two three-credit courses)
- Double majors: earn Honors in both majors with one thesis that is relevant to both programs.
GPA Requirements
Students need a 3.5 GPA in their WGSS major.
Honors Thesis
Students write an honors thesis that is pertinent to Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. An honors thesis is a piece of original research or other project supervised by a faculty member of any department. In most cases, the result will be a written document of some length, but this could vary depending on the topic and what the student and thesis advisor agree on.
The senior honors thesis or honors project must be approved by a three-member thesis committee (the thesis advisor and two other faculty members, at least one of whom must be either in WGSS or serve as WGSS affiliate faculty).
Students take 6 credit hours of honors thesis work (3 hours per semester for 2 semesters) and they must earn a A or B in the first semester and a A the second. For these 6 hours, students can enroll in:
or
or
- Two Honors Research courses or two Independent Studies in any department
Typical Timeline
- Fall of the Junior Year: Take WGSS 501 to develop research interests and an idea for your thesis. Enroll in other courses that let you develop expertise in this area.
- Spring of the Junior Year: Get to know faculty members who share similar research interests by enrolling in their courses or visiting them in office hours. Identify a professor willing to supervise the thesis. Inform the WGSS Honors Coordinator!
- Fall Semester of the Senior Year: Enroll in 3 credit hours of WGSS 498 or in an Independent Study of another department. Begin researching the thesis topic. The student and thesis advisor should form a three-person faculty committee (the thesis advisor and two other faculty members, at least one of whom must be either in WGSS or serve as WGSS affiliate faculty). Submit an Honors Intent Form by 1 March to College Advising and Student Services, 109 Strong.
- Spring Semester of the Senior Year: In consultation with your thesis advisor, enroll in 3 credit hours of WGSS 499 or WGSS 601 or in an Independent Study of another department. Finish the thesis. Have the thesis committee read the thesis and vote to award Honors (or not). If the thesis is passed, the thesis advisor needs to sign the Honors Certification Form, which can be obtained by the student in the College Advising and Student Services office, 109 Strong; after the advisor signs this form, it is then submitted back to the College Undergraduate Academic Services, 109 Strong, at least a week before the end of the graduation term. The thesis advisor should also notify the Honors Coordinator of the result.
Double Majors
Students who are satisfying double majors and pursuing Honors in both majors may use one honors thesis for both majors if they get approval from both departments. The thesis must be related to both majors, and the thesis committee must include faculty members from both departments. Students must fulfill both departments' requirements for honors.