Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Major

Department Chair: Neda Atanasoski, Ph.D.

Rooted in the academic and political histories of Women’s Studies, the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies B.A. centers the study of structural inequity, as grounded in intersecting hierarchies of gender, race, sexuality, ethnicity, nationality, and ability. The WGSS major provides students with an opportunity to develop a scholarly and applied understanding of social justice, honing a radical vision for political, economic, and societal freedom. Students will take courses informed by intersectional scholarship and methodologies from the arts and humanities, social sciences, public health, psychology, government, and public policy, among others. Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies offers students a flexible program of study in which there is focused attention on building students’ analysis and critique of the most pressing issues of the day, such as anti-black racism, reproductive justice, discriminatory practices against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, xenophobia and antisemitism, silencing of indigenous communities and structural exclusion by practices of ageism and ableism. 

Our introductory courses, which offer the option of focusing on social sciences or artistic methods, equip students with the tools and vocabulary to both analyze and respond creatively to social problems. Upper-division courses, which are usually run as small-size seminars, focus on building students’ research skills for pursuing topics of special interest. The final year of the B.A. degree specifically prepares students for jobs through guided internship courses that involve regular interaction with both a worksite supervisor and an assigned faculty member.  Senior-level seminars focus on the development of skills and knowledge that can inform careers in a wide range of areas, including non-profit management, social justice advocacy, digital and media expression, law, health-related fields, student affairs, academia, and government and public policy.  We seek to shape a new generation of scholars and leaders who, with us, will work to acknowledge, understand, and critically interrogate hierarchies of difference, while imagining more just futures.

Courses offered by this department may be found under the following acronyms: WGSS, LGBT.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students are expected to fully engage with the curriculum and the opportunities presented for learning and research. Having completed the program, students should have acquired the following knowledge, skills, and practices:

1. An ability to critically analyze issues related to women, race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class
2. A demonstrated engagement with the practices of feminist, critical race, and LGBTQ social action
3. An ability to do independent research using appropriate methods
4. An ability to use effective forms of communication

Students will earn a total of 37 credit hours, distributed as indicated below. Drawing from approximately fifty courses, many of which are cross-listed with other academic units, students will have the opportunity to design an emphasis within the major relevant to their special interests. A number of courses may count in more than one category. At least 31 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 is required for graduation. Students will design their programs in consultation with a Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies advisor.

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Nine of the 12 Thematic Concentration credits must be upper level. Six of the 12 credits may overlap with courses fulfilling other major requirements. Regardless of the overlap of courses between the categories of the major, students must complete a minimum of 37 credits in the major.

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Students with a double major will be considered to have fulfilled their cognate requirement.

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In fulfilling the above requirements, students must complete nine hours of upper-level credit in courses that provide the following perspectives (three hours each): historical, transnational, cultural production.

 Social Justice

Transnational Politics and Perspectives

Race, Ethnicity, and Class

Bodies, Gender and Sexualities

Arts, Technologies, and Cultural Production

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Studies

Click here for roadmaps for four-year plans in the College of Arts and Humanities.

Additional information on developing a four-year academic plan can be found on the following pages:

• http://4yearplans.umd.edu
• the Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy section of this catalog