This interdisciplinary minor is designed to develop a broad understanding of the study of women and women’s perspectives in all areas of academic scholarship.
The primary focus is on feminist analyses of women’s lives, women’s social, cultural, and scientific contributions, and the structure of sex/gender systems. The interdisciplinary and inclusive nature of the field is reflected in a curriculum that includes courses cross-listed with a wide variety of departments, courses that deal with aspects of women’s lives throughout history, and courses that recognize the diversities of culture, race, religion, ethnicity, age, disability, and sexual orientation. The Women’s Studies minor emphasizes the development of critical and analytical skills, creative approaches to problem solving, and the ability to articulate productive alternatives.
Degree Requirements
18 Credits Required for the Minor
Prescribed Course (6 credits)
- ENGL/WMNST 245 Introduction to Lesbian and Gay Studies (GH; US)
- HDFS/WMNST 250 Sexual Identity over the Life Span (US)
Please note that both ENGL/WMNST 245 and HDFS/WMNST 250 are offered as on-line courses through World Campus.
Additional Courses (12 credits)
Students may choose any course listed below as supporting coursework, provided they fulfill the following requirements:
- Choose at least three credits from humanities and the arts
- Choose at least three credits from the sciences
- Choose at least two 400-level courses
In order to fulfill the interdisciplinary nature of the minor, students must study both in arts and humanities and in sciences. With the permission of the professor in charge of the minor Jes Matsick (jlm5295@psu.edu) one-time “Special Topics” courses and other classes that focus substantively on gender and sexuality may be substituted for courses listed below. Please be prepared to provide a syllabus or other documentation of the course content when requesting such substitutions.
Course List
A. Sexuality studies in humanities and the arts
(all courses are 3 credits unless noted)
- CHNS 416 Gender and Sexuality in China (IL)
- HIST/WMNST 116 Family and Sex Roles in Modern History (GS;US;IL)
- HIST/WMNST 166 History of Sexuality (GH;IL)
- ENGL/WMNST/ARTH 225N Sexuality and Modern Visual Culture (GA;GH)
- ENGL/WMNST 227 Introduction to Queer Theory
- HIST/WMNST 466 Lesbian and Gay History (US;IL)
- PHIL 014 Philosophy of Love and Sex (GH;US)
- WMNST 106 Representing Women and Gender in Literature, Art and Popular Cultures (GH;US;IL)
- WMNST 301 Sexualities, Gender, and Power: Feminist Thought and Politics
- WMNST 400 Debates in Contemporary Feminism (US;IL)
B. Sexuality studies in the sciences
(all courses are 3 credits unless noted)
- AFAM/SOC/WMNST 103 Racism and Sexism (US)
- AFAM/WMNST 364 Black and White Sexuality (GS;US)
- AFAM/HIST 415 Race, Gender, and Politics in the United States and South Africa (US;IL)
- AFAM 416 Race, Gender, and Science (US;IL)
- ANTH 216N Sex and Evolution (GN;GS)
- ANTH 416 The Evolution of Human Mating
- ANTH/WMNST 476 Anthropology of Gender
- BBH 146 Introduction to Health and Human Sexuality (GHA)
- BBH 251 Straight Talks I: Advanced Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Peer Education (US)
- BBH 315 Gender and Biobehavioral Health (US)
- BBH 446 Human Sexuality as a Health Concern
- BIOL 177 Biology of Sex (GN)
- CRIM/CRIMJ/WMNST 423 Sexual and Domestic Violence (US)
- CRIM/CRIMJ/WMNST 453 Women and the Criminal Justice System (US)
- GEOG/WMNST 426Y Gender Geographies (US;IL)
- HDFS 405 Gender and Social Development
- LER/WMNST 136 Race, Gender, and Employment (US)
- PSYCH 231 Introduction to the Psychology of Gender (GS;US)
- PSYCH 422 Human Sexuality
- PSYCH 479 / WMNST 471 The Psychology of Gender (US)
- SOC/WMNST 110: Sociology of Gender (GS;US)
- WMNST 120 Sex, Gender, and the Body
- (814) 863-0126
Becoming a Minor
You can declare the minor in Sexuality and Gender Studies through your Student Center in LionPATH.