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WOMEN'S, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY STUDIES
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Bachelor of Science in Women’s Studies

Bachelor of Science in Women’s Studies

This interdisciplinary major is designed to develop a broad understanding of the study of women and women’s perspectives in all areas of academic scholarship. The focus is on feminist analyses of women’s lives, of women’s social, cultural, and scientific contributions, and of the structure of sex/gender systems. The interdisciplinary and inclusive nature of the field is reflected in a curricular structure 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, gender, religion, ethnicity, age, disability, and sexual orientation.

This option provides students with an interdisciplinary major centered around study of women, gender, and sexuality, viewed in historical and cross-cultural perspective. It is designed for students with strong interest in quantitative skills, women’s health and sexuality, and/or women and science, or who wish to pursue a multiple major program with other B.S. degree programs.

See this program's listing: Undergraduate Bulletin

Advisor

Julianna Chaszar
127A Burrowes Building
University Park , PA 16802
Email: jxc50@psu.edu
Office Phone: (814) 863-8559
Schedule an appointment: starfish.psu.edu

Degree Requirements Checklist

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Women’s Studies, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

Requirement Credits

  • General Education 45
  • Electives 21-30
  • Requirements for the Major 57

3-12 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 3-6 credits of GQ courses, 0-3 credits of GH courses, and 0-3 credits of GS courses.

Per Senate Policy 83-80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. For more information, check the Recommended Academic Plan for your intended program.

PRESCRIBED COURSES

  • WMNST 301N: Sexualities, Gender and Power: Feminist Thought and Politics Keystone/General Education Course 3
  • WMNST 492: Contemporary Feminist Analysis: The Capstone Senior Seminar 3

ADDITIONAL COURSES

  • WMNST 100: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies Keystone/General Education Course 3,
    or WMNST 106N Representing Women and Gender in Literature, Art and Popular Cultures Keystone/General Education Course
  • WMNST 400N: Debates in Contemporary Feminism Keystone/General Education Course 3,
    or WMNST 401 Doing Feminism: Theory and Practice

Select 3 credits from the following:

Select 27 credits (at least 9 credits at the 400 level) in Women’s Studies from the program-approved lists, including:
6 credits of arts and humanities courses from the following:
9 credits of natural or social sciences courses from the following:
6 credits that focus on women’s health and sexuality or women in science and technology from the following:
3 credits that focus on non-Western women from the following:
3 credits that focus on women of color in the United States from the following:
SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS
Select 15 credits total from the following groups with at least 3 credits from each group:
  • Quantification (GQ) and Research Methods
  • Values, Ethics, and Scientific Inquiry
  • Social and behavioral sciences, health sciences, or natural sciences

Becoming a Major

To become a major, students must have a minimum of third semester classification and a minimum 2.0 GPA. Students who meet entry-to-major criteria may apply using LionPATH’s Update Academics function.  A student who wishes to enter a major with Administrative Enrollment Controls will use LionPATH’s Update Academics to request entrance to the major. To participate in this process, students will actively request entrance to administratively controlled majors when they are within an established credit window, have completed specified courses, and have earned the stated grade-point average.