Women’s and Gender Studies [BA]

Location(s): In-person/hybrid

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies prepares students of all genders for a variety of careers in which they can help bring about social equality and justice.

Learn

The Women’s and Gender Studies major prepares a student to make a difference in the world by emphasizing both theory and practice. Students gain the skills to identify, critically analyze, and devise solutions to systemic, intersecting forms of discrimination and inequality that disadvantage groups on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, ability, age, class, religion, and nationality.

Opportunities

Women’s and Gender Studies students can take advantage of a number of learning opportunities outside of the traditional classroom, including our mentoring course that takes place in a local middle school, our courses in the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, internships with community non-profit organizations, and the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Women’s and Gender Studies students succeed in a wide range of career fields because our major is interdisciplinary and includes courses in Africology and African American Studies, Biology, Business, Communication, Criminology, Economics, History, Legal Studies, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, and Technology. Upon graduation, Women’s and Gender Studies majors often go on to positions in the non-profit sector, working as advocates, organizers, research analysts, and program directors. Our graduates also frequently go on to graduate school and find positions in academia.

Many students double major in Women’s and Gender Studies and another discipline that prepares them for a specific career in which a critical understanding of gender and sexuality is necessary (for example, Social Work, Psychology, Education, and Criminology). At 30 credit hours, the Women’s and Gender Studies major is designed to be easily combined with another major.

Department Information

Women’s and Gender Studies 714A Pray-Harrold, 734.487.1177

Mary-Elizabeth Murphy, PhD, Department Head

Advisor Information

Francine Parker Advising Center, 120 Student Center, 734.487.4599

General Education Requirements:

For specific requirements, see General Education or view the General Education Worksheet [PDF] .

Major Requirements: 30 hours

Students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of coursework at the 300 level or above.

Core Courses: 12 hours

WGST 300W Feminist Inquiry [GEWI] 3 hrs
WGST 400W Capstone Seminar [GEWI] 3 hrs
Choose one course from the following:
WGST 200 Introduction to Women’s Studies [GEUS] 3 hrs
WGST 202 Introduction to Gender and Sexuality [GEUS] 3 hrs
Choose one course from the following:
PHIL 226 Feminist Theory [GEGA or GEKH] 3 hrs
WGST 226 Feminist Theory [GEGA or GEKH] 3 hrs

Restricted Elective Courses: 12 hours

Three hours from each of the following four groups. Special Topics/Independent Study substitutions need to be approved by advisor.

I. Arts and Humanities
AFC 446 History of African American Women 3 hrs
ARTH 473 Women in Art 3 hrs
CASI 240 Reel Women/Real Women 3 hrs
CHL 353 Genders and Sexualities in Literature for Young Readers 3 hrs
CLAS 321 Women and Gender in the Ancient World 3 hrs
HIST 321 Women and Gender in the Ancient World 3 hrs
HIST 325 History of Sexuality 3 hrs
HIST 336 History of Women in the United States Since 1865 3 hrs
HIST 337 Women in North America to 1865 3 hrs
HIST 415 LGBTQ+ History 3 hrs
HIST 446 History of African American Women 3 hrs
LITR 222 LGBT/Queer Literatures [GEUS or GEKH] 3 hrs
LITR 443 Women in Literature 3 hrs
LITR 445 Sexualities in Literature and Culture 3 hrs
PHIL 326W Philosophy & Sexuality [GEWI] 3 hrs
PHIL 426W Topics in Gender and Philosophy [GEWI] 3 hrs
WGST 222 LGBT/Queer Literatures [GEUS or GEKH] 3 hrs
WGST 321 Women and Gender in the Ancient World 3 hrs
WGST 325 History of Sexuality 3 hrs
WGST 326W Philosophy & Sexuality [GEWI] 3 hrs
WGST 336 History of Women in the United States Since 1865 3 hrs
WGST 337 Women in North America to 1865 3 hrs
WGST 340 Transgenre; Genre, Gender and Sex (A Queer Poetics) 3 hrs
WGST 353 Genders and Sexualities in Literature for Young Readers 3 hrs
WGST 415 LGBTQ+ History 3 hrs
WGST 426W Topics in Gender and Philosophy [GEWI] 3 hrs
WGST 436 Women in Art 3 hrs
WGST 443 Women in Literature 3 hrs
WGST 445 Sexualities in Literature and Culture 3 hrs
WGST 446 History of African American Women 3 hrs
II. Social and Physical Sciences
AFC 243 Black Women: Politics and Racism 3 hrs
AFC 362 Black Women: Religion and Sexism 3 hrs
ANTH 355 Anthropology of Women 3 hrs
BIO 369 Biology of Sex and Gender 3 hrs
CRM 338 Women, Crime and Justice 3 hrs
ECON 328 Economics of Gender 3 hrs
PLSC 365 Women and Politics 3 hrs
PSY 242 Psychology of Women 3 hrs
RLST 275 Gender, Sexuality, and Religion in the U.S. [GEUS or GEKH] 3 hrs
SOCL 338 Women, Crime and Justice 3 hrs
SOCL 344 Sociology of Gender 3 hrs
SOCL 450 The Family 3 hrs
WGST 215 Gendered Sexual Violence [GEUS] 3 hrs
WGST 242 Psychology of Women 3 hrs
WGST 243 Black Women: Politics and Racism 3 hrs
WGST 275 Gender, Sexuality, and Religion in the U.S. [GEUS or GEKH] 3 hrs
WGST 328 Economics of Gender 3 hrs
WGST 338 Women, Crime and Justice 3 hrs
WGST 344 Sociology of Gender 3 hrs
WGST 355 Anthropology of Women 3 hrs
WGST 362 Black Women: Religion and Sexism 3 hrs
WGST 365 Women and Politics 3 hrs
WGST 369 Biology of Sex and Gender 3 hrs
III. Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Studies
AFC 243 Black Women: Politics and Racism 3 hrs
AFC 361 The African American Family 3 hrs
AFC 362 Black Women: Religion and Sexism 3 hrs
ANTH 355 Anthropology of Women 3 hrs
PSY 340 Psychological Perspectives on Prejudice and Discrimination 3 hrs
WGST 210 Gender in a Global Perspective [GEGA] 3 hrs
WGST 243 Black Women: Politics and Racism 3 hrs
WGST 355 Anthropology of Women 3 hrs
WGST 362 Black Women: Religion and Sexism 3 hrs
WGST 370 Women’s and Gender Studies Abroad 3 hrs
WGST 450 Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies 3 hrs
WGST 456 Gendered Globalization: Economic, Political and Cultural Dimensions 3 hrs
IV. Communities
BMMT 205 Women in Business [GEUS] 3 hrs
COMM 260 Gender Communication [GEUS] 3 hrs
COMM 265 Communication and the LGBTQ+ Community [GEUS] 3 hrs
LEGL 318 Women and the Law 3 hrs
SWKE 413 Women and Aging 3 hrs
SWKE 462 Social Work Practice with LGBTQ+ People 3 hrs
TM 420 Women and Technology 3 hrs
WGST 102 Gender Through the Prism of Prison [GEUS] 3 hrs
WGST 205 Women in Business [GEUS] 3 hrs
WGST 230L2 Mentoring Youth in Urban Spaces: Feminist Perspectives [GELB] 4 hrs
WGST 260 Gender Communication [GEUS] 3 hrs
WGST 265 Communication and the LGBTQ+ Community [GEUS] 3 hrs
WGST 302 Masculinities and Manhood 3 hrs
WGST 305 Queer Studies 3 hrs
WGST 387L4 Cooperative Education in Women’s Studies [GELB] 3 hrs
WGST 410 Gender, Sexuality, and Disability 3 hrs
WGST 413 Women and Aging 3 hrs
WGST 318 Women and the Law 3 hrs
WGST 420 Women and Technology 3 hrs
WGST 462 Social Work Practice with LGBTQ+ People 3 hrs
WGST 487L4 Internship in Women’s and Gender Studies [GELB] 3 hrs

Elective Courses: 6 hours

Students may choose any “WGST” course for their elective requirements. Special Topics/Independent Study courses may satisfy this requirement if approved by a faculty advisor.

Minor Requirement:

This major requires a minor. See available minors for a list of options, or contact your advisor.

Program Total:

Students must earn a minimum total of 120 credits at the 100-level or above.

Critical Graduation Information

Each undergraduate student will be responsible for fulfilling the requirements (or their equivalents) of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration at a college or university or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

In the event an undergraduate student does not complete the degree requirements within seven years of the date of their original registration at a college or university, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their major/minor in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

Minimum requirements for all bachelor’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University

Some majors and minors require more than the minimum in one or more of the areas below; students are urged to consult this catalog for the requirements of their particular programs.

Earn a minimum total of 120 credit hours at the 100-level and above.
- Courses numbered below 100 are not counted toward this degree requirement.
- At most, eight credit hours of physical education (PEGN) activity courses are counted toward this requirement.
Meet the requirements of the General Education program (see information below), including completing a Writing Intensive (GEWI) course in the student’s major.
Earn a minimum of 60 credits from a four-year college or university; courses taken at community colleges cannot be used to meet this requirement (Some formal program-to-program articulation agreements modify this requirement. See specific agreements for details).
Earn a minimum of 30 credits from courses taken at EMU.
Complete 10 of the last 30 hours for the degree from courses taken at EMU.
Have a minimum of 30 unique credit hours in their major and 20 unique credit hours in their minor for a total of at least 50 unique credit hours between them. Some majors that require 50 or more hours themselves do not require a minor. A double major automatically satisfies the need for a minor unless one of the two majors requires a specific minor. Students should check the requirements of the selected major in the undergraduate catalog to see if a minor is required.
Earn no more than 60 credit hours in one subject area (prefix). Credits over the 60 maximum will not be counted toward the minimum of 120 credits required for a bachelor’s degree.
Earn the minimum number of credits in 300-level and above courses in each major and minor as specified below - these credits must be earned in distinct courses; that is, no course can be used to fulfill this requirement in more than one major or minor.
- Earn a minimum of 6 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each minor
- Earn a minimum of 9 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that requires a minor.
- Earn a minimum of 15 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that does not require a minor
Transfer credit will be awarded for courses taken at colleges and universities that are accredited by one of the recognized regional accrediting bodies only if the courses are college-level (equated to 100-level or above at EMU) and the student earned a “C” (or 2.0 on a 4 point scale) or better. Transfer credit may be awarded on a case-by-case basis for college-level courses in which a “C” (2.0) or better was earned at institutions outside the U.S. or at non-accredited U.S. institutions; individual departments/schools conduct the internal review of such courses within EMU, and additional documentation may be required. Please note: EMU awards only credit for transferred courses; grades are not used to calculate an EMU GPA.
Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses taken at EMU to graduate. In addition, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be reached in each major and minor. Only courses a student takes at EMU and those applied to their major or minor are used to calculate their major and minor cumulative GPAs. (Note: some programs may require a higher GPA - check with your program advisor.)

General Education Requirements - EMU’s General Education Program requires students to choose from a menu of approved courses in several different areas; do not assume that other courses in the same department or similar names will fulfill these requirements. A detailed description of General Education requirements is available in the General Education section of the catalog.

Students who transferred to EMU may have modified general education requirements based on Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) or articulation agreements; consult your academic advisor for additional information.