Gender and Women's Studies
Department Office: 911 South Sixth Street, Champaign, (217) 333-2990
The mission of the Department of Gender & Women’s Studies is to examine relationships of power, identity and transformation by: 1) reading narratives and representations; 2) questioning institutions and cultures; 3) challenging discrimination and inequity; and 4) understanding racialized, sexualized, and queer bodies.
A major in Gender & Women’s Studies encourages students to think broadly about intersections of race, gender and sexuality while challenging discrimination and inequities. Students majoring in Gender & Women’s Studies gain foundational skills to examine gender, race, class, ethnicity, religion and sexuality in relation to local, national, colonial, post-colonial and transnational contexts. The major forges together an array of feminist and intersectional approaches which draw upon social sciences, humanities, sciences, arts and community engagement. Students will sharpen their abilities to critically analyze gender, approach problems theoretically, and utilize cross-disciplinary research methods to question institutions and cultures.
Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum
E-mail: gws@illinois.edu
www.gws.illinois.edu
Degree title: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minimum required courses: 33 hours.
General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Departmental distinction. To be eligible for graduation with distinction, a student must have a college grade-point average of 3.5, a Gender and Women's Studies Concentration grade point average of 3.5, complete the Senior Seminar, GWS 498, with a grade of A, and complete a semester paper in GWS 498 that is deemed worthy of "distinction" by the instructor.
High distinction. To be eligible for graduation with high distinction, a student must have a college grade point average of 3.5, a Gender and Women's Studies Concentration grade-point average of 3.7, complete the Senior Seminar, GWS 498, with a grade of A, and complete a semester paper in GWS 498 that is deemed worthy of "high distinction" by the instructor.
Advising: The Department of Gender and Women’s Studies provides advising for students to help plan a coherent program of study.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 9 | Required Courses GWS 201—Race, Gender & Power GWS 202—Sexualities GWS 498—Senior Seminar |
| 3 | GWS 350—Feminist & Gender Theory OR GWS 370—Queer Theory |
| 15 | Additional Coursework1 At least 15 additional hours of coursework offered by the Gender & Women’s Studies Department, with no more than 3 hours at the 100 or 200 level. Required courses are offered by the Department of Gender & Women’s Studies and are on an approved list maintained in the department office and with the GWS advisor. |
| 6 | Area Electives Two courses, at least one of which must be transnational, non-U.S. No more than one may be counted from the 100 or 200 level. For a list of approved courses contact the GWS department or the GWS advisor. |
| 33 | Total required hours |
1. Topics courses (GWS 199, 295, 395, 495) may count up to 3 hours toward the additional coursework with consent of the GWS advisor. GWS 390 or GWS 490 may count up to 3 hours toward additional coursework with consent of the GWS advisor.
Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses must be taken on this campus.
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your advisor.
Minor in Gender and Women's Studies
A minor in GWS provides complementary tools for many majors in the humanities, arts and sciences. The minor advocates actively reading, questioning, challenging, and understanding racialized, sexualized, and gendered bodies. The Department of Gender and Women’s Studies must approve a student's minor course plan. Students must register their minor with the Gender and Women's Studies advisor.
E-mail: gws-email@illinois.edu
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | Two of the
following three Women’s Studies courses: GWS 201–Race, Gender & Power |
| GWS 202-Sexualities | |
| GWS 350-Feminist & Gender Theory | |
| 9 | Additional Coursework1 At least 9 additional hours of coursework offered by the Gender and Women’s Studies Department at the 300- or 400-level. Required courses consist of a selected list of courses offered by the Department of Gender & Women's Studies; they are on an approved list maintaned in the department office and with the GWS advisor. |
| 3 | 3 hours of area electives at any level. For a list of approved courses contact the GWS department office or the GWS advisor. |
| 18 | Total hours |
1. Topics courses (GWS 395, 495) may count up to 3 hours toward additional coursework with consent of the GWS advisor. GWS 390 or GWS 490 may count up to 3 hours toward additional coursework with consent of the GWS advisor.
At least 6 hours of advanced coursework must be distinct from credit earned for the student's major or another minor.
Minor in LGBT/Queer Studies
The LGBT/Queer Studies minor provides students the opportunity to explore how various political, social, and cultural definitions of sexual identities and their expression have been constructed and challenged in different places and points in time. Attention is given to queer politics, and interactions with nation, race, ethnicity, and gender. A minor in LGBT/Queer Studies provides complementary tools for many majors in the humanities, arts and sciences.
The Department of Gender and Women's Studies must approve a student's minor course plan. Students must register their minor with the Gender and Women's Studies advisor.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | GWS 202-Sexualties OR GWS 255-Queer Lives, Queer Politics |
| 3 | GWS 370-Queer Theory |
| 9 | Additional Coursework1 Choose 3 courses offered by the Gender & Women’s Studies Department from the list below: GWS 325-Lesbian/Queer Media Cultures GWS 385-Transnational Sexualities GWS 387-History of Sexuality in the U.S. GWS 459-Postcolonial/Queer GWS 467-Queer Inquiry, Local Stories GWS 470-Trans Bodies and Politics GWS 478-Sex, Power and Politics |
| 3 | Area electives at any level. For a list of approved courses contact the GWS Department office or the GWS advisor. |
| 18 | Total |
1. Topics courses (GWS 395, 495) may count up to 3 hours toward additional coursework with consent of the GWS advisor. GWS 390 or GWS 490 may count up to 3 hours toward additional coursework with consent of the GWS advisor.
At least 6 hours of advanced coursework must be distinct from credit earned for the student's major or another minor.
Students may choose to major in Gender & Women's Studies and Minor in LGBT/Queer Studies, but classes may not count towards both.