The major in Women's and Gender Studies nurtures students' abilities to think critically and to examine gendered social and cultural circumstances that too often remain unquestioned. The curriculum emphasizes social justice, interdisciplinarity, intersectionality, and transnational feminist theory and praxis. Women's and Gender Studies (WGS) emphasizes the development of strong written & oral communication skills as we help you understand the interconnectedness of systems and structures of gender, race, class, sexuality, ability, culture, religion, and nation within broader historical, social, global, and transnational contexts.
Our classes connect theory and practice, research and public policy, and we provide opportunities for research and advocacy, community and campus engagement, leadership development, service learning and internships.
The thirteen-course major consists of a six-course core, four courses in an individualized concentration, and three elective courses (including one choice in Women of Color Feminisms: Local/Global Contexts).
As a Women’s and Gender Studies major, students will take courses such as:
- Women of Color Feminisms
- Women and Film
- Transformative Justice
- Constructing Gender and Sexuality
- Women in the Middle East
- Mothering, Work, and Reproductive Justice
- Feminist Theories
- Deconstructing the Diva
- Queer Theory
- Transgender Studies
- Black Women's Experiences
- Antiracist Feminisms
- Gender, Community, & Activism: Community-Based Learning in WGS
- Growing Up Female in the U.S.
- Growing up Latino/Latina in the United States
- Gender Violence and Resistance
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 84 |
| Major (Core + Concentration + Electives) Requirements | 48 |
| Open Electives | 60 |
| Total hours required | 192 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Identify the meanings and historical constructions of gender and/or women's experiences in transnational contexts.
- Explain the connections between scholarship and/or creative work and activism in the interdisciplinary field of Women's and Gender Studies.
- Differentiate among a variety of theoretical frameworks and methodologies central to the interdisciplinary field of Women's and Gender Studies.
- Make use of concepts of intersectionality in their written and/or experiential work.
- Articulate the relationship between individual experiences - their own and others' - and broader systemic inequalities.
College Core Requirements
Study in the Major Field
The student’s course of study in the College consists of three parts: Liberal Studies, the major field, and electives. Together these three parts contribute to the liberal education of the student which is the common purpose of all study in the College. By “liberal education” the College understands not only a deep and thorough knowledge of a particular area of study but a knowledge of the diverse areas of study represented by criticism, history, the arts, the behavioral and social sciences, philosophy, religious studies, the natural science, and mathematics.
The major field program generally is built upon a set of core courses and a specialized “concentration.” The number of courses required for a major varies by department. Most students go beyond the minimum requirements, electing additional courses which both broaden and deepen their understanding of their chosen discipline.
Because no academic major program is built in isolation, students are required to pursue a number of electives of the student’s choice. The inherent flexibility of this curriculum demands that the student consult an academic advisor at each stage in the total program and at least once prior to each registration.
Students will be prompted to visit the College Office for their official graduation check early in their senior year.
Declaration of Major, Minor and Concentration
All students in the College are required to declare a major field prior to beginning their junior year. The student will then be assigned a faculty advisor in the major field department or program and should make an appointment to see that advisor at his or her earliest convenience.
Students must declare or change majors, minors, and concentrations, via Campus Connection. However, for the purpose of exploring the possibility of changing a major field, the student should consult an academic advisor in the Office for Academic Advising Support.
The Modern Language Requirement (MLR)
All students will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language (i.e., a language other than English) equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. This Modern Language Requirement (MLR) may be demonstrated by:
- placing into 104 or above on the DePaul language placement exam
- completing the last course or earning AP/IB credit for the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language (e.g. 103 for DePaul language classes)
- completing a college course or earning AP/IB credit for a college course beyond the first-year level in any language (e.g. 104 or above for DePaul language classes)
- completing the final course of a four-year sequence of the same modern language in high school*
- completing a proctored exam by BYU and passing the exam (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
- completing a proctored Written Proficiency Test (WPT) by Language Testing International (LTI) and achieving a score of Beginner High or above (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
*Students are strongly encouraged to take the DePaul language placement exam even if they have met the MLR via study of a language in high school. This will ensure continuation of language study at the proper level.
Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.
Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College will abide by the MLR in place on the effective date of the ICT, regardless of when they first matriculated at DePaul.
Students who have met the MLR and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” (see below).
The Modern Language Option (MLO)
The Modern Language Option is available to all BA students who wish to study a modern language beyond the level required by their College, and to all other undergraduate students without a modern language requirement who wish to study a language at any level.
Students selecting the MLO may substitute a sequence of three courses in the same language for three domain courses.
The three MLO substitutions must be made in three different domains, and any substitutions must be consistent with the principle that students complete at least one course in each learning domain.
MLO substitutions may not be used to replace requirements in the Math & Computing, and Scientific Inquiry, domains.
Students majoring in one modern language may use the Modern Language Option for study of a second language at the Intermediate level or above.
Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Option.
NOTE: Please contact your college/school regarding additional information and restrictions about the Modern Language Option.
External Credit and Residency
A student who has been admitted to the College begins residency within the college as of the first day of classes of the term in which the student is registered. Students in residence, whether attending on a full-time or part-time basis, may not take courses away from DePaul University without the written permission of the college. Permission must be obtained in advance of registration to avoid loss of credit or residency in the college; see the LAS website for more information.
Liberal Studies Requirements
Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.
| First Year Program | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Quarter | ||
| LSP 110 or LSP 111 | DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO | 4 |
| Focal Point | ||
| LSP 112 | FOCAL POINT SEMINAR | 4 |
| Writing | ||
| WRD 103 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 | 4 |
| WRD 104 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| MAT 120 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 | 4 |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Race, Power, and Resistance | ||
| LSP 200 | SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE | 4 |
| Junior Year | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Required | 4 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Capstone | ||
| WGS 395 | WOMEN'S STUDIES ADVANCED SEMINAR 1,3 | 4 |
- 1
Students must earn a C- or better in this course.
- 2
Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. Students who complete MAT 120 and both a Computational Reasoning course and a Statistical Reasoning course in the Math and Computing Learning Domain take one less Learning Domain course. Students may not apply the course reduction to any Domain where only one course is required, and cannot be applied to the Scientific Inquiry Learning Domain. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam or it may be fulfilled by credit for advanced math coursework earned in-residence at DePaul (MAT 135, MAT 136, MAT 147, MAT 148, MAT 149, MAT 150, MAT 151, MAT 152 MAT 155, MAT 156, MAT 160, MAT 161, MAT 162 MAT 170, MAT 171, MAT 172, or equivalent) or earned externally either as transfer credit from another college/university or as test credit through AP, CLEP, IB, or International A and A/S Level exams. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfill any of the three QR/MCD requirements.
- 3
A student majoring in Women's and Gender Studies (WGS) is required to complete the Capstone offered by the WGS Department. This is the case even if a student is double majoring (or pursuing a dual degree) and the secondary major (or degree) requires its own Capstone. A WGS major in the University Honors Program shall take the University Honors Capstone and the WGS Capstone.
Learning Domains
Arts and Literature (AL)
- 2 Courses Required
Historical Inquiry (HI)
- 2 Courses Required
Math and Computing (MC)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 CR Course and 1 SR Course]
Philosophical Inquiry (PI)
- 2 Courses Required
Religious Dimensions (RD)
- 2 Courses Required
Scientific Inquiry (SI)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 Lab Course and 1 SWK Course]
Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)
- 2 Courses Required
Notes
Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the experiential learning requirement.
In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
Common Core
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WGS 100 | WOMEN'S LIVES:RACE/CLASS/GENDER (Students are encouraged to take this before taking additional coursework in the major) | 4 |
| WGS 200 | WOMEN'S STUDIES IN TRANSNATIONAL CONTEXTS | 4 |
| WGS 250 | INTERSECTIONAL & TRANSNATIONAL FEMINIST FORMATIONS | 4 |
| WGS 300 | FEMINIST THEORIES | 4 |
| WGS 391 | METHODS AND SCHOLARSHIP IN WOMEN'S STUDIES | 4 |
| WGS 395 | WOMEN'S STUDIES ADVANCED SEMINAR | 4 |
Course in Women of Color Feminisms: Local/Global Contexts
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least one course focused on Women of Color Feminisms: Local/Global Contexts from: | 4 | |
| BLACK FEMINIST THEORIES IN A U.S. CONTEXT | ||
| MOTHERING, WORK, AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE | ||
| WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST: BEYOND THE VEIL | ||
| LATINA FEMINIST THOUGHT AND CULTURE | ||
| FEMINISMS OF THE BLACK DIASPORA | ||
| BLACK WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES: VARIABLE TOPICS | ||
| WOMEN OF COLOR FEMINISMS | ||
Concentration
The WGS major requires students to complete a 4-course Individualized Concentration in consultation with their WGS faculty advisor. Students may wish to focus their WGS concentration courses to match their academic and future career interests.
The department recommends the following Concentration Focus Areas as a tool for students to use in their course selection.
In addition to the courses listed below, the department offers a variety of courses, including Special Topics, that may apply to one or more of these Focus Areas. Approved electives outside WGS may also count; discuss these options with your faculty advisor for approval.
Genders and Sexualities
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WGS 225 | CONSTRUCTING GENDER AND SEXUALITY | 4 |
| WGS 330 | LESBIAN LIVES | 4 |
| WGS 362 | INTRODUCTION TO TRANSGENDER STUDIES | 4 |
| WGS 363 | GLOBALLY QUEER: TRANSNATIONAL LGBTQ POLITICS | 4 |
| WGS 372 | LATINA FEMINIST THOUGHT AND CULTURE | 4 |
| WGS 388 | QUEER THEORY: AN INTRODUCTION | 4 |
Globalization & Transnational Politics
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WGS 305 | MOTHERING, WORK, AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE | 4 |
| WGS 307 | WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST: BEYOND THE VEIL | 4 |
| WGS 334 | GIRLHOOD ALL AROUND THE WORLD | 4 |
| WGS 345 | WOMEN, WAR AND RESISTANCE | 4 |
| WGS 363 | GLOBALLY QUEER: TRANSNATIONAL LGBTQ POLITICS | 4 |
| WGS 364 | POLITICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY | 4 |
| WGS 375 | FEMINISMS OF THE BLACK DIASPORA | 4 |
Social Justice and Advocacy
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WGS 265 | YOGA AND FEMINIST THOUGHT: EMBODYING INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE TRANSFORMATION | 4 |
| WGS 275 | BLACK FEMINIST THEORIES IN A U.S. CONTEXT | 4 |
| WGS 303 | GENDER, VIOLENCE AND RESISTANCE | 4 |
| WGS 305 | MOTHERING, WORK, AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE | 4 |
| WGS 314 | ANTIRACIST FEMINISMS | 4 |
| WGS 320 | TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE: THEORY AND PRACTICE | 4 |
| WGS 372 | LATINA FEMINIST THOUGHT AND CULTURE | 4 |
| WGS 390 | WOMEN OF COLOR FEMINISMS | 4 |
Major Field Electives
Two additional electives, as chosen by the student from the list of courses approved for the Women’s and Gender Studies major.