Women and Gender Studies Major

Requirements for the Major

51 total units consisting of

Any other courses that are counted towards the WST major must be approved by the Women and Gender Studies program coordinator(s) in the Department of History and Political Science.

 

Courses that emphasize leadership theory and/or practice are designated LWS.

Section A: Introductory courses (4 courses; 8 units)

WST 101Introduction to Women's Studies

3

LWS 1ALeadership Concepts

1

POL 1American Politics and Government

3

WST 1Voice and Advocacy

1

Total Credit Hours:8

Section B: WST Core Section (5 courses; 15 units)

HIS 191Major Issues in the United States Women's History

3

POL 176Public Policy

3

WST 130International Relations and Gender

3

WST 132Gender and Political Communication from a Global Perspective

3

WST 102Readings in WST

1

Total Credit Hours:15

WST 102 Readings in WST (1 unit; 3 units required total)

Section C: Research and Praxis (10 units minimum)

Research skills: (6 units)

WST 103Feminist Methodology

3

 
Plus take 1 of the following three courses:
HIS 101Historical Methods and Historiography

3

HIS 101AIntroduction to Humanities Research and the Digital Humanities

3

POL 101Research Methods

3

Total Credit Hours:6

Praxis: (4 units minimum)

 

Women and Gender Studies students are required to complete one internship experience. The internship experience should be clearly connected to the student’s major and focus. Students are encouraged to explore political and social activism through internships with elected officials, women’s groups, and other organizations dedicated to finding political, social and policy solutions.

 

Existing internship opportunities include positions with the Center for the Advancement of Women and a research-intern position with the GWSTEM Honors program. The department has long running relationships with city offices, elected officials and non-profits that can serve as intern placement. The Office of Women’s Leadership and the Center for the Advancement of Women are well situated to help place interns with community partners.

  

WST 104 Internship (3-6 units); 3 units required; 6 units recommended;

 

Plus

 

LWS 5 Leadership in Action course (1unit) required

 

OR

 

Approval required by WST coordinator and subject to availability

WST 105 Undergraduate Research Assistant

 

Section D: Capstone (3 units)

WST 106Senior Research Project

3

 

Section E: Paths (15 units; Electives)

3  units from either Path 1 and 2, plus 12 units from Path 3, 4, 5

 
Path 1: Politics, Policy and Historical Perspectives
POL 156Women and Politics

3

HCP 155/POL 155Politics of Women's Health Care in California

3

POL 102Gender and the Law

3

HIS 186Gender in American Life and Thought

3

HIS 192AWomen of Color in the U.S.

3

HIS 192BWomen of Color in the U.S.

3

HIS 192CWomen of Color in the U.S.

3

WST 193Current Topics in Women's Studies

3

Path 2: International Politics and Policy
GLP 114The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy

3

GLP 147Women and Development

3

WST 133Gender and Latin American Politics and Society

3

WST 134Women and Gender in African Politics

3

WST 109Global History of Women’s Movements

3

WST 187Gender in a Global Context

3

WST 135Gender and Militarism

3

Path 3: The Body, Mind, and Spirit
BIO 155Cancer and Society

3

SJSD 1Introduction to Social Justice and Sexual Diversity

3

RST 123Christian Thought: Spiritual Journeys of Women

3

PSY 110Gender Issues in Psychology

3

PHI 178Philosophy of Women

3

Path 4: Culture and Society
ENG 123Women's Voices in Literature

3

CUL 117Women's Literature in Translation

3

BUS 140Women's Issues in Business and Economics

3

SOC 163Women's and Children's Human Rights

3

SOC 179Human Trafficking

3

Path 5: Music and the Arts
MUS 117 Women and Gender in Music

3

FLM 124Gender and Media

3

ART 183Woman on Top: Women and the Media

3

Plus General Education requirements and electives totaling 124 semester units.

* WST 106 fulfills the capstone requirement for Social Work.