Prospective Students
Why study Women's & Gender Studies?
Why should you study WGS? Take a look at the presentation below, which explores the many reasons why WGS is a valuable major or minor that prepares you for a wide variety of possible careers.
WGS Frequently Asked Questions:
What’s the difference between the Women’s & Gender Studies major and minor? How do I decide if I want to major or minor in WGS?
For more information about the differences between the major and minor, please visit the WGS Major and Minor page.
Do I have to be a Women’s & Gender Studies major or minor to take a WGS class?
No! In fact, students from all across campus take WGS courses to fulfill their General Education Humanities requirement (and many of those students love their time in WGS so much that they go on to declare a major or minor!).
What kinds of classes would I take as a WGS major or minor?
WGS counts courses from across the campus, with course offerings in almost every discipline. To view a current list of courses that WGS students will take this upcoming semester, please see the WGS Spring 2024 Course Brochure.
To view catalogue information and additional course information, please see the WGS Major Catalog & Course Information and the WGS Minor Catalog & Course Information.
The website says that Women’s & Gender Studies is “interdisciplinary.” What does that mean?
Women's and Gender Studies as an academic discipline is interdisciplinary. This means WGS draws from a range of other fields of study in developing knowledge (for example, Psychology, History, Biology, Sociology, Business, Communication, English... even Music!). You'll find that WGS courses are offered across many different departments. WGS as an academic field thinks and acts across traditional disciplinary boundaries.
What sorts of skills will I develop during my time in the major/minor?
By the time our WGS students graduate, they have developed skills conventionally fostered through a Liberal Arts education such as critical thinking, problem solving, and oral and written communication. Additionally, WGS students learn to work effectively in teams, practice ethical judgment and decision making, and integrate ideas and information across contexts. WGS students are often called upon to help navigate challenging situations in the workplace because of their deep understanding of differences and their developed skills in empathic listening.