At which campus can I study this program?
Begin Campus
Any Penn State Campus
End Campus
University Park
Program Description
This interdisciplinary major is designed to develop a broad understanding of the study of women and women's perspectives in all areas of academic scholarship. The focus is on feminist analyses of women's lives, of women's social, cultural, and scientific contributions, and of the structure of sex/gender systems. The interdisciplinary and inclusive nature of the field is reflected in a curricular structure that includes courses cross-listed with a wide variety of departments, courses that deal with aspects of women's lives throughout history, and courses that recognize the diversities of culture, race, religion, ethnicity, age, disability, and sexual orientation.
Students may choose either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science Program. The B.A. degree in Women’s Studies is a traditional Women’s Studies degree. The B.S. degree is intended for students with strong interest in quantitative skills, women’s health and sexuality, and/or women and science, or who wish to pursue a multiple major program with other B.S. degree programs.
What is Women's Studies?
Women’s Studies explores the intersection of identity, social power, and privilege. Concerned with how societies “construct” inequality and social bias, Women’s Studies analyzes every aspect of our lives through a critical lens, without filtering out impacts of socio-political inequalities, and lived experiences of women and their families. With cross-listed courses in Anthropology, Communications, Government, History, Psychology, Sociology, Women’s Health and more fields, students can approach Women’s Studies from almost any direction. Alongside the U.S. history of women and feminist movement, “transnational” feminism offers a wider comparative study of: constructions of gender across cultures; the legal and political standing of women and marginalized populations; the nature and impacts of gender-based violence, mass migration, militarization, climate change, food insecurity and other contemporary challenges on the physical, social and political wellbeing of women around the globe.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You want to translate your curiosities, experiences, passions and interests into actionable and meaningful work.
- You seek out inclusive environments, with persons of different backgrounds, cultures, and races to understand their points of view.
- You are passionate about gender equity, human rights, and social justice.
- You want to explore how gender and sexuality play a role in culture, the arts, literature, health, politics, the sciences, law, and education.
- You see yourself as a change agent in this world!
Entrance to Major
In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:
- attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
- have third-semester classification.
READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Science degree in Women's Studies, a minimum of 120 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Electives | 21-30 |
| Requirements for the Major | 57 |
3-12 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 3-6 credits of GQ courses, 0-3 credits of GH courses, and 0-3 credits of GS courses.
Per Senate Policy 83-80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. For more information, check the Recommended Academic Plan for your intended program.
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol 
appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Knowledge Domains
- Arts (GA): 6 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 6 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 6 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 9 credits
Integrative Studies (may also complete a Knowledge Domain requirement)
- Inter-Domain or Approved Linked Courses: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Requirements for the Major
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| WMNST 301 | 3 | |
| WMNST 492W | Contemporary Feminist Analysis: The Capstone Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| WMNST 100 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| or WMNST 106N | Representing Women and Gender in Literature, Art and Popular Cultures | |
| WMNST 400N | Debates in Contemporary Feminism | 3 |
| or WMNST 401 | Doing Feminism: Theory and Practice | |
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Research Project | ||
| Internship | ||
| Independent Studies | ||
| Select 27 credits (at least 9 credits at the 400 level) in Women's Studies from the program-approved lists, including: 1 | 27 | |
6 credits of arts and humanities courses from the following: | ||
| First-Year Seminar in Women's Studies | ||
WMNST 101 | ||
| Women of the African Diaspora | ||
| Women and the American Experience | ||
| Representing Women and Gender in Literature, Art and Popular Cultures | ||
| Women in United States History | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Religion | ||
| Women Writers | ||
| Women and Theatre | ||
| Feminist Philosophy | ||
| Reading Black, Reading Feminist | ||
| Lesbian and Gay History | ||
| Women Writers and Their Worlds | ||
9 credits of natural or social sciences courses from the following: | ||
| Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | ||
| Racism and Sexism | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
WMNST 116 | ||
| Race, Gender, and Employment | ||
| Science, Technology, and Gender | ||
| Women, Gender, and Feminisms in Africa | ||
| Gender, Diversity and the Media | ||
| Education and the Status of Women | ||
WMNST 426Y | ||
WMNST 420 | ||
| Sexual and Domestic Violence | ||
| Women and Sport | ||
| Gender and Politics | ||
| Women's Health Issues | ||
| Women and the Criminal Justice System | ||
| Gender Roles in Communication | ||
| Gender, Occupations, and Professions | ||
| Critical Feminist Issues in Reproduction | ||
| The Psychology of Gender | ||
| Anthropology of Gender | ||
6 credits that focus on women’s health and sexuality or women in science and technology from the following: | ||
| Science, Technology, and Gender | ||
| Gender, Diversity and the Media | ||
| Women's Health Issues | ||
| Critical Feminist Issues in Reproduction | ||
3 credits that focus on non-Western women from the following: | ||
| Women of the African Diaspora | ||
| Women, Gender, and Feminisms in Africa | ||
WMNST 420 | ||
| Anthropology of Gender | ||
3 credits that focus on women of color in the United States from the following: | ||
WMNST 101 | ||
| Racism and Sexism | ||
| Race, Gender, and Employment | ||
| Gender, Diversity and the Media | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 15 credits total from the following groups with at least 3 credits from each group: | 15 | |
Quantification (GQ) and Research Methods | ||
Values, Ethics, and Scientific Inquiry | ||
Social and behavioral sciences, health sciences, or natural sciences | ||
| 1 | The same course may be used to fulfill more than one requirement within Additional Courses. |
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university’s academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee’s unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
http://starfish.psu.edu
http://www.la.psu.edu/current-students/undergraduate-students/education/majors-and-minors
Suggested Academic Plan
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2020-21 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition (Note: the archive only contain suggested academic plans beginning with the 2018-19 edition of the Undergraduate Bulletin).
University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15 or honors equivalent (GWS)* | 3 | CAS 100 or honors equivalent (GWS)* | 3 |
| WMNST 100, 106N, or WMNST 83S* | 3 | WMNST course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| Quantification (GQ)* | 3 | Humanities (GH) + (US) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) (FYS) | 3 | Natural Sciences (GN) | 3 |
| Major Supporting or Related Courses* | 3 | Major Supporting or Related Courses* | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| WMNST course (work with adviser)* | 3 | WMNST 301* | 3 |
| Quantification (GQ)* | 3 | Natural Sciences (GN) | 3 |
| Arts (GA) + (IL) | 3 | Humanities (GH) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) | 3 | Major Supporting or Related Courses* | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Arts (GA) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| WMNST 400N or 401* | 3 | WMNST course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| WMNST course (work with adviser)* | 3 | WMNST course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| Natural Sciences (GN) | 3 | WMNST course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| Major Supporting or Related Courses* | 3 | ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D* | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| WMNST 494, 495, or 496* | 3 | WMNST 492W* | 3 |
| WMNST course (work with adviser)* | 3 | WMNST course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| WMNST course (work with adviser) | 3 | Major Supporting or Related Courses* | 3 |
| Health and Wellness (GHW) | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
| * | Course requires a grade of C or better for the major |
| ‡ | Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education |
| # | Course is an Entrance to Major requirement |
| † | Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement |
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy University Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
GWS, GQ, GHW, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS, and Integrative Studies). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Integrative Studies courses are required for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL/CAS 137 in the fall semester and ENGL/CAS 138 in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and replace both ENGL 30 and CAS 100. Each course is 3 credits.
Advising Notes:
This document is only for planning purposes. Most students are "off the plan" after one semester. At the campuses, students may sub WMNST 301 with any WMNST course if not available.
Students need at least 24 credits in WMNST courses completed at UP due to competency requirements. Campus advisers may make work UP advisers if they have questions about their current students.
Two general education courses (GQ, GN, GA, GH, GS) must be integrative studies courses - Inte-Domain or Linked.
12 credits of Major Supporting and Related Courses could fulfill general education requirements as well, which would mean a student needs more electives than what are listed here.
Career Paths
Employers today value effective communication, analytical thinking, and teamwork. With its emphasis on how gender, sexuality, race and other forms of diversity impact the experiences of every individual, the Women’s Studies curriculum trains its majors to recognize the impacts of bias and unequal social power in the social, cultural and political arenas. Graduates enter their post-graduate world sensitive to diverse perspectives that can either facilitate or impede team building, problem solving, and negotiation. Women’s Studies graduates—no matter where their career paths lead—are committed to the kind of institutional and social change that values all voices, and supports social justice.
Careers
Women’s Studies graduates from Penn State work in a wide variety of professions and industries. You will find us in the legal profession (one alumna runs her own legal firm, serving lower-income clients and gender-based discrimination cases). Others work in communications, marketing and advertising, business, banking and human resources. Activist students find their way into non-profits, advocacy groups, government, human development, journalism and communications. Women’s health is a dynamic field—medical care, nursing and research positions are out there, as well as health administration. Teaching attracts many of our graduates.
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
The scholarly field of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies prepares students to study some of the most complex challenges in a world where gender, race, class, sexuality, and power are always intertwined. As an interdisciplinary field, WGSS spans the arts and sciences, the humanities, and policy fields and provides applicable training for students seeking to continue their studies. Our scholars gain experience as researchers and teachers with the innovative tools to prepare them as leaders across the public, private, and educational sectors.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Professional Resources
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN’S, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY STUDIES
133 Willard Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-4025
jle1@psu.edu