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Program Description
This interdisciplinary minor is designed to develop a broad understanding of the study of women and women's perspectives in all areas of academic scholarship. The primary focus is on feminist analyses of women's lives, women's social, cultural, and scientific contributions, and the structure of sex/gender systems. The interdisciplinary and inclusive nature of the field is reflected in a curriculum 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. The Women's Studies minor emphasizes the development of critical and analytical skills, creative approaches to problem solving, and the ability to articulate productive alternatives.
Women's Studies minors have a definite career advantage, and can be successful in a wide variety of career paths. Some of these include:
- legal advocacy
- counseling
- journalism
- public relations
- management
- nonprofit administration
- teaching
- medicine
- politics
- art
In addition, many alumnae/i are currently studying in professional, law, or graduate schools.
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!
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| WMNST 301 | 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 | |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 12 credits in Women's Studies or from the program-approved list; at least 6 credits must be at the 400-level and 3 credits from each of the following categories: | 12 | |
Arts or humanities | ||
Natural or social sciences | ||
Focusing on non-Western women or on women of color in the United States | ||
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
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program
Abington
Karen Weekes
Associate Professor of English
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7656
kew16@psu.edu
Altoona
Megan B. Simpson
Associate Professor of English and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Hawthorn Building 213
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5288
mbs12@psu.edu
Berks
Lauren Jade Martin
Associate Professor of Sociology
Gaige 304
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6214
BKWomensStud@psu.edu
Brandywine
Maureen Fielding
Associate Professor of English and Women's Studies
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1439
mdf6@psu.edu
DuBois
Jackie Atkins
Assistant Teaching Professor in English
180 Smeal
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-4815
jkatkins@psu.edu
Erie
Sarah Whitney, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor of English and Women’s Studies
144 Kochel
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6325
sew17@psu.edu
Mont Alto
Alice Royer
Assistant Teaching Professor of English and Women's Studies
313 General Studies Building
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6234
axr24@psu.edu
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, this curriculum trains its minors 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.
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN’S, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY STUDIES
133 Willard Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-4025
jle1@psu.edu
Abington
DIVISION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7656
kew16@psu.edu
Altoona
DIVISION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Hawthorn Building 213
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5288
mbs12@psu.edu
https://altoona.psu.edu/academics/womens-gender-sexuality-studies
Berks
DIVISION OF HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Franco Building
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6214
BKWomensStud@psu.edu
Brandywine
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1439
mdf6@psu.edu
https://www.brandywine.psu.edu/academics/minors/womens-gender-sexuality-studies
DuBois
180 Smeal
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-4815
jkatkins@psu.edu
https://dubois.psu.edu/womens-studies-undergraduate-minor-program
Erie
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
170 Irvin Kochel Center
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6108
HSSOffice@psu.edu
Mont Alto
313 General Studies Building
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6234
axr24@psu.edu