Majors & Minors
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Major | Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor
Department Faculty:ÌýMyrl Beam (Chair), Melanie Yazzie,ÌýLayla Zbinden (Wallin Postdoctoral Fellow), Sabina Vaught (Humphrey Distinguished Professor, with Educational Studies)
Steering Committee:ÌýMyrl Beam (Women's Gender, and Sexuality Studies), Melanie Yazzie (Women's Gender, and Sexuality Studies),ÌýLayla Zbinden (Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies),ÌýErika Busse-Cardenas (Sociology),Ìý Juliette Rogers (French and Francophone Studies), Rothin Datta (Political Science)
Affiliated Faculty:Ìý Samuel Asarnow (Philosophy), Erika Busse-Cardenas (Sociology), James Dawes (English), Paul Dosh (Political Science), Susanna Drake (Religious Studies), Amy Elkins (English), Maria Fedorova (History/Russian Studies), Rachel Gold (English), Walter Greason (History), Duchess Harris (American Studies), Rotem Herrmann (Philosophy), Tara Hollies (History), Joanna Inglot (Art and Art History), Elizabeth Jansen (Biology), Jim Laine (Religious Studies), Brian Lush (Classics), Victoria Malawey (Music), AhooÌýNajafian (Religious Studies), Joan Ostrove (Psychology), Jessica Pearson-Patel (History), Jenna Rice (International Studies), Juliette Rogers (French and Francophone Studies), Kirisitina Sailiata (American Studies), Beth Severy-Hoven (Classics), kt shorb (Theater and Dance), Linda Sturtz (History), Amy Sullivan (History), Satoko Suzuki (Asian Languages and Cultures), Claudia Tatinge Nascimento (Theater), Xin Yang (Asian Languages and Cultures),ÌýDella Zurick (Political Science)
In the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department (WGSS) at ÈÕº«¾«Æ·, students investigate key questions raised within feminist and queer theories and the fields of women's, transgender, bisexual, lesbian, and gay studies. Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies is an interdisciplinary field interlinking the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts. Through a rich array of core and crosslisted courses, students examine interlocking systems of cultural and political difference based on gender, sexuality, race, nation, class, ethnicity, and ability, through comparative national and transnational perspectives; and develop practical and theoretical skills for understanding and engaging the historical, social, cultural, economic, and political contexts shaping our world. The department strongly encourages students to engage diverse communities at Macalester and beyond, and supports students in completing independent research, internships, study away, and senior and honors projects. Our graduates have applied their work in a wide variety of careers in academia, literature and the arts, law, politics, business, health and medicine, and non-profit work.
General Distribution Requirements
,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý, ,Ìý, ,Ìý,Ìý, , ,Ìý, Ìýcount toward the general distribution requirement in humanities.Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»å Ìýcount toward the social science distribution requirement.Ìý,Ìý, Ìý²¹²Ô»å Ìýcount toward the general distribution requirement in fine arts. Ìýcounts toward the math/natural science distribution requirement. Courses in the department numbered , ,ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»å Ìýwill count toward either the humanities or social science distribution requirement (announced at registration), depending on the subject matter. Any topics courses (, , , ) require approval by the department to qualify for general distribution credit. Courses approved for women's, gender, and sexuality studies offered through other departments meet the general distribution requirements of that department.
General Education Requirements
Courses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism, and U.S. identities and differencesÌýwill be posted on the Registrar's web page in advance of registration for each semester.
Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirementsÌýsection of this catalog.
Honors Program
The Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department participates in the honors program. Eligibility requirements, application procedures and specific project expectations for the department are available from either the department office or the Academic Programs and Advising Office.
Topics Courses
, , , Ìý
Examination of special topics of interest to faculty and students. Occasionally offered. (4 credits)
Independent Study
The department offers independent study options in the form of independent projects, internships, preceptorships and Honors independent projects. For more information contact the department and review the CurriculumÌýsection of the catalog.
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Major
Major Requirements
NOTE: The Women's, Gender, and Sexuality studies major and minor plans may not include more than 3 courses which are already used on any other single major, minor or concentration plan the student has declared.
The major consists of 10 courses (40 credits). These courses must include the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Six additional WGSS courses, two of which must be 300-level courses.
Points to consider in developing your WGSS major:
- We strongly recommend taking the core courses in the following order: 1) WGSS100, 2) WGSS 200, 3) WGSS300, 4) WGSS400
- You should plan your WGSS major in consultation with a department faculty member in WGSS and as you do so, consider what you'd like to accomplish with this major.
- Although not required, we recommend you take at least one 300-level elective (see #5 above) from a WGSS department faculty member since these specific courses will build most directly on the knowledge obtained in WGSS 200.
- The major may include up to the equivalent of 4 credit hours from a study-away program.
- The department strongly recommends civic engagement or other community work. Up to 4 credit hours of independent study or internship may count toward the major.
- The major may not include more than 3 courses which are already used on any other single major, minor or concentration plan the student has declared.
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor
Minor Requirements
The minor consists of 5 courses (20 credits). These courses must include the following:
1.
2.
3. One 300-level WGSS course
4. Two additional WGSS courses at any level
Points to consider in developing your WGSS minor:
- Although not required, we encourage you to consider taking or complete an independent study or internship in WGSS. Completing one of these options will help you better link WGSS theory to practice and provide a tangible opportunity to link this minor to your major area of study.
- The minor may include up to the equivalent of 4 credit hours from a study-away program.
- The department strongly recommends civic engagement or other community work. Up to 4 credit hours of independent study or internship may count toward the minor.