The Undergraduate Certificate in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Studies explores questions about sexuality, identity, gender, community, representation, diversity, assimilation, and discrimination that are both academically and socially significant.

This certificate is designed for all students, regardless of major, who have an interest in learning more about the history and contemporary life of LGBT individuals. Students who earn the LGBT Studies certificate are prepared for careers that involve interaction with people of diverse backgrounds in areas such as business, education, healthcare, and law. Some graduates go on to work in social services or public affairs, promoting equality in legislation and policy.

Coursework in this program is interdisciplinary and includes materials and methods from many fields, including Africology, anthropology, communication, comparative literature, economics, English, ethnic studies, film studies, health sciences, history, linguistics, music, nursing, political science, psychology, social welfare, sociology, theatre, and women's and gender studies.

Certificates are similar to minors in terms of credit requirements but draw on coursework from multiple fields of study rather than from a single department.

Eligibility

The LGBT Studies Undergraduate Certificate is designed for students majoring in any field who wish to complement their study of a discipline with an additional concentration in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender studies. Any student in good standing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who is seeking a bachelor's degree or who previously received a bachelor's degree from UWM or any other accredited college or university is eligible to participate in the certificate program. The program also is open to those who do not plan to pursue a college or university degree (non-degree students) but who have a strong interest in this topic. To be admitted as non-degree students, individuals must meet regular University admission requirements.

Requirements

The LGBT Studies Undergraduate Certificate requires completion of 18 credits in approved courses, with a minimum GPA of 2.00, as follows:

Required
LGBT 200Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies3
WGS 301Queer Theory3
LGBT 599Selected Topics in LGBT Studies:3
Electives
Select 9 credits9
Total Credits18

Electives

Select 9 credits of approved LGBT Studies curricular area or cross-listed coursework, of which 3 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above.

Students are limited to a maximum of 6 credits in independent study and no more than 9 credits from any one curricular area outside of LGBT Studies. At least half the credits must be taken in residence at UWM, and no courses may be taken on a credit/no credit basis.

Credits earned at other institutions in equivalent LGBT courses, as well as credits earned and approved through study abroad, are accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements. Students must obtain the approval of the certificate program committee to apply more than nine credits from courses at other institutions to the program requirements.

Approved Electives

The following courses are approved to count toward the LGBT Studies Certificate. Additional courses may be found each semester in the Schedule of Classes. In addition, students are encouraged to consult the Program Coordinator and to petition for the inclusion of relevant courses as appropriate.

AFRIC 344Global Black Social Movements3
AFRIC 351Sexuality, Gender, and Health in Africa and the Diaspora3
AFRIC 418Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean3
ANTHRO 102Introduction to Anthropology: Culture and Society3
ANTHRO 400Human Sociobiology3
ANTHRO 445Psychological Anthropology3
BMS 201Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS3
BMS/COMSDIS/HCA/KIN/OCCTHPY/THERREC 245Client Diversity in Health Sciences: An Interdisciplinary Perspective3
BUS ADM 441Diversity in Organizations3
COMMUN 401Communication in Marital and Family Relationships3
COMMUN 402Gender and Communication3
COMMUN 410Organizational Communication Technology3
ECON 248Economics of Discrimination3
ENGLISH 248Literature and Contemporary Life:3
ENGLISH 295Women and Film3
ENGLISH 332LGBTQ+ Literature:3
ENGLISH 350Global Jewish Film and Television: (Topic: Queer Jewish Film)3
ENGLISH 629Seminar in Literature and Sexuality:3
ETHNIC 275Queer Migrations3
ETHNIC 325Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Milwaukee:3
ETHNIC 360Villainy, Sex, & Blood: Race, Gender & Ethnicity in Pop Culture3
FILMSTD 669Screening Sexuality:3
HIST 141Global History of the Family, Gender, and Sexuality3
HIST 241Women and Gender in Europe: 1350 to 17503
HIST 242Women and Gender in Europe: 1750 to the Present3
HIST 243History of Women in American Society3
HIST 373Topics in Gender and History:3
HIST 449Popular Culture in America, 1800 to the Present3
JAMS 111Gender and the Media3
KIN 351Sociological Aspects of Health and Human Movement3
LINGUIS 212Language and Gender3
NURS 101Cultural Diversity in Health Care3
NURS 262Exploring Human Sexuality3
PHILOS 235Philosophical Aspects of Feminism3
POL SCI 412Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties3
POL SCI 464Sex, Gender, and the Law3
POL SCI 471Problems in Law Studies: (Law and Sexuality)3
PSYCH 319LGBTIQ Psychology3
PSYCH 320Psychology of Gender3
SOC WRK 100Introduction to Social Work3
SOC WRK 250Human Behavior and the Social Environment3
SOC WRK 581Youth Work Practice3
SOC WRK 591Special Topics: Social Welfare and Social Work:3
SOC WRK 665Cultural Diversity and Social Work3
SOC WRK 791Current Topics in Social Work:3
SOCIOL 250Sex and Gender3
SOCIOL 255Sociology of Sexuality3
SOCIOL 260Blood, Sex, Money, Power: Families and Intimate Relationships3
SOCIOL 341Sociology of Deviant Behavior3
SOCIOL 444Sociology of the Body3
WGS 200Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies: A Social Science Perspective3
WGS 201Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies: A Humanities Perspective3
WGS 302Gendered Bodies:3
WGS 401Global Feminisms3
WGS 489Internship in Women's and Gender Studies1-3
WGS 500Advanced Social Science Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies:3
WGS 501Advanced Humanities Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies:3