Women's and Gender Studies is an academic discipline that critically evaluates gender from an interdisciplinary perspective and challenges many traditional assumptions and theories about women that have excluded them from positions of power. It examines the practice and expression of gender in different societies and at different historical moments; it explores the various origins and articulations of gender differentiation; it traces the influence of gender expectations on individuals and it studies the interactions of gender and other differences in social, political, and cultural contexts. The feminist pedagogy used in Women's and Gender Studies courses empowers all students to become active learners and social change agents through discussion, written work, collaborative projects, and practical involvement beyond the classroom.
Women's and Gender Studies prepares students for careers in non-profit organizations, business, the creative arts, education, government and public policy, journalism, law, medicine, publishing, science, the social sciences, social work, and many other fields.
Women's and Gender Studies Courses
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Specific topics are announced in the Schedule of Classes each time the class is offered.
Prerequisites: none.
Course Rules: Open only to freshmen. Students may earn cr in just one L&S First-Year Sem (course numbers 192, 193, 194).
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Fall 2019, Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
1-3 cr. Undergraduate.
Independent work supervised by Women's & Gender Studies faculty or staff member. Written proposal required prior to registration. For additional information, consult WGS prog asst dir.
Prerequisites: 2.0 GPA; writ cons instr, Women's & Gender Studies prog dir & asst dean for SAS.
Course Rules: May be retaken to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2023, Spring 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Interdisciplinary class using gender as category of analysis, in relation to race, class, sexuality, and other categories of difference, to understand how power is structured and identities are socially constructed, from a social sciences perspective.
Prerequisites: none.
Course Rules: May not be taken for cr if WGS 201 or L&S HUM 201 is also taken.
General Education Requirements: SS
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Interdisciplinary class using gender as a category of analysis, in relation to race, class, sexuality, and other categories of difference, to understand how power is structured and identities are socially constructed, from a humanities perspective.
Prerequisites: none.
Course Rules: May not be taken for cr if WGS 200 or L&S SS 200 is also taken.
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Introductory exploration of the meaning and practice of feminist research, with an emphasis on critical reading, writing, and analytical skills.
Prerequisites: WGS 200(P) or WGS 201(P).
Course Rules: Counts as repeat of WGS 290 with the same topic.
Last Taught: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
1-12 cr. Undergraduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work levels, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially-prepared program course work.
Prerequisites: acceptance for Study Abroad Prog.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic.
Last Taught: Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
An introduction to the interdisciplinary field of queer theory and the study of sexuality as a social construction related to gender, race, class, citizenship, and other categories of difference.
Prerequisites: none.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Feminist interdisciplinary approach to the human body; its life changes as socially constructed and conditioned by cultural ideas and practices of gender and other differences.
Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2024, Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Feminist activism and women's social and political movements in a global and historical context.
Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2018, Fall 2013.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Examines how the crises of the twenty-first century: the fall of democracy and rise of authoritarianism, mass displacement and forced migration, and vast economic inequality and precarity, to name a few, have invigorated anti-gender campaigns.
Prerequisites: junior standing and WGS 200(P) or WGS 201(P).
Course Rules: Counts as a repeat of WGS 302 with similar topic.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Selected topics in women's and gender studies from a social science perspective.
Prerequisites: sophomore standing; HONORS 200(P); and consent of Honors College director.
Course Rules: May be retaken wtih change in topic to 9 cr max.
General Education Requirements: SS
Last Taught: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2017.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Selected topics in women's and gender studies from a humanities perspective.
Prerequisites: sophomore standing; HONORS 200(P); and consent of Honors College director.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Spring 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Interdisciplinary feminist study of women's rights movements and issues relating to gender and sexuality globally; study of international feminisms, women of color feminisms, and postcolonial feminisms in historical and contemporary contexts.
Prerequisites: junior standing and WGS 200(P) or WGS 201(P).
Last Taught: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
An interdisciplinary survey of foundational feminist theories interrogating gender oppression in relation to race, class, sexuality, and other identities.
Prerequisites: junior standing and WGS 200(P) or WGS 201(P).
Last Taught: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Interdisciplinary course with focus on feminist methodologies, epistemologies, and research methods across the humanities and social sciences.
Prerequisites: junior standing and WGS 200(P) or WGS 201(P); or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: May not be retaken for credit.
Last Taught: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
1-3 cr. Undergraduate.
Application of advanced principles of Women's and Gender Studies in an appropriate organizational, educational, business, or political setting.
Prerequisites: junior standing, WGS 200 or WGS 201, and consent of instructor.
Course Rules: May be retaken to 6 cr max. One cr earned for academic work based on 40 hours in internship.
Last Taught: Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Summer 2024.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
1-12 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work levels, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially-prepared program course work.
Prerequisites: junior standing and acceptance for Study Abroad Program.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic.
Last Taught: Fall 2023, Fall 2019.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
1-12 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work levels, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially-prepared program course work.
Prerequisites: junior standing and acceptance for Study Abroad Program.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic.
Last Taught: Fall 2023, Fall 2019.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
An advanced seminar in feminist research and theories, focusing on various topics and approaches in the social sciences.
Prerequisites: junior standing and 6 credits in women's and gender studies.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr combined max for WGS 500 and WGS 501.
Last Taught: Spring 2025.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
An advanced seminar in feminist research and theories, focusing on various topics and approaches in the social sciences.
Prerequisites: junior standing and 6 credits in women's and gender studies.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr combined max for WGS 500 and WGS 501.
Last Taught: Spring 2025.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
An advanced seminar in feminist research and theories, focusing on various topics and approaches in the humanities.
Prerequisites: junior standing and WGS 200 or 201.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to combined max of 9 cr for WGS 500 and WGS 501.
Last Taught: Fall 2024.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
An advanced seminar in feminist research and theories, focusing on various topics and approaches in the humanities.
Prerequisites: junior standing and WGS 200 or 201.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to combined max of 9 cr for WGS 500 and WGS 501.
Last Taught: Fall 2024.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
1-3 cr. Undergraduate.
Advanced independent work under supervision of a WGS faculty or instructional academic staff member. Students must submit study proposal. For more information, consult Women's and Gender Studies Chair.
Prerequisites: junior standing, 2.0 GPA, and consent of instructor and Women's & Gender Studies Program Chair.
Course Rules: May be retaken for cr.
Last Taught: Spring 2024, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Spring 2020.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Graduate.
Advanced introduction to feminist scholarship and research in multiple disciplines and introduction to the disciplinary history of Women's and Gender Studies.
Prerequisites: graduate standing.
Last Taught: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Graduate.
Interdisciplinary graduate-level course with focus on transnational feminisms, women of color feminisms, and postcolonial feminisms, exploring questions regarding gender, sexuality, and race in historical and contemporary contexts.
Prerequisites: graduate standing.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Spring 2021, Spring 2019.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Graduate.
Interdisciplinary graduate-level seminar examining feminist theories addressing concepts such as identity, difference, intersectionality, representation, and activism.
Prerequisites: graduate standing.
Last Taught: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Graduate.
Interdisciplinary graduate-level course with focus on feminist epistemologies, methodologies and research methods.
Prerequisites: graduate standing.
Course Rules: May not be retaken for credit.
Last Taught: Spring 2024, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Graduate.
Interdisciplinary graduate-level seminar on foundational texts and key issues in the dynamic field of queer theory.
Prerequisites: graduate standing.
Course Rules: Counts as a repeat of WGS 799 with similar topic.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Spring 2021.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
1-3 cr. Graduate.
Advanced examination and analysis of selected Women's and Gender Studies issues and topics for graduate students.
Prerequisites: graduate standing.
Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2024, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
3 cr. Graduate.
Internship, field experience, or related practical experience that provides students the opportunity to apply feminist theories and research methods in a practical context.
Prerequisites: grad st; WGS 710(P) & 711(P).
Last Taught: Fall 2024, Fall 2020, Summer 2019, Spring 2019.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
0 cr. Graduate.
Available for graduate students who must meet minimum credit load requirements.
Prerequisites: graduate standing.
Course Rules: Fee for 1 cr assessed; unit does not count towards credit load for Fin Aid. Repeatable. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.
Last Taught: Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Summer 2024, Fall 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
1-3 cr. Graduate.
Reserved for research in connection with master's thesis.
Prerequisites: grad st; cons instr.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
1-6 cr. Graduate.
Independent reading or project; topic selected in agreement with supervising professor.
Prerequisites: grad st; cons Wmns dir.
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
Name | Rank | Degree | School | Graduate Faculty | Emeritus Faculty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sharity Bassett | Assistant Professor | PhD | State University of New York at Buffalo | Yes | No |
Carolyn Eichner | Associate Professor | PhD | University of California, Los Angeles | Yes | No |
Xin Huang | Associate Professor | PhD | University of British Columbia | Yes | No |
Gwynne Kennedy | Associate Professor Emerita | PhD | University of Pennsylvania | No | Yes |
Anna Mansson McGinty | Associate Professor | PhD | Lund University | Yes | No |
Kristin Pitt | Associate Professor | PhD | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Yes | No |
Merry Wiesner-Hanks | Distinguished Professor Emerita | PhD | University of Wisconsin-Madison | No | Yes |
Leah Wilson | Visiting Assistant Professor | PhD | Washington State University | Yes | No |