Women's and Gender Studies is a discipline that critically examines gender and women's issues from an interdisciplinary perspective and challenges many traditional assumptions and theories. It examines the practice and expression of gender in different societies and at different historical moments.
Regardless of your gender, Women's and Gender Studies is crucial and relevant for anyone interested in working in criminal justice, social work, the non-profit sector, the arts, politics, business, and more. Students learn to look at the world and history through different perspectives and think about how gender and our perceptions of it impact culture, society, and daily interactions. It is a traditional liberal arts discipline where the knowledge and skills developed in the program can be applied to all types of career paths. Work experiences during college through internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer positions often shape career paths after graduation.
Students in Women's and Gender Studies master critical thinking, problem analysis, and communication through both classroom studies and service learning opportunities.
Course of Study – Bachelor of Arts Degree
Complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses.
The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major. The College also requires that students complete at least 30 credits overall in residence at UWM. For additional residency and transfer credit limitations, see L&S Undergraduate Policies and Regulations.
Students are also required to complete University-wide General Education Requirements and the specific L&S requirements listed below.
To complete a major, students must satisfy all the requirements of the major as stated in this catalog. Students who declare their majors within five years of entering the UW System as a degree candidate may satisfy the requirements outlined in any catalog issued since the time they entered. Credits used to satisfy the major also may be used to satisfy other degree requirements.
University General Education Requirements (GER)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Oral and Written Communication | ||
| Part A | ||
| Achieve a grade of C or better in the following course: | ||
| ENGLISH 102 | College Writing and Research (or equivalent) | |
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as OWC-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Quantitative Literacy | ||
| Part A | ||
| Earn at least 3 credits with a grade of C or higher in one of the following courses or an equivalent course, or achieve a placement code of at least 30 on the mathematics placement test (or other appropriate test, as determined by the Mathematical Sciences Department) | ||
| Mathematical Literacy for College Students II | ||
| Contemporary Applications of Mathematics | ||
| Introduction to College Algebra | ||
| Algebraic Literacy II | ||
| Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning 1 | ||
or PHILOS 111 | Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning | |
| College Algebra | ||
Or equivalent course | ||
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as QL-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits (at least two courses including one lab) | 6 | |
| UWM Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| Complete Foreign Language Requirement through: | ||
Two years (high school) of a single foreign language | ||
Two semesters (college) of a single foreign language | ||
Or equivalent | ||
| UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement | ||
| One course from the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences must also satisfy UWM's Cultural Diversity requirement | ||
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Math 111 and Philosophy 111 are jointly offered and count as repeats of one another. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.
College of Letters & Science Requirements
The degree requirements in the College of Letters and Science build on the University General Education Requirements to provide a broad base of knowledge as well as an array of skills cited by employers as critical to professional success: critical thinking, problem solving, oral and written communication, ability to work well with others, and adaptability to change.
For the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), you must complete the UWM General Education Requirements as well as these L&S requirements: the International requirement, the Breadth requirement, and the Research requirement. The International requirement develops your potential for cross-cultural understanding in a globalizing world. The Breadth requirement ensures that you take classes in a wide variety of subjects, across humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The Research requirement calls for you to build your critical thinking and oral and written communication skills through conducting an independent research project, usually in your major.
For the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) you will also complete the Language other than English requirement, to further develop your understanding of cultures through language.
I. Total Credits and Upper-Division Courses Requirement
Students must complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses.
II. Language other than English Requirement
Students doing the BA must fulfill the language other than English requirement by either successfully completing the fourth semester of university work or equivalent in one language other than English, or by successfully completing the second semester of university work or equivalent in two languages other than English (including all world languages and American Sign Language).
Language courses (including American Sign Language) other than English taken in high school may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement. One year of high school language equates to one semester of college work. Proficiency tests approved by the Languages faculty may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement.
Completion of the L&S Language Requirement also satisfies the university-wide Language other than English GER, but not vice versa.
III. International Requirement
To meet the International Requirement, students must successfully complete some three course (minimum 9 credits) combination of
- language other than English (not including American Sign Language) at 3rd semester level or above, and/or
- non-language courses with L&S approved international content (see Courses Approved for the L&S International Requirement for course options).
IV. Breadth Requirement
In addition to completing the University General Education Requirements, L&S students must complete the Breadth requirement.
The L&S Breadth requirement calls for 6 credits each in L&S courses designated L&S Humanities, L&S Natural Sciences, and L&S Social Sciences breadth. One of the L&S Natural Science breadth courses must be a laboratory or fieldwork course. These courses must be beyond and in addition to courses in those areas used to satisfy General Education Requirements.
Please refer to the list of Courses Approved for the L&S Breadth Requirement.
V. The Major
The College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Individual departments or programs may require higher GPAs for graduation. Some departmental majors require courses from other departments. Contact your major department for information on whether those credits will count as part of the major GPA. The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major.
Research Requirement
Within their majors, students must complete a research experience approved by the L&S faculty. A list of courses satisfying the research requirement in each major can be found here.
VI. The Minor
Students are encouraged to consider completing a minor, but it is not required. To complete a minor, the College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the minor attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all minor credits attempted, including any transfer work. The minor must contain at least 9 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 and above) courses.
Women's and Gender Studies Major Requirements
The Women’s and Gender Studies major requires 30 credits drawn from Women’s and Gender Studies and cross-listed classes. The WGS major requires that 18 credits be taken in WGS courses. Completion of WGS 411, WGS 500, or WGS 501 satisfies the L&S research requirement.
At least 15 credits in the major must be taken upper-division courses in residence at UWM. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 in UWM major courses attempted. In addition, the College requires that students attain a 2.0 GPA in all major courses attempted, including any transfer work.
Majors should consult regularly with their advisor in Women's and Gender Studies about their course of study.
The major requires completion of the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Foundation - choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies: A Social Science Perspective | ||
| Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies: A Humanities Perspective | ||
| Theory - choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Queer Theory | ||
| Feminist Theory | ||
| Global - choose from: | 3 | |
| Global Feminisms | ||
| Research - choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Feminist Research and Practice | ||
| Advanced Social Science Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: | ||
| Advanced Humanities Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: | ||
| WGS electives | 6 | |
Select 6 additional credits in WGS courses. | ||
| WGS and other approved electives | 12 | |
Take 12 additional credits in WGS or other approved courses; see below for approved electives. | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
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Students may not receive credit for both WGS 200 and WGS 201. Only one of these courses can be taken for credit.
Electives
Students must take 18 credits of approved elective courses to reach a total of 30 credits. Of these, 6 credits must be in WGS subject area courses; 12 credits may be taken in WGS courses or from approved electives offered by other programs and departments. See the list of approved courses below and contact the WGS advisor with questions.
Numerous courses in a wide variety of disciplines have been approved as electives for the WGS major. For information about whether a special topics course in another program might be approved as an elective for WGS, please contact Women's and Gender Studies.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| WGS 150 | Multicultural America | 3 |
| WGS 192 | First-Year Seminar: | 3 |
| WGS 199 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| WGS 211 | Foundations of Women's and Gender Studies Scholarship | 3 |
| WGS 297 | Study Abroad: | 1-12 |
| WGS 301 | Queer Theory | 3 |
| WGS 302 | Gendered Bodies: | 3 |
| WGS 303 | Feminist Activism and Movements: | 3 |
| WGS 380 | Honors Seminar in the Social Sciences: | 3 |
| WGS 381 | Honors Seminar in the Humanities: | 3 |
| WGS 410 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
| WGS 411 | Feminist Research and Practice | 3 |
| WGS 489 | Internship in Women's and Gender Studies | 1-3 |
| WGS 497 | Study Abroad: | 1-12 |
| WGS 500 | Advanced Social Science Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: | 3 |
| WGS 501 | Advanced Humanities Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: | 3 |
| WGS 699 | Independent Reading | 1-3 |
| AFRIC 250 | Black Women and White Women in the Contemporary United States | 3 |
| AFRIC 344 | Global Black Social Movements | 3 |
| AFRIC 350 | The Black Family | 3 |
| AFRIC 351 | Sexuality, Gender, and Health in Africa and the Diaspora | 3 |
| AFRIC 352 | Extended Families in Black Societies | 3 |
| AFRIC 414 | The Black Woman in America, Africa, and the Caribbean | 3 |
| AFRIC 417 | Race, Class and Gender in Southern Africa | 3 |
| AFRIC 418 | Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| ANTHRO 250 | Women's Roles in Cross-Cultural Perspective | 3 |
| BIO SCI 206 | Biology of Women | 3 |
| BUS ADM 441 | Diversity in Organizations | 3 |
| COMMUN 401 | Communication in Marital and Family Relationships | 3 |
| COMMUN 402 | Gender and Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 474 | Rhetoric of Women's Rights in the US | 3 |
| CRM JST 385 | Women and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRM JST 416 | Intimate Partner Violence | 3 |
| ECON 248 | Economics of Discrimination | 3 |
| ED POL 624 | Gender and Education | 3 |
| ENGLISH 243 | Introduction to Literature by Women: | 3 |
| ENGLISH 295 | Women and Film 1 | 3 |
| ENGLISH 395 | Feminist Media Criticism and Theory: 2 | 3 |
| ENGLISH 465 | Women Writers: | 3 |
| ENGLISH 628 | Seminar in Literature by Women: | 3 |
| ENGLISH 629 | Seminar in Literature and Sexuality: | 3 |
| ETHNIC 255 | Migration and Gender: Starbucks, Sex Trafficking, and Nannies | 3 |
| ETHNIC 275 | Queer Migrations | 3 |
| ETHNIC 325 | Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Milwaukee: | 3 |
| FILMSTD 295 | Women and Film 1 | 3 |
| FILMSTD 395 | Feminist Media Criticism and Theory: 2 | 3 |
| FILMSTD 669 | Screening Sexuality: | 3 |
| GEOG 410 | Gendered Geographies | 3 |
| HIST 141 | Global History of the Family, Gender, and Sexuality | 3 |
| HIST 241 | Women and Gender in Europe: 1350 to 1750 | 3 |
| HIST 242 | Women and Gender in Europe: 1750 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 243 | History of Women in American Society | 3 |
| HIST 271 | The 1960s in the United States: A Cultural History | 3 |
| HIST 355 | Modern and Contemporary France | 3 |
| HIST 373 | Topics in Gender and History: | 3 |
| HIST 468 | The American Feminist Movement | 3 |
| JAMS 111 | Gender and the Media | 3 |
| JEWISH 332 | Women in the Bible | 3 |
| LGBT 200 | Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | 3 |
| LGBT 275 | Queer Migrations | 3 |
| LGBT 290 | Topics in LGBT Studies: | 3 |
| LGBT 599 | Selected Topics in LGBT Studies: | 3 |
| LINGUIS 212 | Language and Gender | 3 |
| MUSIC 449 | Women in Music: | 3 |
| NURS 204 | Global Maternal and Child Health: From Evidence to Action | 3 |
| NURS 327 | Nursing Science III: Health Concepts-Women & Children | 4 |
| NURS 620 | Global Food Security and Systems | 3 |
| PHILOS 235 | Philosophical Aspects of Feminism | 3 |
| POL SCI 110 | Sex and Power | 3 |
| POL SCI 425 | Women in Politics | 3 |
| POL SCI 464 | Sex, Gender, and the Law | 3 |
| PSYCH 319 | LGBTIQ Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 320 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
| SOCIOL 250 | Sex and Gender | 3 |
| SOCIOL 255 | Sociology of Sexuality | 3 |
| SOCIOL 260 | Blood, Sex, Money, Power: Families and Intimate Relationships | 3 |
| SOCIOL 442 | The Work-Family Intersection | 3 |
| SOCIOL 444 | Sociology of the Body | 3 |
| SOC WRK 630 | Families and Poverty | 3 |
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ENGLISH 295 and FILMSTD 295 are jointly offered. In other words, they are the same course offered under different subjects. Only one can be taken for credit.
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ENGLISH 395 and FILMSTD 395 are jointly offered. In other words, they are the same course offered under different subjects. Only one can be taken for credit.
Women's and Gender Studies BA Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Women’s & Gender Studies, BA program will be able to:
- Summarize and synthesize knowledge about feminist, women’s, and gender issues in local, national, historical, contemporary, and global contexts.
- Explain and critically assess diverse perspectives in queer and feminist theories.
- Apply an intersectional lens to analyze systems of oppression while learning about marginalized perspectives and the insights that can be drawn from them.
- Investigate and identify problems related to gender and women’s studies using various modes of research, using primary and secondary sources.
- Accurately explain the issues relating to gender and sexuality globally; distinguish between various global feminisms in non-Western contexts in both historical and contemporary contexts.
- Develop the skill and capacity for community engagement and advocacy in the advancement of social justice at home and abroad by linking theory to practice.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
Honors in the Major
Women's and Gender Studies majors who have maintained at least a 3.000 GPA overall, 3.500 GPA in all courses attempted for the major, and a 3.500 GPA in advanced-level (numbered 300 and above) courses that count toward the major are eligible to graduate with honors in the major.
College of Letters and Science Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.