Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, B.A.

Return to: 3570 Institute for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Degree Requirements (120 Hours)

To take WGSS 4930 - Senior Seminar in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies-CTW or WGSS 4999 - Directed Readings , students must first receive approval from the Institute for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Director of Undergraduate Studies.

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in the Major and Additional Courses areas to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See 1460 GPA Requirement for additional information.)

Field of Study Area (18 Hours)

Required Courses (3 Hours)

WGSS 2010 - Introduction to Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies 3 Credit Hours
World language at the 1002 level or higher 3 Credit Hours

Field Electives

Select additional elective courses from the following to complete 18 hours in the Field of Study Area:

AAS 2010 - Introduction to Africana Studies 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 2020 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
POLS 2401 - Global Issues 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 2618 - Introduction to Psychology of Women 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 2050 - Media, Culture, and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1160 - Introduction to Social Problems 3 Credit Hours or other 1000/2000-level courses appropriate to the major. Contact undergraduate director for guidance.

Major Area (30 Hours)

CTW Requirement (3 Hours)

Complete the following course to fulfill the Critical Thinking Through Writing (CTW) requirement:

WGSS 4930 - Senior Seminar in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies-CTW 3 Credit Hours

Required Courses in Major (6 Hours)

Select two of the following:

WGSS 3010 - Feminist Theories 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 3030 - Introduction to LGBT Studies 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 3040 - Globalization and Gender 3 Credit Hours

Remaining Courses in Major Field (21 Hours)

Seven additional Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies courses with at least nine hours in a single strand; these strands reflect areas of specialization within the field. The major requirement (WGSS 3030 or WGSS 3040 ) can also fulfill three hours towards a required strand. Students may, if they wish, take nine hours in an additional strand, or they may choose additional WGSS electives to fulfill the remaining 12 hours. Only courses with the WGSS prefix count as Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies courses. The strands include Sexualities, Race and Globalization, and Social Change.

Additional Courses Area

WGSS does not require a minor. Students are encouraged to select a relevant minor to complement their WGSS major or to assemble a set of courses to build skills in areas of interest to them.
Additional courses not in the major or the minor, if applicable, must be taken as electives to complete a minimum of 120 semester hours.

Additional Information

Graduation with Distinction in the Major

This unit offers undergraduate students the opportunity to earn the designation of graduation with distinction in the major. Faculty can nominate students for graduation with distinction. They should meet minimum grade requirements and be recognized for outstanding research, leadership, and/or service.

Criteria for significant contributions to the field include the following. Additional possibilities may be approved at faculty discretion.

Minimum GPA of 3.5 either overall or in the major
Significant contribution to the field such as the following:
Presentation of a scholarly paper at a conference
Authorship (or significant co-authorship) on a manuscript submitted for publication
Exceptional service to the department
Leadership in a women’s/gender/sexuality studies organization, such as Faces of Feminism
Outstanding community activism