Women’s and Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary program offering a major and a minor, as well as a 5-year BA/MA. Women’s and Gender Studies courses examine women’s lives, conditions, and contributions within their historical, social, cultural, national and transnational contexts and they explore how gender is constructed and negotiated within and across societies.  Women’s and men’s identities and experiences are examined through the constructs of gender, race, class, age, ability, sexuality, culture, religion, nation, etc. within broader historical, social, and global contexts, such as colonialism, globalization, among others. 

Through feminist and gender-based theories and methodologies, the Women’s and Gender Studies Program offers critical analyses, reflections, and contributions to knowledge regarding interlocking systems of oppression and privilege, thereby addressing issues of power, resistance and social transformation.  In addition, the emphasis on critical theory and analysis allows for work that interrogates feminist discourses as well as those of other disciplines in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

The major and minor combine Women’s and Gender Studies Program interdisciplinary courses with departmental courses approved for credit toward the major or minor. Courses are offered regularly by many departments in the college of LA&S–in the social sciences, the humanities, philosophy, and religion—as well as by the School of Communication and the School of Education. 

In addition, it is very easy to double major!  You don't have to take more courses because you can double count courses that count for both Women's and Gender Studies and Liberal Studies requirements, and you can double count courses that count toward both majors.  And we now have a 5 Year BA/MA Program that allows you to get both degrees in five years!  Students must apply their junior year for the program.

A major, double major, minor, and/or MA in Women’s and Gender Studies prepares students for graduate study in many fields (law, social work, sociology, psychology, history, art and art history, communication, Latin American/Latino Studies, African and Black Diaspora Studies, International Studies, among many others) as well as for careers in the public and private sectors, including social services, social justice, public policy, education, media and popular culture, advocacy, creative arts, counseling, and more.

Students who would like to know more about the Women’s and Gender Studies Program are invited to speak with the director and the other faculty members of the program (4^th Floor of Byrne Hall) and/or visit the Women’s and Gender Studies Program website http://las.depaul.edu/wms/.