Women’s and Gender Studies, BA

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Women’s and Gender Studies, BA

Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies · 36 credits

Catalog page

Typical path

+ First Year Seminar

+ SBC ×2

+ Elective

+ First Year Seminar

+ Major Elective

+ SBC ×2

+ Elective

+ SBC ×3

+ Elective

+ Major elective

+ SBC ×3

+ Elective

+ Upper-division elective

+ SBC

+ Upper-division elective ×2

+ SBC

+ Major elective ×2

+ Upper-division elective

+ Elective

+ Major elective

+ SBC ×2

+ Elective ×2

All options

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Focused Studies (1)

Pick 1 course · 11 courses to choose from

100s

None

200s

None

300s

400s

None

Focused Studies (2)

Pick 1 course · 10 courses to choose from

100s

None

200s

300s

400s

None

Focused Studies (3)

Pick 1 course · 14 courses to choose from

100s

200s

None

300s

400s

None

Electives (12 credits)

Pick 12 credits · 104 courses to choose from

100s

200s

300s

400s

Core Courses

- WST 102Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies in the Social Sciences3 cr
- or
  WST 103Gender, Culture, and Difference3 cr
WST 291Introduction to Feminist Theory3 cr
WST 301Histories of Feminism3 cr
WST 305Feminist Theories in Context3 cr
WST 408Senior Research Seminar for Women's and Gender Studies Majors3 cr

Catalog text

Core Courses: WST 102 - Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies in the Social Sciences OR WST 103 - Gender, Culture, and Difference; WST 291 - Introduction to Feminist Theory; WST 301 - Histories of Feminism; WST 305 - Feminist Theories in Context; WST 408 - Senior Research Seminar for Women’s and Gender Studies Majors

Focused Studies

Choose 1 course
- WST 395Topics in Global Feminism3 cr
- JPN 332Humanities Topics in Japanese Studies3 cr
- SOC 391Special Topics3 cr
- SOC 394Special Topics, Experiential Learning3 cr
- WST 334Women and Gender in Modern European History3 cr
- WST 360Women and Gender in Pre-Modern European History3 cr
- WST 350Black Women and Social Change: A Cross-Cultural Perspective3 cr
- AFS 350Black Women and Social Change: A Cross-Cultural Perspective3 cr
- WST 382Black Women's Literature of the African Diaspora3 cr
- AFH 382Black Women's Literature of the African Diaspora3 cr
- EGL 382Black Women's Literature of the African Diaspora3 cr
Choose 1 course
- WST 398Topics in Gender, Race, and Ethnicity3 cr
- HIS 300Topics in Global History3 cr
- HIS 396Topics in U.S. History3 cr
- WST 372Topics in Women and Literature3 cr
- EGL 372Topics in Women and Literature3 cr
- WST 237Images of Italian-American Women3 cr
- HUI 237Images of Italian-American Women3 cr
- WST 391Special Topics in Women's and Gender Studies in the Humanities3 cr
- HUI 390Italian-American Studies in the Humanities3 cr
- EGL 369Topics in Race and Ethnicity in American Literatures and Cultures3 cr
Excluding courses already counted toward “Focused Studies”.
Choose 1 course
- WST 399Topics in Gender and Sexuality3 cr
- CCS 325Culture in Context3 cr
- EGL 390Topics in American or Anglophone Literary History3 cr
- SOC 391Special Topics3 cr
- WST 111Introduction to Queer Studies in the Humanities3 cr
- WST 112Introduction to Queer Studies in the Social Sciences3 cr
- WST 394Special Topics in Medicine, Reproduction, and Gender3 cr
- WST 381AIDS, Race, and Gender in the Black Community3 cr
- AFS 381AIDS, Race, and Gender in the Black Community3 cr
- WST 390Special Topics in Women's and Gender Studies in the Humanities3 cr
- WST 374Historical Perspectives on Gender Orientation3 cr
- HIS 374Surveillance State: A History of U.S. Domestic Spying3 cr
- WST 340Sociology of Human Reproduction3 cr
- SOC 340Sociology of Human Reproduction3 cr
Excluding courses already counted toward “Focused Studies”.
At least two WST topics courses (taught by WGSS faculty or affiliated instructors) must be used in satisfying Requirement B.

Catalog text

One course in each of the following categories (see Note 1): WST 395 - Topics in Global Feminism (or approved other course); WST 398 - Topics in Gender, Race, and Ethnicity (or approved other course); WST 399 - Topics in Gender and Sexuality (or approved other course). Notes: At least two WST topics courses (taught by WGSS faculty or affiliated instructors) must be used in satisfying Requirement B.

Electives (12 credits)

Choose 12 credits

WST courses

Or:

AAS 331Japanese Literature in the Feminine Domain3 cr
AAS 372Family, Marriage, and Kinship in China3 cr
AAS 392Social Science Topics in Asian and Asian American Studies3 cr
AFH 382Black Women's Literature of the African Diaspora3 cr
AFS 345Culture and Gender: Women in Africa and the Caribbean3 cr
AFS 350Black Women and Social Change: A Cross-Cultural Perspective3 cr
AFS 370The African-American Family3 cr
AFS 381AIDS, Race, and Gender in the Black Community3 cr
ARH 391Topics in Global Art3 cr
BIO 358Biology and Human Social and Sexual Behavior3 cr
CCS 311Gender and Genre in Film3 cr
CLL 315Gender, Sexuality, Race & Ethnicity in Ancient Greek and Roman Literature3 cr
CLT 122Images of Women in Literature3 cr
CLT 123Sexuality in Literature3 cr
CLT 301Theory of Literature3 cr
EGL 276Feminism: Literature and Cultural Contexts3 cr
EGL 362Drama in English3 cr
EGL 367Contemporary African-American Literature3 cr
EGL 371Topics in Gender Studies in Literature3 cr
EGL 372Topics in Women and Literature3 cr
EUR 390Special Topics in European Studies3 cr
HIS 336Women and Gender in Modern European History3 cr
HIS 360Changing Families: US History to 18603 cr
HIS 340Topics in Asian History3 cr
HIS 392Topics in Early Modern Europe3 cr
HIS 393Topics in Modern European History3 cr
HIS 396Topics in U.S. History3 cr
HIS 401Senior Colloquium3 cr
HUI 231Italian Cinema3 cr
HUI 235Love and Tragedy in Early Italian Literature3 cr
HUI 237Images of Italian-American Women3 cr
MUS 314Music, Gender, and Sexuality3 cr
PHI 284Introduction to Feminist Theory (III)3 cr
PHI 384Advanced Topics in Feminist Philosophy (III)3 cr
POL 330Gender Issues in the Law3 cr
POL 347Women and Politics3 cr
PSY 347Psychology of Women3 cr
PSY 349Special Topics in Social Psychology3 cr
RLS 366Feminine Spirituality3 cr
SOC 247Sociology of Gender3 cr
SOC 304Sociology of the Family3 cr
SOC 340Sociology of Human Reproduction3 cr
SOC 371Gender and Work3 cr
SOC 390Special Topics3 cr
SOC 391Special Topics3 cr
SOC 394Special Topics, Experiential Learning3 cr
SOC 395Topics in Science, Technology, and Society3 cr
SPN 410Theory in Contexts3 cr

Excluding courses already counted toward “Core Courses”, “Focused Studies”.

At most 6 credits from WST 447, WST 487.

At most 3 credits from WST 475.

At most 6 credits from WST 488.

Catalog text

Electives (12 credits): Any non-required WST Courses; AAS 331; AAS 372; AAS 392 (approved topic: “Caste & Gender in Hindu Law”); AFH 382; AFS 345; AFS 350; AFS 370; AFS 381; ARH 391 (approved topic: “Images of Women in Visual Culture”); BIO 358; CCS 311; CLL 315; CLT 122; CLT 123; CLT 301 (approved topic: “Queer Modernities”); EGL 276; EGL 362; EGL 367; EGL 371; EGL 372; EUR 390; HIS 336; HIS 360; HIS 340; HIS 392; HIS 393; HIS 396; HIS 401; HUI 231; HUI 235; HUI 237; MUS 314; PHI 284; PHI 384; POL 330; POL 347; PSY 347; PSY 349; RLS 366; SOC 247; SOC 304; SOC 340; SOC 371; SOC 390; SOC 391; SOC 394; SOC 395; SPN 410. No more than six credits from WST 447 and WST 487 may be applied toward the major. No more than 3 credits of WST 475 may be counted towards a WST Major. No more than 6 credits of WST 488 may be counted towards a WST Major.

Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Present to the director of undergraduate studies a minimum of ten typewritten pages of formal writing, prepared for an upper-division course listed above as acceptable for the major requirements, judged by the course instructor to be satisfactory for the upper-division writing requirement in Women’s and Gender Studies. Normally met through WST 408.

Catalog text

Students must present to the director of undergraduate studies a minimum of ten typewritten pages of formal writing, prepared for an upper-division course listed above as acceptable for the major requirements. This written work must have been judged by the course instructor to be satisfactory for the upper-division writing requirement in the field of Women’s and Gender Studies. Normally this requirement is met through the work in WST 408.

Upper-division credit minimum

At least 18 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.

Catalog text

At least 18 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.

100-level course limit

No more than two 100-level courses may be applied toward major requirements.

Catalog text

No more than two 100-level courses may be applied toward major requirements.

Pass/No Credit limit

No more than three credits offered for the major may be taken Pass/No Credit or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

Catalog text

No more than three credits offered for the major may be taken Pass/No Credit or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

Sample schedule

Year 1 · Fall16 cr

First Year Seminar 1011
WRT 101Introductory Writing Workshop3
WST 102 / WST 103Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies in the Social Sciences3
SBC3
SBC3
Elective3

Year 1 · Spring16 cr

First Year Seminar 1021
WRT 102Intermediate Writing Workshop3
Major Elective3
SBC3
SBC3
Elective3

Year 2 · Fall15 cr

WST 291Introduction to Feminist Theory3
SBC3
SBC3
SBC3
Elective3

Year 2 · Spring15 cr

Major elective3
SBC3
SBC3
SBC3
Elective3

Year 3 · Fall15 cr

WST 301Histories of Feminism3
WST 395Topics in Global Feminism3
Upper-division elective3
WST 399Topics in Gender and Sexuality3
SBC3

Year 3 · Spring15 cr

WST 305Feminist Theories in Context3
WST 398Topics in Gender, Race, and Ethnicity3
Upper-division elective3
Upper-division elective3
SBC3

Year 4 · Fall15 cr

Major elective3
Major elective3
WST 408Senior Research Seminar for Women's and Gender Studies Majors3
Upper-division elective3
Elective3

Year 4 · Spring15 cr

Major elective3
SBC3
SBC3
Elective3
Elective3

Program rules

Minimum grade
C or higher in “Core Courses”, “Focused Studies”, “Electives (12 credits)”.

Notes

Advising: Students wishing to complete the major should consult the Department and establish an advising folder by the beginning of the junior year.
Grading: Courses transferred with a grade lower than C may not be applied toward major requirements. Up to three credits may be taken Pass/No Credit or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
Note: Honors program: students with a 3.50 GPA in the WaGS major and a 3.00 overall GPA may enroll before the end of the junior year. Honors students take WST 495 and WST 496 in lieu of WST 408 and complete 39 credits for the major. Honors is conferred with distinction and a 3.50 GPA in all senior-year WST courses. Not modeled here.
Note: Optional specializations in Gender, Sexuality, and Public Health and in Gender and Social Change (18 credits each, including a 3-credit internship) are not required for the major and are not modeled here.
Note: Accelerated and combined Women’s and Gender Studies B.A. and Master of Public Health options are available; see the program director. Not modeled here.
SBC: Students completing the Stony Brook Curriculum must complete a course satisfying the WRTD learning objective; the Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent in most cases with WRTD.