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Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University
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About the Program

The Program in Women's and Gender Studies is an academic program that bridges existing disciplines; that is based in sound, scholarly theory; and that is quintessentially interdisciplinary. The goal is to expand the areas of traditional focus, thereby providing students with a fresh perspective. Students from all majors are exposed to literature of gender and feminism and are prepared to return to their major courses of study ready to contribute differently. Students gain a new perspective into their various disciplines of study and a new view of their world, while acquiring knowledge of a flourishing area of scholarship.

A minor in Women's and Gender Studies is available. While only certain regular courses are listed below as meeting the requirements of the minor, many other courses across the curriculum study women within the context of the various disciplines and in interdisciplinary ways. Students may petition the program committee to include other relevant courses in the program requirements.

MINOR

A minor in women's and gender studies requires completion of 21 credits. In meeting the requirements of this interdisciplinary minor, a student may not use more than nine credits that are also used to meet the requirements of any other major or minor.

  1. Introduction: WGS 120, completed by the end of the sophomore year
  2. Distribution: 15 credits selected from the following, with at least one course from each of the two areas. Additional courses may be used when the topic is relevant and the Women's and Gender Studies Committee approves.
    1. Social and Natural Sciences: ARTH 275; BIOL 255; POL 251 (SOC 251), 255; PSYC 215, 262, 269; SOC 251 (POL 251), 264, 280, and WGS 296
    2. Humanities and other disciplines: ARTH 367; ENGL 261, 313, 320, 358, 359; HIST 257, 258, 385; LIT 220; PHIL 215, 216, 219, 259; PSPK 305; REL 132, 215; THTR 250; and, when appropriate, ENGL 380; FREN 331, 397; LATN 326; SPAN 397 and 398, and WGS 295
  3. Capstone experience (after the completion of all other requirements): WGS 396 or another relevant individual study, senior thesis, or honors thesis in the student's major approved by the program committee.