Mission Statement

The mission of the BA program in Women’s Studies is educate future scholars and activists who can create a more just and equitable society free from oppression based on gender, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, age, language, culture, nationality, education, religion, spirituality, size, and ability.  Students follow a course of study that explores academic disciplines from intersectional feminist perspectives, develops innovative interdisciplinary approaches, stimulates scholarly research, and promotes community engagement. Grounded in feminist pedagogy, we provide opportunities for active student learning through internships, study abroad programs, undergraduate research experiences, and service learning options. Our approach highlights intersections of oppressions, spans the scale from local to global, and bridges theory and action. Graduates of the program continue on to graduate school or find jobs in a wide range of fields, including social services, politics, education, business, and the arts.

Learning Goals for BA Degree in Women’s Studies

Goal 1: Critically examine the role of social structures and conventions of representation in the lives of women and other people from marginalized groups

Objective 1.1 Explain how economic and legal structures affect the opportunities of women and other people from marginalized groups

Objective 1.2 Identify commonalities and differences of women and women’s experiences, locally and internationally

Objective 1.3 Analyze how social constructions of gender and sexuality impact diverse people’s lives in different historical contexts

Objective 1.4 Explain the gendered impact of media images

Goal 2: Analyze the intersectionality of different social identities and categories, including gender, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, age, language, culture, nationality, education, religion, spirituality, size, and ability as concepts and as lived experience

Objective 2.1 Analyze the interconnections of forms of oppression

Objective 2.2 Identify ways that people negotiate and represent multiple aspects of their identities

Goal 3: Examine the contributions of individual and collective action to social justice

Objective 3.1 Explain the different reasons for feminist organizing, and how women’s movements are shaped multiple axes of identity and difference

Objective 3.2 Explore the relationship between social movements and specific state and cultural structures and actions

Objective 3.3 Make connections between abstract knowledge and social justice activism

Objective 3.4 Explain the impact of social movements and activism on the lives of women and other people from marginalized groups 

Goal 4: Identify mechanisms of dominance, oppression, resistance, transformation, and healing

Objective 4.1 Identify the structures, beliefs, and practices that oppress women and other marginalized people in particular contexts nationally and internationally

Objective 4.3 Analyze feminist strategies for transformation and healing in the face of oppression

Goal 5: Enhance critical thinking through reading and writing as well as information competency

Objective 5.1 Identify and define feminist theories and practices and apply them to contemporary socio-cultural issues or other relevant topics

Objective 5.2 Evaluate main arguments, evidence, and the chain of reasoning present in a text

Objective 5.3 Synthesize, summarize, and evaluate multiple perspectives within a field of study or about a topic from interdisciplinary perspectives

Objective 5.4 Formulate a new research question and use appropriate supporting evidence to develop a written argument that is clearly articulated

Curricular Map for 500-level courses

Download the map

Women’s Studies majors must take at least 12 WS classes: 2 lower division courses (6 units) & 10 upper division courses (30 units), including: 4 courses at the 300-level; 4 courses at the 500-level; & the required WS536 and WS590. Women's Studies classes can be used for BOTH the Major & the Explorations GE requirement.

Preparation for Major

Take 2 out of 3 lower division courses (6 units):

• WMNST 101: Women: Self, Identity, and Society
• WMNST 102: Women: Images and Ideas
• WMNST 103: Women and Global Justice

Required Courses

Group I: 12 units (4 courses)

• WMNST 310 Global Cultures and Women’s Lives
• WMNST 320 Socialization of Women
• WMNST 325 Psychology of Women
• WMNST 331 Women in Asian Societies
• WMNST 336 Women of Color in the US
• WMNST 340 History of Women and Sexuality in Modern Europe
• WMNST 341A, 341B Women in American History
• WMNST 352 Women in Literature
• WMNST 355 Feminist Approaches to Popular Culture
• WMNST 360 Women’s Sexuality and the Body
• WMNST 370 Women, Law, and Policy
• WMNST 375 Sex, Power, and Politics
• WMNST 382 Gender, Science and Technology
• AFRAS 332 Black Women: Myth and Reality
• AFRAS 473 Women in Africa
• CCS 340A Gender, Sex, and Politics in Colonial Mexico
• LGBT 321 LGBT Identities in the Modern World
• LGBT 322 LGBT History & Culture
• POL 336 Women’s Issues in the American Political Process
• REL 370 Goddess Studies

*No more than 1 class from an another department may be applied to the major.

Group II: 12 units (4 courses)

• WMNST 512 Latinas in the Americas
• WMNST 515 Women: Myth, Ritual, and the Sacred
• WMNST 520 Reproductive Rights and Justice
• WMNST 522 Women: Madness and Sanity
• WMNST 530 Women’s Movements and Activism (may be taken more than once)
• WMNST 533 Trans Feminisms***
• WMNST 535 Lesbian Lives and Cultures
• WMNST 544 Queer Theory***
• WMNST 552 Feminist Approaches to Film***
• WMNST 560 Women in Muslim Societies
• WMNST 565 Women: Health, Healing, and Medicine
• WMNST 570 Gender, War and Peace
• WMNST 572 Women and Violence
• WMNST 575 Digital & Networked Feminisms***
• WMNST 580 Women, Development, and the Global Economy
• WMNST 581 Women’s Experiences of Migration
• WMNST 582 Feminist Science and Activism
• WMNST 585 Local Feminist Organizations and Activism
• WMNST 596 Topics in Women’s Studies
• WMNST 598 Women’s Studies Internship
• GENS 480 Civic Engagement (when taught by a WS professor & with advisor’s approval)

All majors must ALSO take the following 6 units (2 courses):

• WMNST 590 Feminist Thought (in fall)
• WMNST 536 Gender, Race, and Class (in spring)

All Women's Studies majors are highly encouraged and typically required to complete either Women's Studies 598 (Internship) or satisfy an international educational experience. Given some students' ongoing need to socially distance and less opportunities available due to COVID-19, this is not required for all students graduating in December 2021, May 2022, and August 2022.

Download the Major Checklist

A minimum of 18 units in Women’s Studies. Women's Studies classes can be used for BOTH the Minor and the Explorations General Education requirement.

Preparation for Minor

• WMNST 101 Women: Self, Identity, and Society
• WMNST 102 Women: Images and Ideas
• WMNST 103 Women and Global Justice

Group I: 6 units (2 classes)

• WMNST 310 Global Cultures and Women’s Lives
• WMNST 320 Socialization of Women
• WMNST 325 Psychology of Women
• WMNST 331 Women in Asian Societies
• WMNST 336 Women of Color in the US
• WMNST 340 History of Women and Sexuality in Modern Europe
• WMNST 341A, 341B Women in American History
• WMNST 352 Women in Literature
• WMNS 355 Feminist Approaches to Popular Culture
• WMNST 360 Women’s Sexuality and the Body
• WMNST 370 Women, Law, and Policy
• WMNST 375 Sex, Power, and Politics
• WMNST 382 Gender, Science and Technology
• Africana Studies 332*
• Chicana/o Studies 340A*
• LGBT 321, LGBT322*
• Political Science 336*
• Religious Studies 370*

*No more than 3 units from these classes may be applied to the minor

Group II: 6 units (2 classes)

• WMNST 512 Latinas in the Americas
• WMNST 515 Women: Myth, Ritual, and the Sacred
• WMNST 520 Reproductive Rights and Justice
• WMNST 522 Women: Madness and Sanity
• WMNST 530 Women’s Movements and Activism (may be taken more than once)
• WMNST 533 Trans Feminisms**
• WMNST 535 Lesbian Lives and Cultures
• WMNST 536 Gender, Race, and Class
• WMNST 544 Queer Theory**
• WMNST 552 Feminist Approaches to Film*
• WMNST 560 Women in Muslim Societies
• WMNST 565 Women: Health, Healing, and Medicine
• WMNST 570 Gender, War and Peace
• WMNST 572 Women and Violence
• WMNST 575 Digital & Networked Feminisms**
• WMNST 580 Women, Development, and the Global Economy
• WMNST 581 Women’s Experiences of Migration
• WMNST 582 Feminist Science and Activism
• WMNST 585 Local Feminist Organizations and Activism
• WMNST 590 Feminist Thought
• WMNST 596 Topics in Women’s Studies
• WMNST 598 Women’s Studies Internship
• GENS 480 Civic Engagement (when taught by a WS professor & with advisor’s approval)

Download the Minor Checklist

Women’s Studies has several excellent scholarship opportunities available each Spring. Please look over the requirements for each scholarship and apply to those for which you are qualified. These are all for continuing undergraduate students and please remember that you have nothing to lose by applying.

For more information and to search for scholarships, please visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships website.