What Can I do With a WGS Minor or Concentration?

Students with a minor and concentration in WGS extensively broaden their educational, occupational, and professional opportunities in the public and private sectors by enriching their liberal arts, social science or natural science training. Employers in business, law, education, journalism, the arts, government, medicine, public and social services actively recruit job candidates with knowledge and training in issues of women and gender. Graduate schools and professional programs particularly select women's and gender studies students for their creativity, intellectual flexibility, sensitivity to difference, and breadth of knowledge.

What about a WGS Minor?

The minor in WGS offers an excellent inter- and multi-disciplinary curriculum that examines women, girls, and gender throughout history and across cultures. WGS courses teach critical thinking though an examination of the historical and contemporary problems facing women locally, nationally, and globally. Students expand their understanding of gender difference, cultural diversity, and social change as they complete an 18-hour program of study from among a wide variety of classes in numerous fields and disciplines. WGS courses in history, sociology, psychology, criminal justice, English, religion, anthropology, political science, law and other areas enable students to pursue a specialized focus which enhances their major in the humanities, social sciences or natural sciences. The minor also provides sufficient flexibility to allow for the creation of a course of study especially suited to the individual interests of students.

Declaration of Intent to Seek WGS Minor


Requirements for the Minor

To earn a minor in Women’s & Gender Studies, all you need is 18 credits. Nine credits must be in upper division courses (that is, 300 and 400) and no more than nine credits may overlap with your major. Readings courses on selected topics also may be arranged with individual faculty members.

In fact, if you have taken courses that focused on women, girls, and gender, these may already count toward your minor. (A maximum of six hours of other coursework may be applied to the minor)

Make an appointment with: Dr. Forman-Brunell, Interim Director, Women’s & Gender Studies, 204B Haag, 235-5220 or Forman-BrunellM@umkc.edu. Bring the Minor in Women’s & Gender Studies form and a copy of your transcript, available from Arts & Sciences Advising.

See a copy of the WGS Minor Diploma


What about a Concentration?

The 24-credit WGS Concentration provides greater depth and breadth than the 18-credit minor while still preserving the flexibility and focus of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of women and changing notions of gender. The Concentration also serves as a valuable complement to any major field of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree.

Unlike the traditional discipline-based major, the Women’s and Gender Studies Concentration encourages students to pursue their studies systematically across the Arts & Sciences curriculum by providing a broad range of courses on women, gender, girls, and masculinities. The three required courses are designed to introduce students to: (1) the study of women, (2) theories of gender, and (3) the diverse methods of inquiry employed by gender scholars. The Concentration also requires students to take classes in no less than three different disciplines (e.g., history, English, and Anthropology) in order to:

*            Identify the parallels between disciplines

*            Foster critical thinking about accepted categories and constructs

*            Acquire key concepts and knowledge of fundamental issues

*            Develop a basic vocabulary

*            Expand familiarity with major works, thinkers, and directions in the field of Women and              Gender Studies

Students may choose from an approved list of courses (see Courses) in which women and/or gender are the central category of analyses. Individualized readings courses on selected topics also may be arranged with WGS faculty members. And, as new courses with a significant Women’s Studies component are offered, students pursuing the concentration may request course approval from the Director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program who will help facilitate and coordinate students pursuing the Concentration. 
           

Requirements for the Concentration

Twenty-four (24) credits earned in WGS approved courses (see Courses) in no less than three different departments.

Three (3) required courses:

HIS 303CW/ ANTH/SOC/303CW: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studiies

ANTH/SOC 300R/580: Theories of Feminism (or other courses on feminist theory)

WGS 499: Research Seminar (or other research course)

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