BA in Interdisciplinary with Emphasis in Women's and Gender Studies
Degree Program Description
Women’s and Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary field that establishes gender, sexuality, race, class, and dis/ability as fundamental categories for understanding social structures, cultural norms, and power dynamics. Combining research methods from the humanities and social sciences, the WGST major strengthens critical thinking, writing and research skills; highlights multiple forms of knowledge; and encourages students to think of themselves and others as citizens of a diverse world. WGST scholars produce a wide-variety of analytical, creative, and activist works, investigating intersecting forms of inequalities and oppression's in local and global contexts.
When students graduate with a emphasis in Women's and Gender Studies, they should be able to:
- Apply cross-cultural and global awareness to "big questions" about gender
- Have a comprehensive grasp of intersectionality and matrices of power
- Think critically: i.e. consider an issue from multiple perspectives; locate, evaluate and interpret diverse sources; engage in critical self-reflection
- Construct arguments with evidence obtained from research
- Work collaboratively
- Recognize sexist/racist writing and thinking
- Connect knowledge and experience, theory and activism, Women's and Gender Studies materials with other courses
- Communicate effectively in writing and speech
- Apply knowledge for social transformation, citizenship
- Use gender (and other identity categories) as a category or categories of analysis
This major can be combined with other programs to create a double major or a dual degree. The flexibility and expansiveness of the degree enables our graduates to work in a wide variety of fields, including education, law, public policy, health sciences, human resources, business management, social work, arts, non-profit organizations, NGO’s, advertising and market research, communication, and journalism.
Major Program Requirements
This major can be combined with other programs to create a double major or a dual degree. Within the College of Arts and Science, students can pair it with a major like BA in English, Sociology, Psychology or History, for example, without taking courses beyond the required 120 credits. Students seeking a Bachelor Degree in Journalism or a Public Health degree can earn a second degree, a BA in Interdisciplinary with Emphasis in Women’s and Gender Studies. Required WGST courses for many dual degrees also fit within the 120 credit graduation plan, although 132 total credits are generally required for a dual degree.
The curriculum includes Women's and Gender Studies core courses as well as cross-listed courses from several departments throughout the University.
Thirty hours are required in Women’s and Gender Studies. In addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.
| Required Core Courses | 9 | |
| WGST 2020 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
| WGST 4990 | Research Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| WGST 3450W | Feminist Methodologies - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| 4940 Internship can be substituted for 4990 Seminar | ||
| Additional courses | 21 | |
| An additional 21 credits (WGST or cross-listed courses) are required. A minimum of 12 credits must come from WGST core courses (courses taught by WGST faculty and instructors), in addition, 9 credits must be 3000 level or higher. See the WGST website for current course offerings. | ||
Semester Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | Second Language | 5 |
| Social Science (MO State Law) | 3 | WGST 2020 | 3 |
| Second Language | 5 | MATH 1050, 1100, or STAT 1200 | 3 |
| WGST Major Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Science with a Lab | 5 | Minor | 3 |
| Second Language | 3 | WGST Major Course | 3 |
| Behavioral Science | 3 | Humanities/Fine Arts (Writing Intensive) | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | Behavioral Science | 3 |
| WGST 3450W | 3 | Science | 3 |
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| WGST Major Course | 3 | WGST Major Course | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | Minor | 3 |
| Science (Math Reasoning Proficiency) | 3 | Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | Social Science | 3 |
| WGST Major Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| WGST Major Course | 3 | WGST 4990 (or 4940 Internship) | 3 |
| WGST Major Course | 3 | Minor | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Contact
Department of Women's and Gender Studies
muaswgst@missouri.edu
325 Strickland Hall
(573) 882-2703
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.