Advocacy & Nonprofit Work
Prepare for careers in advocacy organizations, nonprofits focused on gender equity, reproductive rights, and intersectional social justice work.
Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities
Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
Department Chair: Dr. Taryn Myers (Fall) · Dr. Jen Slivka (Spring)
Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies is an interdisciplinary major that examines how gender and sexuality shape historical and contemporary experience, in the United States and globally. Students build fluency in feminist, gender, and sexuality theory, applying it to understand structural and cultural dynamics across a range of disciplines.
The major draws electives from across all four academic schools at Batten University — coursework in literature, theatre, social work, psychology, and sociology all count toward the degree, giving students a genuinely cross-disciplinary foundation. The program culminates in a senior seminar examining current issues in the field, building on theoretical grounding from the introductory and theory courses.
Requirements
GWSS 219
Introduction to Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
4 hrs
GWSS 319
Feminist & Gender Theory
4 hrs
GWSS 430
Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Seminar
4 hrs
Electives*
Six electives from a pre-approved list (partial list shown below — see program coordinator for the complete, current listing): ENG 385 American Protest Literature · SPAN 250 Hispanic American Women Writers · TH 375 Images of Women in Theatre & Film · TH 410 Contemporary Voices in Theatre · SW 361 Human Sexuality · SW 402 Women on the Brink · PSY 351 Psychology of Gender · PSY 385 Psychology of Eating Disorders · SOC 311 Family · GWSS 350 Topics in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies — and other topics courses as approved by the program coordinator
24 hrs
Total Hours Required
36
*It is recommended that GWSS majors take at least one course from each of the university's four academic schools from the pre-approved elective list. To fulfill this recommendation, majors are encouraged to take BIO 222. At least five courses, including GWSS 319 and GWSS 430, must be at the 300/400 level.
GWSS 219
Introduction to Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
4 hrs
GWSS 430
Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Seminar
4 hrs
Electives*
Three courses from a pre-approved list, with at least one at the 300 level and courses drawn from at least two different academic schools (partial list shown below — see program coordinator for the complete, current listing): ENG 385 American Protest Literature · SPAN 250 Hispanic American Women Writers · TH 375 Images of Women in Theatre & Film · TH 410 Contemporary Voices in Theatre · SW 361 Human Sexuality · SW 402 Women on the Brink · PSY 351 Psychology of Gender · PSY 385 Psychology of Eating Disorders · SOC 311 Family · GWSS 350 Topics in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
12 hrs
Total Hours Required
20
Courses
GWSS offers a small set of dedicated courses — an introduction, a theory course, and a senior seminar — supplemented by a wide range of approved electives drawn from across the university's four academic schools, including literature, theatre, social work, psychology, and sociology. The pre-approved elective list changes each semester; students should consult the program coordinator for the complete, current list.
GWSS 219
4 credits
Introduction to Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
Students examine evolving definitions of gender, women, and sexuality, analyzing general patterns and the impact of these concepts on their own lives. Emphasizes an intersectional approach to the challenges that people of different genders, races, classes, sexualities, ages, citizenship status, religions, and abilities encounter in today's society. Offered every semester.
GWSS 319
4 credits
Feminist and Gender Theory
Examines contemporary feminist frameworks that question the categories of gender, sex, and sexuality from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Issues are studies in relation to history and cross-cultural contexts and to local and global issues affected by the politics of gender. Prerequisites: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher and GWSS 219 or ENG 311; or consent. Offered spring of even-numbered years.
GWSS 350
4 credits
Topics in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
A study of selected issues within Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. The course will include a variety of feminist, gender, sexuality, and/or cultural theories in the context of a particular issue or topic. May be repeated for credit as topics change. Offered intermittently.
GWSS 430
4 credits
Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Seminar
An examination of current issues pertinent to gender, women, and sexuality. Students are exposed to a variety of relevant theories and source material. Topics vary from semester to semester. Past topics have included "Feminism and Techno-Culture" and "The Gendered Body." May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Prerequisites: GWSS 219 or GWSS 319 and junior/senior status or consent. Offered every spring.
Career Outcomes
Human Services & Counseling
Cross-disciplinary coursework in psychology and social work supports careers and graduate study in counseling, social work, and human services.
Law, Policy & Government
A strong foundation for law school and careers in policy work addressing gender, sexuality, and civil rights issues.
Graduate Study & Research
The major's interdisciplinary theoretical grounding prepares students well for graduate study in gender studies, sociology, and related humanities and social science fields.