Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies Hero
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Major Requirements

The Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies offers a BA or BS in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Our students can choose from several areas of emphasis, including gender and sexuality, queer studies, third-world feminism, cultural representation and literature, women and labor, feminist theory, critical race feminism, immigration and citizenship, and social activism.

Four-Year Degree Plan

Major Map

Course Requirements

The undergraduate major in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies requires 48 credits. All graded courses must be taken for letter grades and passed with a mid-C or better, and no more than eight credits can be taken Pass/No Pass.

  • At least 16 credits applied to the WGSS major must be taken at the University of Oregon.
  • Up to 12 credits at the upper-division level may be approved in other subject codes with adviser approval.
  • No more than eight credits from another major or minor may count toward the WGS major.
  • To be eligible for the minor, students must all complete a major in another academic department.

Introductory Course (4 credits total)

  • WGS 101 Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies

WGS 200-level courses (8 credits total)

Choose any 200-level WGSS course such as:

  • WGS 201 Introduction to Queer Studies
  • WGS 211 Black Feminist Histories
  • WGS 221 Bodies and Power

Advanced Courses (32 credits total)

Choose three WGS 300-level courses and five WGS 400-level courses OR choose four WGS 300-level courses and four WGS 400-level courses:

  • WGS 303 Women, Gender and History
  • WGS 311 Black Feminist Theories
  • WGS 315 Feminist Theory
  • WGS 321 Feminist Perspectives: Identity, race, culture
  • WGS 322 Queer Theory
  • WGS 331 Science, Technology and Gender
  • WGS 341 Women, Work and Class
  • WGS 350 Literature as Feminist Theory
  • WGS 351 Decolonial Feminisms
  • WGS 361 Gender, Film and Media
  • WGS 407 Seminar
  • WGS 409 Practicum
  • WGS 410 Experimental course
  • WGS 421 Bodies and Embodiment
  • WGS 422 Sexuality Studies
  • WGS 432 Gender, Environment and Development
  • WGS 450 Literature and Feminist World-Making
  • WGS 451 Global Perspectives on Gender

WGS Feminist Praxis (4 credits total)

  • WGS 411 Feminist Praxis (Offered Every Fall Term)

WGSS Major Worksheet

Independent Study Form

Paths of Study

While these paths of study are not formal concentrations, they can help you focus on a particular area of interest while you take courses toward your major. If you are interested, please consult with an academic advisor to point you in the direction of classes that will work best for you.

Since every instructor teaches a class slightly differently, the following path are offered only as examples.

Feminist Activism and Social Justice

  • WGS 101: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
  • WGS 201: Introduction to Queer Studies
  • WGS 211: Black Feminist Histories
  • WGS 221: Bodies and Power
  • WGS 311: Black Feminist Theories
  • WGS 321: Feminist Perspectives: Identity, race, culture
  • WGS 411: Feminist Praxis
  • WGS 432: Gender, Environment, and Development
  • WGS 451: Global Perspectives on Gender

Feminism and Race

  • WGS 101: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
  • WGS 211: Black Feminist Histories
  • WGS 251: Transnational and Indigenous Feminisms
  • WGS 311: Black Feminist Theories
  • WGS 315: Feminist Theory
  • WGS 351: Decolonial Feminisms
  • WGS 411: Feminist Praxis
  • WGS 425: Indigenous Feminisms
  • WGS 432: Gender, Environment, and Development
  • WGS 451: Global Perspectives on Gender

Bodies and Abilities

  • WGS 101: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
  • WGS 201: Introduction to Queer Studies
  • WGS 221: Bodies and Power
  • WGS 311: Black Feminist Theories
  • WGS 315: Feminist Theory
  • WGS 321: Feminist Perspectives: Identity, race, culture
  • WGS 331: Science, Technology, and Gender
  • WGS 421: Bodies and Embodiment

Gender and Representations

  • WGS 101: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
  • WGS 211: Black Feminist Histories
  • WGS 221: Bodies and Power
  • WGS 261: Gender and Popular Culture315: Feminist Theory
  • WGS 361: Gender, Film, Media
  • WGS 450: Literature and Feminist World-Making

Gender and Media

  • WGS 101: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
  • WGS 250: Gender, Literature, and Culture
  • WGS 261: Introduction to Gender and Popular Culture
  • WGS 331: Science, Technology, and Gender
  • WGS 361: Gender, Film, Media
  • WGS 450: Literature and Feminist World-Making

Gender and Literature

  • WGS 101: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
  • WGS 250: Gender, Literature, and Culture
  • WGS 261: Introduction to Gender and Popular Culture
  • WGS 352: Literature as Feminist Theory
  • WGS 361: Gender, Film, Media
  • WGS 422: Sexuality Studies
  • WGS 450: Literature and Feminist World-Making

Law/Gender-Based Violence

  • WGS 101: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
  • WGS 201: Introduction to Queer Studies
  • WGS 211: Black Feminist Histories
  • WGS 221: Bodies and Power
  • WGS 315: Feminist Theory
  • WGS 321: Feminist Perspectives: Identity, race, culture
  • WGS 411: Feminist Praxis
  • WGS 421: Bodies and Embodiment
  • WGS 425: Indigenous Feminisms