Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Major
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Major, B.A.
The following is a sample degree plan, based on the current catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.
To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Core General Education Requirements (CGER). CGER course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as CGER CL, CGER HA, and CGER NSWL to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of the course. Please click here for a description of the outcomes and requirements.
Students in this major have the option to pursue either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. The degrees are distinguished by second language competency for the B.A. and a higher level of mathematics competency for the B.S.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR | ||
| FIRST SEMESTER | ||
| WRIT 114 | Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (CGER CL) | 5 |
| OR | ||
| Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (CGER CL) | ||
| OR | ||
| Accelerated Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (CGER CL, 2 credits) | ||
| Math Competency (CGER MQR) | 4 | |
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||
| WGSS Elective | 3 | |
| 101-level Second Language (CGER CL) | 4 | |
| SOME TIME IN THE FIRST YEAR | ||
| WGSS 100 | Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (prereq for WGSS 300 and 335; CGER CL; offered in fall and spring) | 3 |
| CGER Course Option | 3 | |
| CGER Option: Natural Sciences & Wellness with Lab (NSWL) | 4 | |
| Course in Minor/Certificate | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 27-29 | |
| SECOND YEAR | ||
| FIRST SEMESTER | ||
| WGSS 300 | Introduction to Feminist Theories (prereq for WGSS 490; offered in the fall and spring) | 3 |
| Course in Minor/Certificate | 3 | |
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||
| WGSS 206 | Perspectives in LGBTQ Studies | 3 |
| Course in Minor/Certificate | 3 | |
| SOME TIME IN THE SECOND YEAR | ||
| 102-level Second Language (CGER CL) | 4 | |
| CGER Option: Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS) | 3 | |
| WGSS Elective | 3 | |
| WGSS (300-400) Elective | 3 | |
| CGER Option: Natural Sciences & Wellness (NSW) | 3 | |
| CGER Option: Humanities & Arts (HA) | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 31 | |
| THIRD YEAR | ||
| FIRST SEMESTER | ||
| WGSS 335 | Transnational Feminism (Global Feminism (CGER CP), offered in the fall and spring) | 3 |
| Course in Minor/Certificate (300-400) | 3 | |
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||
| WGSS (300-400) Elective | 3 | |
| Course in Minor/Certificate (300-400) | 3 | |
| SOME TIME IN THE THIRD YEAR | ||
| WGSS (300-400) Elective | 3 | |
| CGER Option: Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS) | 3 | |
| CGER Option: Civics & Perspectives (CP) | 3 | |
| Course in Minor/Certificate | 3 | |
| WGSS (300-400) Elective | 3 | |
| CGER Course Option | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 30 | |
| FOURTH YEAR | ||
| FIRST SEMESTER | ||
| WGSS 490 | Feminist Analysis and Practices: Interdisciplinary Themes (Only offered in the fall) | 3 |
| Course in Minor/Certificate | 3 | |
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||
| WGSS 498 | Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Internship (only offered in the spring) | 1-3 |
| Course in Minor/Certificate | 3 | |
| SOME TIME IN THE FOURTH YEAR | ||
| CGER Option: Civics & Perspectives (CP) | 3 | |
| CGER Course Option (300-400) | 3 | |
| Elective (300-400) | 3 | |
| CGER Option: Humanities & Arts (HA) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective (300-400) | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 30 | |
Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 credits
NOTES
- At least 12 credits in the major must be earned at the 300-400 level (required courses may count towards this requirement).
- Students must complete 120 credits in order to complete their degree.
- Students must complete 39 upper division credits.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs)
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices. The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study Abroad, Intercultural Immersion, Internship, and/or Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire.
Required: Students in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program complete an internship in their final academic year.
Optional: Students can study abroad in India. These 3-week faculty-led programs are offered during every other Winterim session and may be substituted for WGSS 335.
Core General Education Requirements (CGER)
Core General Education Requirements (CGER)
The Core General Education Requirements (CGER) includes a minimum of 10 courses across 6 categories. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the CGER Core.
- Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning (MQR) - 4 credits, one course minimum
- Includes the University Mathematics Requirement¹
- Communication & Literacy (CL) - 8 credits, two courses minimum
- Includes the University Writing Requirement (CL-W)²
- Natural Sciences & Wellness (NSW/NSWL) - 6 credits, one course minimum (NSW-Lab required)
- Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS) - 6 credits, two courses minimum
- Humanities & Arts (HA) - 6 credits, two courses minimum
- Civics & Perspectives (CP) - 6 credits, two courses minimum
- 1
University Mathematics Requirement:
Students satisfy the University Mathematics Requirement in one of four ways:
- completing an approved university-level mathematics course (MQR) with a grade of C (not C-) or above
- achieving a suitable score on the UW Math Placement Test
- achieving a suitable score on an exam such as the Advanced Placement Calculus or Advanced Placement Statistics exams
- achieving a suitable score on a Credit by Examination administered by the Department of Mathematics.
- 2
University Writing Requirement:
Students satisfy the University Writing Requirement in one of four ways:
- completing a Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing course (WRIT 102, WRIT 114, WRIT 116, WRIT 118, or WRIT 120) with a grade of C (not C-) or above
- achieving a suitable score on the English Placement Test (WPT ENGL)
- achieving a suitable score on an exam such as the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition or Advanced Placement English Language and Composition exams
- achieving a suitable score on the University Writing Program Portfolio.
Completion via Placement Test
-
Writing: If the CL-W subcategory is satisfied through a placement test, the CGER Communication and Literacy requirement will be reduced from 8 credits (2 courses) to 3 credits (1 course).
-
Mathematics: If the University Math Requirement is satisfied through a placement test, the CGER Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning requirement will be considered fully met, replacing the 4-credit (1 course) requirement.
-
Students must still complete 36 credits across 10 courses, with any remaining credits or courses eligible to be taken from any CGER category.