Loyola University Chicago

Women's Studies and Gender Studies

Major in WSGS

The undergraduate program offers both a major and a minor. Adding a WSGS second major or minor is easy due to a range of cross-listed classes. To declare a major or minor in Women's Studies and Gender Studies, students can go online to LOCUS and meet with the Program Director Dr. Betsy Jones Hemenway.

Undergraduate Major

The WSGS major can be declared at any time. You may major in WSGS with or without a second major. The major consists of 36 hours, or 12 courses. A total of at least 21 hours (7 courses) must be at the 300 level or higher. Courses are designated as follows:

1. Five (5) required courses plus an internship or service-learning requirement (total of 6 courses):

  • WSGS 101: Introduction to Women's Studies & Gender Studies
  • WSGS 201: Contemporary Issues in WSGS
  • WSGS 330: History of Feminist Thought
  • WSGS 391: Methodologies in WSGS
  • WSGS 398: WSGS Internship (or cross-listed service learning course)
  • WSGS 399: WSGS Capstone

2. One (1) course in theory, selected from the following options:

  • PLSC 312/WSGS 318: Feminist Theory
  • ENGL 307/WSGS 307: Feminist & Gender Theory
  • WSGS 380: Queer Theory

3. Five (5) elective courses from WSGS and cross-listed offerings, with at least 2 of these at the 300 level.

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Below is a sample 4-year program for a WSGS major:

 Year OneYear TwoYear ThreeYear Four
Fall WSGS 101: Intro to WSGS WSGS 201: Contemporary Issues in WSGS WSGS 330: History of Feminist Thought; PLSC 312: Feminist Theory WSGS 391: Methodologies in WSGS; PSYC 238: Gender & Sex: Differences & Similarities
Spring SOCL 123: Popular Culture & Mass Media PLSC 300: Women & Politics: A Cross-National Perspective; THEO 278: Women & Religion WSGS 398: Internship; FNAR 207: Women, Art, & Society WSGS 399: Capstone

Below is a list of courses for students interested in English:

  • WSGS 201: Contemporary Issues in WSGS
  • ENGL 283: Women in Literature
  • ENGL 306: Studies in Women Writers
  • ENGL 307: Feminism & Gender in Literature
  • FNAR 207: Women, Art, & Society

Below is a list of courses for students interested in Political Science:

  • WSGS 201: Contemporary Issues in WSGS
  • PLSC 355: Women & Politics: A Cross-National Perspective
  • PLSC 394: Comparative Family Policy: Work & Family Reconciliation
  • PLSC 312: Feminist Theory
  • PLSC 319: Women, Law, and Public Policy
  • PHIL 327: Liberalism & Feminism

Below is a list of courses for students interested in Psychology:

  • WSGS 201: Contemporary Issues in WSGS
  • PSYC 235: Psychology of Human Sexuality
  • PSYC 238: Gender & Sex: Differences & Similarities
  • PSCY 340: Psychology of Women
  • SOCL 250: Inequality in Society

Below is a list of courses for students interested in Sociology:

  • WSGS 201: Contemporary Issues in WSGS
  • SOCL 123: Popular Culture & Mass Media
  • SOCL 240: Men, Women, & Work
  • SOCL 271: Sociology of Sex and Gender
  • SOCL 276: Sociology & Politics of Food

Below is a list of courses for students interested in Theology:

  • WSGS 201: Contemporary Issues in WSGS
  • THEO 278: Women & Religion
  • THEO 192: Gender & Values
  • THEO 365: Women, Gender, & Embodiment in Islam
  • SOCL 271: Sociology of Sex and Gender