Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies - Undergraduate Program
Overview
The Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Program provides students with the opportunity to engage in critical analysis of issues related to women, gender, and sexuality. Courses typically emphasize how women, gender, and sexuality have shaped and been shaped by history, culture, and society, with particular attention to the role of race, ethnicity, class, nation, age, and religion in forming gender and sexual identities. This interdisciplinary program is taught by faculty from diverse fields and offers a unique opportunity for students to complement their work in traditional disciplines with courses that can be tailored to meet specific interests and needs.
Students may receive a minor in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies by taking 18 credit hours from a selection of courses offered across several disciplines. Many of our courses are cross-listed with courses offered in other departments. Students should consult the Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies website for a list of the courses being offered in any specific semester.
Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies minors are encouraged to take two foundation courses: GWSS 2310: Introduction to Women's & Gender Studies and GWSS 2315: Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies. Both of these courses satisfy the general core requirements in Language, Philosophy, and Culture.
Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Minors may also consider taking the Internship course, which involves working off campus at a local organization that addresses women's or gender issues.
Students seeking the Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies minor should first consult with the advisors in their major departments or programs for approval, then with the Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Program advisor.
A Graduate Certificate in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies is an interdisciplinary program that advances knowledge and research in the fields of gender, women, and sexuality studies. A Graduate Certificate demonstrates a student’s understanding of the issues related to women, gender, and sexuality that have shaped social structures, institutions, and identities across human history and continue to impact our cultural, political, and social world. Students gain a specialization within the fields of gender, women, and sexuality studies that enhances their graduate education and equips them with skills to succeed in their chosen careers.
Applicants seeking the Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Graduate Certificate will be restricted to students currently enrolled in a Master's or Ph.D. program at UT Arlington, having met those admission standards. In these cases, the Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Program will defer to the admissions standards of each individual graduate program. As long as the student remains in good standing within their primary degree-granting department, they may be admitted to the Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Graduate Certificate Program. Students should consult with the Graduate Studies Advisor of their Master's or Ph.D. program before applying to the Graduate Certificate in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies.
Students may receive a Graduate Certificate in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies by taking 12 hours of graduate-level GWSS courses or graduate-level courses designated by the Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Program as having a central focus on gender, women, sexuality, or related topics. These courses may be taken within the graduate student’s primary degree-granting department, or within other participating graduate programs. Courses may be counted twice, for both the student’s primary graduate degree and their Graduate Certificate in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies. A list of approved classes will be posted on the Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies website.
Courses
GWSS 2301. TOPICS IN GENDER, WOMEN & SEXUALITY STUDIES. 3 Hours.
Special topics of interest in the disciplines of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes.
GWSS 2307. WOMEN IN THE ANCIENT WORLD. 3 Hours.
Exploration of roles and images of women in ancient Greece and Rome, using a variety of primary (ancient) sources: literature, legal and medical texts, visual art, and inscriptions. Offered as CLAS 2307 and GWSS 2307. Credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 2310. INTRO TO WOMEN'S & GENDER STUDIES. 3 Hours.
Provides an introduction to Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies as fields that place women and gender at the center of inquiry. Examines topics such as work, family, reproduction, sexuality, politics, art, literature, and contemporary media. Explains the diversity of methods and theories employed in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies scholarship, emphasizing the intersection of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and class. Satisfies the University of Texas at Arlington core curriculum requirement in Language, Philosophy, and Culture.
GWSS 2315. INTRODUCTION TO LGBTQ+ STUDIES. 3 Hours.
Provides an introduction to Gay and Lesbian Studies, including the study of transsexual, transgender, and queer identities. May address topics such as LGBTQ history; sexuality and civil rights; the representation of LGBTQ in art, literature, and popular culture; and/or feminist analysis of sex, gender, and sexuality. Explains the methods and theories employed in gay and lesbian studies, emphasizing the intersection of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, and ability/disability. Satisfies the University of Texas at Arlington core curriculum requirement in Language, Philosophy, and Culture. This course is offered as GWSS 2315 and DIVR 2315. Credit will be granted in only one department.
GWSS 2317. BASIC CONCEPTS IN HUMAN SEXUALITY. 3 Hours.
The physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects of human sexuality. Offered as BIOL 2317, HEED 2317, PSYC 2317, and GWSS 2317. Credit will be granted for one of these courses only. Students seeking certification in Health Education must enroll in HEED 2317. Students seeking credit toward their science requirement must enroll in BIOL 2317. May not be used for biology grade point calculation or biology credit toward a BS degree in biology, microbiology, medical technology, psychology, or sociology.
GWSS 3300. TOPICS IN GENDER, WOMEN & SEXUALITY STUDIES. 3 Hours.
Special topics of interest in the disciplines of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes. Offered as GWSS 3300 and AAST 3300; credit will be granted in only one department.
GWSS 3301. INTRODUCTION TO LATINA/HISPANIC FEMINISM. 3 Hours.
This interdisciplinary course explores Latina/Hispanic feminism through the intersection of race, class, gender, and sexuality. This course is organized around the following issues: colonization, immigration, globalization, sexism, health, and violence. Through an analysis of cultural production, politics, socio-economics, literary texts, and feminist methodology, the goal of this course is to develop a robust understanding of how Latina/Hispanic feminist methodologies can be used as tools for social change and social justice. Offered as GWSS 3301, MAS 3301, and DIVR 3301. Credit will only be granted in one department.
GWSS 3305. WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES. 3 Hours.
Will address specific issues of importance to women and their health, including growth and development, nutrition, reproductive health, pregnancy, chronic diseases, and relationship/family issues. Offered as DIVR 3305, HEED 3305 and GWSS 3305. Credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 3314. THE LATINA EXPERIENCE. 3 Hours.
A course on the social, cultural, and economic experiences of Latina and Latin American origin women in the United States. Offered as MAS 3314, SOCI 3314, SOCW 3314, GWSS 3314, and AAST 3321. Credit will be granted in only one department.
GWSS 3315. TOPICS IN LGBTQIA+ STUDIES. 3 Hours.
Special topics related to LGBTQIA+ Studies. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes.
GWSS 3324. U.S. WOMEN'S HISTORY. 3 Hours.
An examination of women in US politics, work and society from the colonial era to the present. Offered as HIST 3324 and GWSS 3324; credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 3328. MARITAL AND SEXUAL LIFESTYLES. 3 Hours.
Contemporary American lifestyles selected from: singles, traditional marriage, homosexuals, single-parent families, open marriage, non-marital sexuality, cohabitation, dual-career marriage, childless couples, egalitarian marriage, families in later life. Offered as DIVR 3328, SOCI 3328 and GWSS 3328; credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 3331. SOCIOLOGY OF THE FAMILY. 3 Hours.
The family's role in American society and in other cultures past, present, and future. Family research methods, comparative family systems, child development/parenting, culture and personality, minority families, social class variation in families, work and family. Offered as SOCI 3331 and GWSS 3331; credit will be granted only once. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or permission of the instructor.
GWSS 3334. SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER. 3 Hours.
Examination of theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding the formation of gender. Assesses individual and structural dimensions of gender in various social institutions including work, education, and families. Offered as SOCI 3334 and GWSS 3334; credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 3338. COMPARATIVE KINSHIP AND FAMILY SYSTEMS. 3 Hours.
Variation in kinship and family systems from crosscultural and evolutionary perspectives. Structure, function, and dynamics of kinship and family systems as adaptations to diverse ecological, social, and historical circumstances. Implications of this approach for understanding kinship and family in American society also addressed. Formerly listed as ANTH 4338. Credit cannot be given for both ANTH 3338 and ANTH 4338. Also offered as GWSS 3338; credit will be granted only once. Offered as AAST 3332 and ANTH 3338; credit will be granted in only one department.
GWSS 3356. WOMEN, WORK AND SOCIAL CHANGE. 3 Hours.
Women's work experiences, how these experiences are changing, and relationship between paid employment and non-wage household labor. Paid and unpaid work experiences are empirically examined in terms of a variety of theoretical perspectives. Offered as DIVR 3356, SOCI 3356 and GWSS 3356; credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 3360. GENDER AND THE PERFORMING ARTS. 3 Hours.
Examines the role of gender in the performing arts, including theory and practice focused on gender. Additional topics may include female pioneers in the performing arts, the image of gender in different media, the way gender affects actors and artists, and the effect of cultural definitions of gender on audience reception. Offered as THEA 3360 and GWSS 3360. Credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 3361. WOMEN IN THEATRE. 3 Hours.
Examines the history, theory, and practice of women in theatre. Pioneering female writers, directors, producers, actors, designers, and activists will be explored as will their influence upon drama in its historical, social, and cultural contexts. Students will also be introduced to theory that examines female characters in plays and their impact on the artist and audience. Offered as THEA 3361 and GWSS 3361. Credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 3364. TOPICS IN LGBTQIA+ LITERATURE AND THEORY. 3 Hours.
Studies representations of the sexual and/or gender identities of LGBTQIA+ people and the intersectionality among them through a variety of texts. Specific topics may include the history of marginalized sexualities, crossdressing in literature, or transvestite saints; the texts may be philosophical, political, literary, and/or scientific. Offered as ENGL 3364 and GWSS 3364; credit will be granted in only one department. May be repeated for credit as course content changes. Prerequisite: English majors must have earned a C or better in ENGL 3350 and in one literature survey course (ENGL 3340, ENGL 3341, ENGL 3351, ENGL 3352, ENGL 3361, or ENGL 3362). Non-majors must have earned a C or better in 3 hours of sophomore literature (ENGL 2303, ENGL 2309, ENGL 2319, ENGL 2329).
GWSS 3366. SEX, GENDER, AND CULTURE. 3 Hours.
The ways gender and sexuality are culturally constructed. Readings include ethnographies, life histories, and fiction. Debates within anthropology and within specific cultures over maleness and femaleness. Offered as ANTH 3366 and GWSS 3366; credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 3368. TOPICS IN FEMINIST THEORY, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY. 3 Hours.
Examines issues of gender and sexuality through literary, theoretical, and philosophical texts that foreground questions feminist theory raises about desire, sexual identity, and gender asymmetry. Considers how gender and sexuality shape and are shaped by race, ethnicity, class, ability/disability, religion, and age. May be repeated for credit as course content changes. Offered as ENGL 3368 and GWSS 3368; credit will be granted in only one department. Prerequisite: English majors must have earned a C or better in ENGL 3350 and in one literature survey course (ENGL 3340, ENGL 3341, ENGL 3351, ENGL 3352, ENGL 3361, or ENGL 3362). Non-majors must have earned a C or better in 3 hours of sophomore literature (ENGL 2303, ENGL 2309, ENGL 2319, ENGL 2329).
GWSS 3370. HISTORY OF WOMEN'S WRITING. 3 Hours.
Examines women's writing in English from the Medieval period to the present. Offered as ENGL 3370 and GWSS 3370; credit will be granted in only one department. Prerequisite: English majors must have earned a C or better in ENGL 3350 and in one literature survey course (ENGL 3340, ENGL 3341, ENGL 3351, ENGL 3352, ENGL 3361, or ENGL 3362). Non-majors must have earned a C or better in 3 hours of sophomore literature (ENGL 2303, ENGL 2309, ENGL 2319, ENGL 2329).
GWSS 3385. WOMEN AND CRIME. 3 Hours.
This course examines criminology and criminal justice issues as they relate specifically to women. The three major areas of coverage include (1) women and girls as victims of crime, (2) women and girls as criminal offenders; and (3) women working in the criminal justice system. Offered as DIVR 3385, CRCJ 3385 and GWSS 3385; credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 3393. ART AND GENDER. 3 Hours.
Approaches to the interpretation of art from the stance of gender and feminism. Emphasis is placed on the work of significant female artists and on the gendered representations of art. Offered as ART 3393 and GWSS 3393; credit will be granted only once. Fulfills the Social/Cultural Studies requirement. Prerequisite: Any two of the three courses ART 1309, ART 1310, and ART 1317; or permission from the instructor.
GWSS 4190. CONFERENCE COURSE. 1 Hour.
Independent study for the advanced undergraduate. A close examination of a chosen topic through research and/or reading; format designed by instructor and student. May be repeated for credit when the subject matter varies, but only with permission of the director of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Program.
GWSS 4290. CONFERENCE COURSE. 2 Hours.
Independent study for the advanced undergraduate. A close examination of a chosen topic through research and/or reading; format designed by instructor and student. May be repeated for credit when the subject matter varies, but only with permission of director of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Program.
GWSS 4302. WOMEN AND WORK IN TRANSATLANTIC PERSPECTIVE. 3 Hours.
Examines the history of women and work, both waged and nonwaged, in Europe and the Americas, including the United States. Highlights differences within women's work cultures as well as variation in women's employment opportunities and their efforts to achieve equality with men in the workplace, by ethnicity, region, and nation. Offered as HIST 4302 and GWSS 4302; credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 4303. WOMEN IN SOCIETY. 3 Hours.
Women's status in contemporary American society, including the family, workplace, and politics. Women's status will also be examined in historical and crosscultural perspectives. Offered as SOCI 4303 and GWSS 4303; credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 4305. TRANSNATIONAL FEMINISMS. 3 Hours.
Explores transnational feminist frameworks and the heterogeneous processes used in the cultural construction of gender in a global context. Centering non-Western perspectives, the class analyzes the intersectional inequalities experienced by women in different cultural contexts and explores the workings of power and gender that shape the lives of women around the world. Topics may include reproductive rights, poverty, education, and religious, economic, political, and legal mechanisms of women's subordination and inequality.
GWSS 4307. 'EVIL' WOMEN: WITCHES, HARLOTS & 'MADWOMEN'. 3 Hours.
Examines the definition of "evil" women as a mechanism for the control of women and the maintenance of patriarchal gender relations in Western societies. Will address the philosophical and religious ideologies that underpin manifestations of misogyny and the extreme, narrow boundaries Western societies historically used in defining female gender roles. Topics include witch hunts, policing of women's sexual behavior, and using labels of mental illness to punish women for social transgressions.
GWSS 4316. WOMEN IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to the unique experiences of women in the political process, the impact of these experiences on the political system, and theories of gender and politics. Offered as POLS 4316 and GWSS 4316; credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 4318. LANGUAGE AND GENDER. 3 Hours.
The role of language in the expression and creation of gender identities. Gender differences in language structure and use, women's and men's language in other cultures, the acquisition of gendered ways of speaking, and sexism in language. Offered as LING 4318 and GWSS 4318; credit will be granted only once. Prerequisite: LING 3311.
GWSS 4323. FEMINIST POLITICAL THOUGHT. 3 Hours.
Issues raised by the feminist critique of political theory; the exclusion of women from the political sphere until the 20th century; Marxist, liberal, and radical feminist political thought; alternative feminist conceptions of the political. Offered as POLS 4323 and GWSS 4323; credit will be granted only once. Prerequisite: POLS 2311 and POLS 2312.
GWSS 4325. WOMEN IN SCIENCE. 3 Hours.
Explores the role of women in science. Emphasis on gender and science, the history of women in science, gender equity in the classroom, strategies for the retention of women scientists, the current culture/climate for women in science, and contemporary women in science. Offered as EDUC 4325, SCIE 4325, and GWSS 4325. Credit will be granted only once.
GWSS 4326. DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATIONS. 3 Hours.
This course examines the implications of employee diversity in organizations, an issue of increasing importance. It includes study of the changing demographics of workers, including multiple demographic groups and areas of difference important to organizational treatment and outcomes. This course examines research on treatment, access, and customer discrimination. Legislation related to diversity is also reviewed. This course also provides suggestions for individuals and organizations to increase opportunities and outcomes for workers of all backgrounds. Offered as MANA 4326, AAST 4326 and GWSS 4326; credit will be granted in only one department. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
GWSS 4327. WOMEN IN HISPANIC LITERATURE. 3 Hours.
Considers women as characters in and writers of Hispanic literature. Includes the analysis of themes, language, and how the writings of women often give voice to lesser known aspects of culture. Offered as SPAN 4327, MAS 4327, and GWSS 4327; credit will be granted only once. Prerequisite: SPAN 3315 with a grade of C or better.
GWSS 4340. TOPICS IN WOMEN'S WRITING. 3 Hours.
Focuses on women's writing in a particular genre or historical period or on a concept or issue of importance to women writers. May be repeated for credit as course content changes. Offered as ENGL 4340 and GWSS 4340; credit will be granted in only one department. Prerequisite: English majors must have earned a C or better in ENGL 3350 and in one literature survey course (ENGL 3340, ENGL 3341, ENGL 3351, ENGL 3352, ENGL 3361, or ENGL 3362). Non-majors must have earned a C or better in 3 hours of sophomore literature (ENGL 2303, ENGL 2309, ENGL 2319, ENGL 2329).
GWSS 4390. CONFERENCE COURSE. 3 Hours.
Independent study for the advanced undergraduate. A close examination of a chosen topic through research and/or reading; format designed by instructor and student. May be repeated for credit when the subject matter varies, but only with permission of the director of the Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Program.
GWSS 4392. TOPICS IN GENDER, WOMEN & SEXUALITY STUDIES. 3 Hours.
Special topics related to Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes, with permission of the director of the Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Program.
GWSS 4393. GENDER, WOMEN & SEXUALITY STUDIES INTERNSHIP. 3 Hours.
Supervised internship through which students apply the academic skills they have acquired in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies courses by working in a related business or non-profit environment. Required coursework will be determined by instructor. Prerequisite: GWSS 2310 and permission of Director of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies.
GWSS 5301. TOPICS GENDER, WOMEN & SEXUALITY STUDIES. 3 Hours.
Special topics of interest in the discipline of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes.
GWSS 5310. FEMINIST THEORY. 3 Hours.
The foundational course for the Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies graduate certificate. Covers a wide range of feminist theoretical approaches to prepare students for graduate-level work in gender, women, and sexuality studies.