Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Yvonne A. Braun, Department Head
541-346-5529
541-346-0652 fax
315 Hendricks Hall
1298 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403-1298
info@uoregon.College

The Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum that focuses on the diverse experiences of women in both national and international contexts. The department also examines the meaning of gender as a socially constructed category that shapes personal identities, beliefs, opportunities, and behaviors. The wide range of courses explores the intersections of gender, race, class, and sexuality; the institutional structures that have an impact on women’s and men’s lives; and the broad range of feminist theory that seeks to explain and influence women’s status in society. Among the areas of emphasis in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies are 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.

Core and affiliated faculty members in the department come from a wide range of disciplinary perspectives including history, literature, anthropology, sociology, geography, environmental studies, ethnic studies, philosophy, religious studies, architecture and fine arts, music, Romance and Germanic languages, political science, public policy, and law.

Any student may take women’s, gender, and sexuality studies courses. Some students take a few courses to complement the curriculum in another major. Others choose to fulfill the requirements for a major in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies or a minor in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies or in queer studies.

Most women’s, gender, and sexuality studies courses satisfy group and multicultural requirements. For courses approved to fulfill these requirements, see the current list on the registrar’s website.

Faculty

Oluwakemi Balogun, assistant professor (globalization, nationalism, African studies). BA, Pomona College, 2003; PhD, California, Berkeley, 2012. (2013)

Yvonne A. Braun, associate professor (gender and development, political ecology, social inequality). BA, 1994, State University of New York, Geneseo; MA, 2000, PhD, 2005, California, Irvine. (2005)

Judith Raiskin, associate professor (postcolonial literature, feminist theory, sexuality). BA, 1979, California, Berkeley; MA, 1981, Chicago; PhD, 1989, Stanford. (1995)

Elizabeth Reis, professor (US women’s history, history of sexuality, women and religion). AB, 1980, Smith; MA, 1982, Brown; PhD, 1991, California, Berkeley. (2002)

Shoniqua Roach, assistant professor (African American studies, feminist theory, performance studies). BA, 2012, Pennsylvania State; MA, 2013, Florida; PhD, 2017, Northwestern. (2017)

Carol Stabile, professor (gender, race, and class in the media). AB, 1983, Mount Holyoke College; MA, 1985, PhD, 1992, Brown. (2008)

Stephanie "Lani" Teves, assistant professor (indigenous feminisms, native studies, performance studies). BA, 2002, MA, 2005, Hawaii, Hilo; PhD, 2012, Michigan, Ann Arbor. (2014)

Emerita

Barbara Corrado Pope, professor emerita. BA, 1964, Hiram; MA, 1966, Iowa; PhD, 1981, Columbia. (1976)

Linda O. Fuller, professor emerita. BA, 1966, MA, 1977, PhD, 1985, California, Berkeley. (1989)

The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.

Affiliated

Shabnam Ahktari, mathematics

Yvette Alex-Assensoh, political science

Susan C. Anderson, German and Scandinavian

Erin Beck, political science

Charise Cheney, ethnic studies

Krista Chronister, counseling psychology and human services

Lynn Fujiwara, ethnic studies

Alison Gash, political science

Lisa M. Gilman, folklore

Amalia Gladhart, Romance languages

Bryna Goodman, history

Michael Hames-Garcia, ethnic studies

Julie Heffernan, education studies

Ellen Herman, history

Sara Hodges, psychology

Jocelyn Hollander, sociology

Lamia Karim, anthropology

Sharon Luk, English

Kathryn A. Lynch, environmental studies

Bonnie Mann, philosophy

Kate Mondloch, history of art and architecture

Dorothee Ostmeier, German and Scandinavian

Eileen M. Otis, sociology

C. J. Pascoe, sociology

Scott L. Pratt, philosophy

Alai Reyes-Santos, ethnic studies

Ellen Scott, sociology

Carol T. Silverman, anthropology

Beata Stawarska, philosophy

Leslie H. Steeves, journalism and communication

Lynn Stephen, anthropology

Analisa Taylor, Romance languages

Courtney Thorsson, English

Elizabeth A. Wheeler, English

Frances J. White, anthropology

Mary E. Wood, English

Priscilla Yamin, political science

Preparation

No specific high school preparation is necessary. Students who transfer to the university from other colleges may apply as many as 8 credits of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies courses to the major or to the minors.

Careers

An understanding of gender and of women’s experiences, abilities, and needs is an asset to careers in such fields as education, social service, government, business, law, medicine, the ministry, journalism, media, technology, counseling, and child care. In addition, a background in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies can be used as a basis for entering a growing number of graduate programs that emphasize the study of women or gender.

Major Requirements

The Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies offers an undergraduate major leading to a bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) degree. Students may major in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies alone or as one of two or more majors. Majors must construct their programs in consultation with women’s, gender, and sexuality studies advisors.

Graded courses in the major must be completed with grades of C– or higher. No more than 8 credits taken pass/no pass in these courses may be counted toward the major.

At least 36 credits must be in upper-division courses. At least 24 upper-division credits must be taken at the University of Oregon. Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies (WGS) majors must attain a grade point average of 2.50 or higher in courses applied to the major.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

Senior Honors Thesis

Students interested in producing a substantial piece of original research and writing may elect to write a senior thesis in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.

To be eligible to write an honors thesis, students should have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 in WGS courses. Students who satisfy the major requirements, maintain throughout their undergraduate studies at Oregon a GPA of 3.50 or above in courses in the major, and submit a copy of the honors thesis approved by their committee to the department receive a baccalaureate degree with honors in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.

Thesis Criteria

A thesis must be based on a student’s original research. Depending on the discipline, it can be a written paper that presents the results of the research. Theses average between 30 and 50 pages, including notes and bibliographies.

Only theses that meet the following criteria will be approved and awarded honors:

• Identifies a clear and original topic or research question
• Demonstrates knowledge of the literature concerning that topic or research question in the field of gender studies by reviewing that body of literature and providing a substantive bibliography
• Provides an analysis of the topic or research question, using clearly identified methodology
• It uses the citational style appropriate to its disciplinary focus
• The thesis is mindful of the relationships among gender, race, class, ability, and national identity as these pertain to the object of study

Students producing a senior thesis should expect to do the following work over the course of a full year prior to their graduation. In the spring and summer before the thesis writing begins, students need to identify a primary advisor (first reader) and a second reader, both of whom are either a faculty member in the department or an affiliated faculty member (see faculty list). If an affiliated faculty member is the first reader, then the instructor of Reading and Conference: [Topic] (WGS 405) will be the second reader.

In fall, students should register for Reading and Conference: [Topic] (WGS 405) (1–4 variable credits) with their thesis advisor and submit a timeline for completion of the thesis to the thesis advisor.

By the end of the fall term, students should complete a draft of a research proposal that is five to eight pages in length and includes a literature review, a short section on the methods that will be used, research questions or a thesis statement (depending on the discipline), and a bibliography.  

Research proposals must be approved by the thesis advisor and a copy must be submitted to the department. If an affiliate faculty member is the thesis advisor, the proposal must be approved by the student's primary advisor in the department as well.

In winter, students should register for Thesis (WGS 403). Using the timeline submitted in the fall, students spend winter term conducting research and writing the thesis in consultation with their advisor. By the end of winter term, research should be complete and thesis writing should be significantly underway.

In spring, students write, revise, and produce a final draft of the thesis following the timeline submitted in the fall. By no later than the end of the fifth week of the term, students must submit their final thesis to their departmental advisor, their affiliate advisor, or both. Upon approval, students must submit a copy of their final thesis to the department head.

The student’s performance on the thesis and on courses taken during the senior year will be reviewed before the honors distinction is granted. Obtain complete instructions and required forms from the department office.

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor Requirements

Additional Requirements

No more than 8 credits in Practicum: [Topic] (WGS 409) may be counted toward the minor. No more than 8 credits may be taken pass/no pass; no more than 8 credits may count toward both the minor and the student's major. Graded courses in the minor must be completed with grades of C– or higher. At least 16 credits applied to the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies minor must be taken at the University of Oregon.

Students must apply for the minor in the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies office well in advance of graduation for transcript evaluation. In order to be eligible for the minor, students must complete all degree requirements and a major in another academic department.

Queer Studies Minor Requirements

Students wishing to minor in queer studies should consult frequently with a women’s, gender, and sexuality studies advisor to determine which courses offered during any given academic year will count toward the fulfillment of the 20 selectable credits. A minimum of 16 of the 24 total credits for the minor must be earned at the University of Oregon. The other 8 may be earned through successful completion of preapproved courses from another university or approved overseas program. A minimum of 16 of the 24 credits must be graded. Students must complete all 24 credits with a grade of P or C– or better.

Students must apply for the queer studies minor in the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies office well in advance of graduation for transcript evaluation. In order to be eligible for the minor, students must complete all degree requirements and a major in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies or another academic department.

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

The degree plan shows courses that are solely within the department (subject code WGS) and suggestions for arranging general-education courses, language courses, and mathematics courses. The plans below do not necessarily include sufficient courses to meet the 180-credit minimum to graduate.

It is suggested that students look for courses that meet the multicultural requirements when taking general-education requirements.

Bachelor of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies

Bachelor of Science in Women's and Gender Studies