Women's Studies is the recognition and examination of the social construction of gender and its relation to class, race, age, ethnicity, nationality, and sexual identity.  Students majoring in Women's Studies will become more knowledgeable about the way gender informs our social, economic, political and cultural lives; widen their perspective on national and global issues; and develop an appreciation for the connection between education and social responsibility.

The academic core of the Women's Studies program focuses on:

• an interdisciplinary, multiperspectival approach to the concept of gender as a social construct;
• a critical and cultural analysis of the female experience through work in feminist theory;
• race, ethnicity, nationality, class, age and sexual identity as central categories of analysis.

Student Organizations and Activities
The Women’s Student Union (WSU) provides opportunities for students to program special events, participate in relevant off-campus activities, and sponsor activities to raise awareness of women’s and gender issues on campus and in the community.

Women’s History Month, co-sponsored by WSU and Women’s Studies, brings a diverse array of speakers and performers to campus in March to celebrate women’s contributions and discuss contemporary issues facing both women and men. An annual Women’s Studies Fall Gathering showcases recent scholarship in women’s studies by affiliate faculty.

An annual Undergraduate Conference on Women and Gender celebrates student research in women’s studies and gender-related areas. Student winners present summaries of their work in a recognition ceremony. An Annual Women’s Studies Symposium features presentations of research completed by Women’s Studies minors in the capstone course (Feminist Practice).

Departmental Awards
The Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research on Gender, a cash award, is presented during the undergraduate conference for the outstanding research of the entries submitted.

Requirements for the Minor
Completion of the interdisciplinary minor requires a minimum of 21 credit hours. Up to 6 credit hours of transfer credit may be applied to the minor, based on approval by the director. No more than 9 credit hours should be used to fulfill the requirements of the student’s major. Students declaring the Women’s Studies minor may use past courses retroactively after consultation with the director.