Program: Gender and Women’s Studies, B.A. - University of Kentucky

Apr 03, 2025

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

The Department in Gender and Women’s Studies offers an interdisciplinary curriculum which focuses on the study of gender as an aspect of everyday life, as well as on the political and cultural experiences and contributions of women across the world and through time. Majors in GWS have gone on to become artists, activists, to study law, medicine, social work, and to pursue academic careers.

120 hours (minimum)

Any student earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete a minimum of 39 hours at the 300+ level. These hours are generally completed by the Major Requirements. However, keep this hour requirement in mind as you choose your course work for the requirements in the major. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree .

UK Core Requirements

See the UK Core section of this Catalog for the complete UK Core requirements . The courses listed below are (a) recommended by the college, or (b) required courses that also fulfill UK Core areas. Students should work closely with their advisor to complete the UK Core requirements.

UK Core hours: 30

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

GWS 599 - DOING FEMINIST RESEARCH II: CAPSTONE Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 3

College Requirements

I. Foreign Language: 0-14

(placement exam recommended)

II. Disciplinary Requirements

a. Natural Science: 6

b. Social Science: 6

c. Humanities: 3

III. Laboratory or Field Work: 1

IV. Race and Ethnicity Requirement: 0-3

V. Electives: 6

College Requirement hours: 22-39

Premajor Requirements

GWS 200 - INTRODUCTION TO GENDER AND WOMEN’S STUDIES IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES Credit(s): 3 *
GWS 201 - GENDER AND POPULAR CULTURE Credit(s): 3 *

Premajor hours: 6

Major Requirements

Core Courses

GWS 250 - SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Credit(s): 3
OR
GWS 340 - HISTORY OF FEMINIST THOUGHT TO 1975 Credit(s): 3
GWS 350 - INTRODUCTION TO FEMINIST THEORIZING Credit(s): 3
GWS 400 - DOING FEMINIST RESEARCH I: METHODS Credit(s): 3
GWS 599 - DOING FEMINIST RESEARCH II: CAPSTONE Credit(s): 3

Core hours: 12

Elective Courses

Choose five 3-credit-hour courses (not to exceed more than 12 hours of GWS courses from the following) from a list of approved electives, including the courses below. Additional non-GWS courses will be approved on a semester-by-semester basis.

GWS 300 - TOPICS IN GENDER AND WOMEN’S STUDIES (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 1 - 3 (Variable) *
GWS 301 - CROSSROADS: SUBTITLE REQUIRED Credit(s): 1 - 3 (Variable)
GWS 302 - GENDER ACROSS THE WORLD: SUBTITLE REQUIRED Credit(s): 3
GWS 360 - LGBTQ HISTORY IN THE UNITED STATES Credit(s): 3
GWS 395 - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN GENDER AND WOMEN’S STUDIES Credit(s): 1 - 3 (Variable)
GWS 399 - INTERNSHIP IN GENDER AND WOMEN’S STUDIES Credit(s): 1 - 6 (Variable)
GWS 410 - INTRODUCTION TO QUEER THEORY Credit(s): 3
GWS 430 - GENDER, POWER AND VIOLENCE Credit(s): 3
GWS 506 - HISTORY OF SEXUALITY Credit(s): 3
GWS 595 - ISSUES IN GENDER AND WOMEN’S STUDIES (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3

Elective hours: 15

Total Major hours: 27

Other Course Work Required for the Major

Students must complete at least 27 credit hours of the major through upper-division course work (12 credit hours of core courses, 15 credit hours of electives).

From Outside the Major Department

Choose 12 hours outside GWS at the 300+ level. 200+ level courses used to satisfy College requirements can also be counted here.

Other Major hours: 12

Total Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 120

*Course used towards completion of a UK Core Requirement.

Gender and Women’s Studies, B.A.