Welcome to Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
The Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies (WGSS) program offers students of all backgrounds the opportunity to examine their assumptions and ask the big questions about our cultural and societal realities.
The WGSS faculty are drawn from virtually every academic discipline represented on Richmond’s campus; consequently, teaching styles vary tremendously, and students have the opportunity to work with professors who best fit their own learning styles. All WGSS faculty encourage students to think critically and perform critical assessments of the world around them.
Over their course of study, students are encouraged and enabled to develop their own positions on current academic and social issues, cultivate their own voices in their speaking and writing, and test theoretical assumptions by applying them to real-life situations.
WGSS courses are open to all students regardless of major or gender. You may take any of these courses to broaden your academic program, or you may elect a Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies major or minor.
Courses
Introductory coursework focuses on the history and social and political meanings and ramifications of the concepts of gender and sexuality, as well as on the history of political movements that developed and mobilized these concepts. At the advanced level, students develop competency in contemporary social critique, basic feminist and queer theory, and research skills appropriate to their area of emphasis. All the department’s courses emphasize class discussion and promote active engagement with contemporary issues.
WGSS courses are open to all students regardless of major or gender. You may take any of these courses to broaden your academic program, or you may elect a women, gender, and sexuality studies major or minor.
Student Organizations
The Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Honorary Society recognizes outstanding scholars in the discipline of women, gender, and sexuality studies. Its goals are the promotion of scholarship and gender equality in and out of the classroom. It is a forum for all students and facutly to express interest or concern over women’s issues and gender issues.
will is a nationally recognized program for students interested in exploring gender and social justice issues both in and out of the classroom. The program combines a minor in WGSS with leadership opportunities, activism, community engagement, and career preparation.
After College
Students studying women, gender, and sexuality studies can go on to pursue advanced studies at the graduate level. Others find that the program is the perfect preparation for careers in business, law or international studies. Understanding the challenges women and sexual minorities have faced and continue to face changes the way students look at all topics, regardless of discipline.