Â鶹ÊÓƵ

Image
Gender and Sexuality Studies - B.A.

Gender and Sexuality Studies - B.A.

Our Gender and Sexuality Studies program offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the complexities of gender and sexuality in contemporary society. With passionate faculty, engaging coursework and a welcoming community, you'll have the opportunity to explore your interests, develop critical thinking skills and make a positive impact in the world.

Contact Us

Apply Now
Request Info
Schedule a Visit

Bachelor's Degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies

Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Bachelor of Arts degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies offers students an interdisciplinary education that explores the complexities of gender, sexuality, and identity. The program examines how these concepts intersect with race, class, and culture, fostering critical thinking and a deeper understanding of social justice issues. Students gain insights into historical and contemporary perspectives on gender and sexuality, preparing them for careers in advocacy, education, public policy, and more. The degree equips graduates with the analytical tools needed to challenge societal norms and contribute to meaningful change in various professional and academic settings.

Program Information for Gender and Sexuality Studies - B.A.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies takes a multidisciplinary and intersectional approach to examining ideas and processes that shape people's understanding about gender, sexualities and bodies throughout space and time. Scholarly investigation and production in this discipline emerged from sociological inquiry on human sexuality as well as from feminist, LGBTQ and anti-racist histories and activism to combat social inequality. This program skillfully provides both the theoretical and the praxis of the field while integrating these different and contributing perspectives regarding gender and sexuality.

Admissions for Gender and Sexuality Studies - B.A.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the .

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Â鶹ÊÓƵ students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Â鶹ÊÓƵ may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's .

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Identify key terms, theories and conceptual frameworks in the analysis of gender and sexuality.
  2. Examine the multiple and complex ways gender and sexuality are constructed through, and across, different identities, discourses and systems of power.
  3. Think critically about contemporary debates and issues related to gender and sexuality and devise policy interventions to address them.
  4. Apply multiple thematic areas in analyzing questions, dynamics and issues surrounding gender and sexuality and contribute with agency in social discourse.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
GSS 10100INTRODUCTION TO GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES 3
GSS 30500METHODOLOGIES AND PRAXIS IN GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES 3
GSS 40450GENDER AND SEXUALITY ROUNDTABLE 3
GSS 40591SEMINAR IN GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES 3
Discourse, Identity and Human Dynamics Elective, choose from the following:3
ENG 31012
GENDER AND LANGUAGE
ENG 33013
AFRICANA WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVG)
ENG 34021
WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD)
HIST 31075
HISTORY OF WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES
LGBT 40201
TRANSGENDER STUDIES
PACS 31002
GENDER, POWER AND CONFLICT
POL 40470
WOMEN, POLITICS AND POLICY (DIVD)
WMST 30202
FEMINIST HUMOR: DISARMING LAUGHTER, DISRUPTIVE DISCOURSE
Thematic Elective, choose from the following:3
AFS 33110
BLACK WOMEN, CULTURE AND SOCIETY: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD)
AFS 33120
THE BLACK MAN: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
AFS 33130
GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
HIST 31077
HISTORY OF SEXUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES
LGBT 30120
LGBTQ RIGHTS AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
WMST 30201
WITCHES: THE MONSTROUS FEMININE
WMST 30302
GLOBAL FEMINISMS: A WORLD AND CENTURY OF WOMEN'S ACTIVISM
WMST 32323
RAPE CULTURE: RETHINKING DANGER, POWER, SEX AND FEMINIST FRAMINGS
Theory and Thought Elective, choose from the following:3
AFS 43100
RACE, CLASS AND FEMINIST THOUGHT
LGBT 40202
QUEER THEORY
PHIL 31040
FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY (DIVD)
WMST 30001
ARENAS FOR FEMINIST THOUGHT: TOUCHY SUBJECTS, UNSETTLED MATTERS AND FEMINIST RESPONSE-ABILITY
Major Electives, choose from the following:9
AFS 33100
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD)
AFS 33120
THE BLACK MAN: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
AFS 33130
GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
AFS 43100
RACE, CLASS AND FEMINIST THOUGHT
BSCI 10001
HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS)
COMM 35912
GENDER AND COMMUNICATION (DIVD)
CRIM 36800
LGBTQ POPULATIONS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM (DIVD)
CRIM 37411
WOMEN IN CRIME AND JUSTICE (DIVD)
ENG 31012
GENDER AND LANGUAGE
ENG 33013
AFRICANA WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVG)
ENG 34021
WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD)
HED 32544
HUMAN SEXUALITY
HED 44025
WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES
HED 44544
SEXUALITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS
HED 46057
ADVANCED HUMAN SEXUALITY
HIST 31033
WITCHES AND EUROPEAN HISTORY, 1500-1800
HIST 31075
HISTORY OF WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES
HIST 31077
HISTORY OF SEXUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES
JWST 30100
JEWISH WOMEN IN THE MODERN WORLD
LGBT 30120
LGBTQ RIGHTS AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
LGBT 40201
TRANSGENDER STUDIES
LGBT 40202
QUEER THEORY
PACS 31002
GENDER, POWER AND CONFLICT
PHIL 31040
FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY (DIVD)
POL 40470
WOMEN, POLITICS AND POLICY (DIVD)
SOC 32565
SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITIES (DIVD)
SOC 42315
SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER (DIVD)
THEA 41115
LGBTQ THEATRE (DIVD)
WMST 30001
ARENAS FOR FEMINIST THOUGHT: TOUCHY SUBJECTS, UNSETTLED MATTERS AND FEMINIST RESPONSE-ABILITY
WMST 30091
KEY CONVERSATIONS THROUGH WOMEN'S STUDIES (DIVD)
WMST 30201
WITCHES: THE MONSTROUS FEMININE
WMST 30202
FEMINIST HUMOR: DISARMING LAUGHTER, DISRUPTIVE DISCOURSE
WMST 30302
GLOBAL FEMINISMS: A WORLD AND CENTURY OF WOMEN'S ACTIVISM
WMST 32323
RAPE CULTURE: RETHINKING DANGER, POWER, SEX AND FEMINIST FRAMINGS
WMST 44321
PIVOTAL PRAXIS: EXPERIMENTS IN ACTIONABLE FEMINISM
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)14-16
6
3
9
6
6-7
6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)39
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.1
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options2:

  1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
  2. Elementary I and II of a second language
  3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
  • Intermediate I of the same language
  • ARAB 21401
  • ASL 19401
  • CHIN 25421
  • MCLS 10001
  • MCLS 20001
  • MCLS 20091
  • MCLS 21417
  • MCLS 21420
  • MCLS 22217
  • MCLS 28403
  • MCLS 28404
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the programs offered by Â鶹ÊÓƵ; or (3) demonstrating comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2

Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
GSS 10100 INTRODUCTION TO GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language Requirement 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
Theory and Thought Elective 3
Foreign Language Requirement 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
Thematic Elective 3
Foreign Language Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
GSS 30500 METHODOLOGIES AND PRAXIS IN GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES 3
Discourse, Identity and Human Dynamics Elective 3
Foreign Language Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
GSS 40450 GENDER AND SEXUALITY ROUNDTABLE 3
Major Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Major Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
Major Elective 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
GSS 40591 SEMINAR IN GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
 

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Gender and Sexuality Studies - B.A.

Graduates of Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s B.A. Degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies are prepared for a range of impactful careers in fields such as social services, advocacy, education, and public policy. They can pursue roles as community organizers, diversity and inclusion specialists, human rights advocates, and educators. With their expertise in critical thinking and understanding of social justice issues, graduates are also well-suited for careers in non-profit organizations, government agencies, healthcare, and media, where they can influence policy, promote equality, and drive social change.

General and operations managers

5.8%

faster than the average

2,486,400

number of jobs

$103,650

potential earnings

Human resources specialists

7.0%

faster than the average

666,500

number of jobs

$63,490

potential earnings

Lawyers

4.0%

about as fast as the average

813,900

number of jobs

$126,930

potential earnings

Legal support workers, all other

-1.2%

decline

50,400

number of jobs

$59,540

potential earnings

Management analysts

10.7%

much faster than the average

876,300

number of jobs

$87,660

potential earnings

Office and administrative support workers, all other

4.0%

about as fast as the average

220,800

number of jobs

$35,890

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.