Program Requirements
- Total Units Required: 27
- Grade Requirement: C- or better; Pass/No Pass grades do not count for the major.
Required Courses
Requirements for the Major
WGSS majors may choose an optional specialization within the major called Health if the students' interests lie primarily within this area of WGSS. Students enrolled in the Health specialization must complete the WGSS major using the approved courses in each required category below. Only 6 units may be taken at the 1000 or 2000 level. In addition, 6 units must be taken at the 4000 level. One of the 4000-level courses can be double-counted for one other category. For example, one class may count toward the 4000-level class and it may fulfill the theory requirement.
1. One 1000-Level Introductory Course: 3 credits
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
2. One Theory Course: 3 credits
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
3. One History Course: 3 credits
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
4. One Race or Non-U.S. Course: 3 credits
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
5. One Required Health Elective: 3 credits
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
6. One Methods Course: 3 credits
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 1.5 |
| | 1.5 |
Notes:
Students who plan to write an honors thesis must take WGSS 4141 Feminist and Queer Research Methodologies and must also enroll in the 1-credit WGSS 4142 Thesis Proposal Workshop offered concurrently with WGSS 4141. WGSS 4142 is restricted to students who plan to submit an honors thesis proposal. Both WGSS 4141 and WGSS 4142 should be taken during the fall semester of the student’s junior year unless special departmental approval has been given.
Students who take WGSS 4141 Feminist and Queer Research Methodologies must submit a copy of their final paper from this course to the WGSS office at WGSS@wustl.edu. After the successful completion of WGSS 4141 and WGSS 4142 and the approval of the honors thesis proposal, students enroll in WGSS 4991 Honors Thesis: Research and Writing during the time they are writing the honors thesis, which is usually two semesters.
7. Two 4000-level Courses or an Honors Thesis: 6 credits
Courses taken in any of the above categories will satisfy this requirement, or the student may choose to write an honors thesis. One of the 3-credit courses must be a 4000-level course in WGSS course selected from the following list:
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
The second may be either a 4000-level course in WGSS or a 4000-level course approved for this degree offered by another program (e.g., has a different course subject code than WGSS). Consult with your WGSS major advisor to to ensure your chosen course meets this requirement.
8. Elective Courses: 9 credits
- Students select 9 units of any WGSS courses as electives.
Additional Information
Study Abroad
We strongly encourage and support students who wish to study abroad. Therefore, we accept up to 9 credits from study abroad (3 of those credits could fulfill the historical context or ethnic/global/racial requirement). Please
contact Amy Cislo, WGSS Study Abroad Faculty Advisor, about this option.
Transfer Credit
Current students who wish to take courses at other universities during the summer may transfer up to 6 credit units. However, these credits cannot be used to fulfill the introductory course or the theory or methods/service-learning requirements. Students transferring to Washington University who wish to complete the major in WGSS may transfer no more than 9 credits of coursework taken elsewhere.