Majors
The major in Gender & Sexuality Studies (GSS) is a dynamic interdisciplinary program that offers students a comprehensive understanding of gender studies and sexuality studies across the humanities and social sciences, and their relation to historical and contemporary feminist and LGBTQ activism. The many approaches, methods, and topics in GSS are united in focusing on gender, sex, and sexuality as key but often underexamined categories in history, scholarly study, and daily life.
Major in Gender & Sexuality Studies (updated Fall 2026)
- Two Core Courses, chosen from:
- GSS 220 Sexual Subjects: Introduction to Sexuality Studies
- GSS 230 Traditions in Feminist Thought
- GSS 240 Introduction to Queer and Trans Studies
- Two Theory Courses, chosen from:
- GSS 380 Black Feminist Theory
- GSS 381 Queer Theory
- GSS 397 Feminist Theory
- Six Additional GSS Courses*:
- At least 3 at the 300-level
- At least 2 with a research focus (one 200-level and one 300-level GSS course)
- At least 1 with a U.S. focus
- At least 1 with a global focus
- At least 1 with a social science focus
- At least 1 with a historical focus
- At least 1 with a humanities focus
- 4. Two Related Courses at the 300-level
- Related courses may be GSS courses not applied to the course requirements listed above, or courses outside GSS that evidently and coherently relate to gender & sexuality studies.
- With approval, one Related Course may be a transfer or study abroad credit.
- Courses outside GSS must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
- OPTIONAL: Honors Thesis in Gender & Sexuality Studies
- GSS 396 Senior Capstone Seminar (Fall quarter, Senior year)
- GSS 399 Independent Study (Winter quarter, Senior year)
- Thesis Presentation (No course registration required
*Some courses fall into two or more categories. Students may use a single course to count for multiple foci.