Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies Program:
Course Overview
- GWS111: Introduction to Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies
- GWS249: Theory and Methodology in Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies
- 20 credits (Five full-credit courses) in at least three of the following topic areas, 8 credits (2 courses) of which must be at the 300-level:
- A. Sexuality and Queer Studies
- B. Cross-Cultural and Transnational Approaches
- C. Literary Criticism and Visual Culture
- D. Political/Philosophical/Historical/Social Analyses
4. GWS495: Senior Seminar
1. GWS111: Introduction to Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies
GWS111 introduces students to key topics, concepts, approaches, and problems in Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies as the field has developed over the past 40+ years. This course is also the prerequisite for many GWSS courses at the 200-level. Students considering a major in Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies are encouraged to take GWS111 within their first three semesters at Grinnell, ideally during their first year.
2. GWS249: Theory and Methodology in Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies
GWS249 provides students with a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the interdisciplinary field of Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies, including its theories, methods, debates, and relationships to other academic disciplines. The theories and concepts outlined in GWS249 are helpful in drawing connections between courses outside the GWSS department and the field of Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studes. As such, majors might consider taking this course before they begin step 3, which necessarily involves exploration of other departments.
3. Topic Areas
As an interdisciplinary major, Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies requires majors to take 20 credits at the 200- and 300-level across disciplines. 8 credits must be at the 300-level. Please consult the Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies Major Advising form for a rubric and list of applicable courses that can used to plan a GWSS major. The GWSS department releases a list of approved courses every semester and the topic area to which each course applies. Majors should note that these courses often have a 100- and/or 200-level prerequisite in their respective department.
4. GWS495: Senior Seminar
GWS495 is an advanced interdisciplinary senior seminar for students who are completing the major in Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies. The course will provide an in-depth exploration of a topic with both historical and contemporary significance within the field of Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies. This course serves as a capstone to the major, and is most frequently taken in the spring semester of senior year.
For more details about the GWSS program and major, please see the college catalog.
