About

In the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, you'll learn to think critically and communicate effectively about gender, sexuality, and diverse human experiences. Since its inception in 1973, our program has had a distinctive emphasis on health in underrepresented communities that has guided faculty research and our students’ learning experience. 

Through faculty research and creative, pedagogically innovative graduate and undergraduate courses, our program challenges dominant knowledge paradigms and co-constructs new knowledge.

Furthering the activist tradition, WGST serves local, state, national, and global communities by acting as a resource and guide for issues related to gender and sexuality.

Our teaching mission is to empower students to think critically, communicate effectively, solve problems, embrace diverse forms of knowledge and knowing, and interpret complex human experiences.

Choose Your Course of Study

Our undergraduate degree takes an interdisciplinary approach to exploring issues surrounding gender, race, class and identity. In addition to stimulating coursework, you'll engage with the community and collaborate with our diverse faculty.

Our graduate certificate is a great addition to any post-graduate degree or as a standalone program. The graduate certificate credential is widely recognized by hiring committees in academic and non-academic professions.

Join Our Community

As a student in our department, you'll interact with the scholar and activist communities both locally and nationally. You can also participate in outreach opportunities such as the Women's Well-Being Initiative.

Interdisciplinary Faculty

Many of our faculty have joint appointments in our department and other departments, helping to build academic bridges and creating an interdisciplinary and creative community of scholars and teachers.

Lecture Series

We host the annual Dr. Mary Baskin Waters Lecture and Adrenée Glover Freeman Lecture to explore the latest research in women’s and gender studies in depth.

Student Spotlight

“My WGST courses were the most impactful during my college career. The program instills in each of its students a heart for service and social justice. The WGST experience allows students to tackle real-world challenges drawing upon concepts taught in the classroom. The knowledge I gained in the WGST program has encouraged me to pursue a career in higher education and student affairs.”