The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Oklahoma produces research and engages in teaching that examines the meaning and impact of gender and sexuality across all aspects of society including politics, economics, religion, medicine, public health and family life. We are the only institution of higher education in the state to offer both an undergraduate major and a graduate certificate in the discipline.
In addition to the major in WGS, we offer minors in WGS, Social Justice, and LGBTQ Studies. Through coursework, service learning and internships our students learn critical thinking, writing, public speaking, organization, conflict resolution, and project design. The interdisciplinary and intersectional perspectives students gain in the Department of Women's and Gender Studies enable them to achieve their highest potential in their chosen field and as citizens of a diverse local and global communities.
Through coursework, service learning and internships our students learn critical thinking, writing, public speaking, organization, conflict resolution, and project design. The transdisciplinary and intersectional perspectives students gain in the Department of Women's and Gender Studies enable them to achieve their highest potential in their chosen field and as citizens of diverse local and global communities. Women's and Gender Studies majors and minors have found work in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, social help agencies, human rights advocacy, and victim's advocacy. Others have pursued graduate study in law, medicine, human relations, education, business, information science, communications, fine arts, and public health.
The flexibility of the Women’s and Gender Studies major makes it ideal for combining with other majors for a double major. Popular choices for double majors include Journalism and Mass Communication, Political Science, History, Sociology, History and Human Relations. The Women’s and Gender Studies major requires 33 hours of coursework divided into 3 sequences: Foundations, Electives, and Theory & Research. The Foundations Sequence offers a cohesive foundational experience for students with little or no previous exposure to WGS and LGBTQ Studies. The Electives Sequence offers flexibility in electives that can be tailored to a student's individual interests. Finally, the Theory & Research Sequence is designed for advanced study that allows students to work closely with faculty members and their peers over the course of their junior and senior years to produce original research that reflects their overall course of study.
The major is 33 hours:
Please see OU Course Catalog for a complete list of courses available.
The Women's and Gender Studies Internship (WGS 4013) is designed to provide students an opportunity to relate their academic experience to women's and gender issues in the community by working in an community or nonprofit organization. The internship will run parallel to an academic semester, and students are required to complete a minimum 135 hours over the course of the semester.
Students are required to find their own agency or organization. For ideas, please see our list of previous internship sites below. Students are responsible for applying for and securing the internship before the semester begins. It is expected that the internship will give the student a good overall perspective on the work the organization does as well as give the student specific tasks in appropriate areas of the organization.
The Women’s and Gender Studies minor can easily be combined with many majors including Education, English, History, Human Relations, Journalism and Mass Communication, Music, Modern Languages, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Social Work. To earn a Women’s and Gender Studies minor, students complete 18 hours of credit, including Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies and an internship or capstone.
18 hours total:
The Social Justice Minor engages students with the complexities and critical analysis of structural inequalities and injustices. Students will learn to utilize multidisciplinary and feminist approaches that recognize the struggles for liberation and the importance of social movements, advocacy, and activism locally and globally.
Please note that WGS majors cannot also receive a minor in Social Justice because the two degrees are offered through the same department.
15 hours total:
WGS offers for-credit social justice internships every semester (WGS 4023). Students are required to find their own agency or organization. For ideas, please see our list of previous internship sites below. Students are responsible for applying for and securing the internship before the semester begins. The internship will run parallel to an academic semester, and students are required to complete a minimum 135 hours over the course of the semester.
A social justice internship provides students with the opportunity to give back to the community and become directly involved in working with social justice issues. WGS believes that a social justice internship can help students become more active, open, and engaged citizens.
To enroll in the course, please complete the following and submit to Susy Jorgenson.
The LGBTQ Studies Minor provides students with an intersectional analysis of how LGBTQ identities and community have been (and continue to be) shaped historically, socially, philosophically, culturally, medically, and scientifically. It creates a space for critical inquiry around how sexual and gender minorities are affected by society's normative perceptions and practices, while also exploring ways various LGBTQ communities and individuals have responded.
Please note that WGS majors cannot also receive a minor in LGBTQ studies because the two degrees are offered through the same department.
18 hours total:
The Women's and Gender Studies Graduate Certificate provides an interdisciplinary and intersectional graduate education focusing on feminist thought and methodologies. The certificate can be taken to complement an existing degree program for OU graduate students. Non-degree students may enroll directly in the certificate program, which can help them with career goals in areas such as education and non-profit work.
Any Women’s and Gender Studies faculty member who holds an M1, M2 or M3 Graduate Faculty status through the Graduate College may serve as the student’s graduate WGS adviser, as academically relevant to the particular program of study.
A graduate certificate is not a graduate degree. A graduate degree represents a program of independent inquiry beyond the depth of coursework alone, while a graduate certificate represents a set of courses only.
13 total hours required (4 hours of core courses and 9 hours of guided electives
Nine credit hours selected from courses approved for graduate study in Women's and Gender Studies or other courses as approved by the graduate committee and director to make a coherent program of study.
Students wishing to pursue the Graduate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies must complete the application through the Graduate College.
Applicants will need to upload a statement of purpose that outlines their background and qualifications, explains how the graduate certificate will enhance their program of study, and/or how it will contribute to their professional goals.
Current OU graduate students who are adding the WGS Graduate Certificate to their existing degree program will need one letter of recommendation. Applicants who are not current OU graduate students are required to submit two letters of recommendation.
After acceptance into the WGS Graduate Certificate Program, the student will meet with the graduate liaison or a member of the graduate committee to select the courses most congruent with their program of study. Please note that WGS 5001 and WGS 5123 (required for the graduate certificate) are currently offered in the fall semester only.
If you have questions about the WGS Graduate Certificate Program, please contact the department wgs@ou.edu
Minor in Social Justice