Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Degree Programs

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Call 314-246-7800 or 800-753-6765 or email admit@webster.edu

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Alumni from our Global Campuses

Integrating first-hand research and scholarship related to issues of gender, the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program is based on the principles of social justice established by the founding organization of Webster University, the Sisters of Loretto. This is an interdisciplinary program that takes an intersectional, transnational, feminist approach to the study of women, gender and sexuality. The program investigates how assumptions about gender and sexuality inform social, cultural and political practices that both reproduce and resist hierarchies of power. Courses examine the intersections of gender and sexuality with other significant categories and identities, such as race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, ability, nationality, immigrant status and body size. Through a student-centered approach, faculty inspire students to engage with local, national and international communities to effect social justice.

The William HuddlestonBerry Memorial Endowed Scholarship Recipient

“Since attending Webster University, I have discovered a deep passion for creating social change. I hope to be a radical, justice-oriented pastor, preaching passionately about queer theology, racial reconciliation and justice for the oppressed.”

Julia Haralson

BA in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, ‘22

Points of Distinction

Students engage with local questions in a global context in classes such as Gender, Justice and Human Rights or Cross-Cultural Masculinities.
Curriculum gives students the opportunity to gain practical experience in classes, such as Women and Gender in Social Justice Organizations or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies practicum.
A capstone course gives students experience conducting an original research project.

Details of Webster's Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies academic programs

The 36 credit hours required for the women, gender and sexuality studies major include:

Core Courses (10 credit hours)

WGST 1020 Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (3 hours)
or WGST 1010 Women, Gender, and Sexuality Around the World (3 hours)
WGST 2010 Feminist and Gender Theory (3 hours)
or WGST 3370 Feminist Philosophy (3 hours)
WGST 4650 Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Capstone (3 hours)

Additional Courses (12 credit hours total)

Category I: (6 credit hours)

WGST 2030 Introduction to LGBTQ Studies (3 hours)
WGST 2040 Queer Theory (3 hours)
WGST 2260 Men and Masculinities (3 hours)
WGST 2275 LGBTQ Families (3 hours)
WGST 2350 LGBTQ Cultural History (3 hours)
WGST 2475 Bisexualities (3 hours)
WGST 2610 Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Social Justice Organizations (3 hours)
WGST 3080 Theorizing Sexualities (3 hours)
WGST 3230 Domestic Violence (3 hours)
WGST 3235 Cross-Cultural Masculinities (3 hours)
WGST 3270 Female Sexuality and Society (3 hours)
WGST 3350 Feminist Criminology (3 hours)
WGST 4240 Feminism and Families (3 hours)
WGST 4330 Global Sex/Gender Systems (3 hours)

Category II:(6 credit hours)

WGST 2050 Topics in LGBTQ Studies: LGBTQ Literature (3 hours)
WGST 2060 Politics and Gender (3 hours)
WGST 2080 LGBTQ Persons and the Law (3 hours)
WGST 2320 Women in World Religions (3 hours)
WGST 2325 Goddesses (3 hours)
WGST 2370 U.S. Women's History (3 hours)
WGST 2620 Women and the Law (3 hours)
WGST 2680 Transnational Feminisms (3 hours)
WGST 3200 Gender and Sexuality in the Arts (3 hours)
WGST 4220 Gender, Justice, and Human Rights (3 hours)

Students must take 15 additional credit hours comprised of women, gender, and sexuality studies courses (any course offered with a WGST prefix or cross-listed with a WGST prefix).

This 18-credit hour minor is an interdisciplinary program that takes an intersectional, transnational, feminist approach to the study of women, gender and sexuality. The program investigates how assumptions about gender and sexuality inform social, cultural and political practices that both reproduce and resist hierarchies of power. Courses examine the intersections of gender and sexuality with other significant categories and identities such as race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, ability, nationality, immigrant status and body size. Through a student-centered approach, faculty inspire students to engage with local, national and international communities to effect social justice. Students can earn a major or minor in women, gender and sexuality studies, or a minor in LGBTQ studies.

Required Courses

18 credits from any of the WGST courses listed in the catalog

Strongly Recommended

WGST 1020 Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (3 hours)
WGST 2010 Feminist and Gender Theory (3 hours)
WGST 4650 Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Capstone (3 hours)

The LGBTQ studies minor is a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary program that will give students a strong foundation for knowledge in lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer history and culture. The minor examines sexualities and identities as complex social, historical and cultural formations and processes. Rather than understand sexualities and identities as merely features of private intimacy or as a result of unchanging biological forces, the LGBTQ minor approaches the study of sexualities and identities in relation to the social construction of race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, ability, nationality, immigrant status, body size and citizenship. This minor takes a global perspective on activism, social and historical change and cross-cultural understandings of sexualities and identities.

Core Courses

A total of any 18 credit hours from the list below:

WGST 2030 Introduction to LGBTQ Studies (3 hours)
WGST 2040 Queer Theory (3 hours)
WGST 2050 Topics in LGBTQ Studies (3 hours)
WGST 2080 LGBTQ Persons and the Law (3 hours)
WGST 2275 LGBTQ Families (3 hours)
WGST 2350 LGBTQ Cultural History (3 hours)
WGST 2475 Bisexualities (3 hours)
WGST 3050 Issues in LGBTQ Studies (3 hours)
WGST 3200 Gender and Sexuality in the Arts (3 hours)
WGST 3080 Theorizing Sexualities (3 hours)

Careers in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Webster University graduates are prepared for employment in a range of fields like international nongovernmental organizations, local and national non-profit organizations, the criminal justice system, social and human service programs, and Fortune 500 corporations.

Jobs for social and community service managers are predicted to increase 15% through 2030. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics (opens in new tab), as of May 2021, the median annual wage for social and community service managers was $74,000.
Jobs for administrative services and facilities managers are predicted to increase 9% through 2030. As of May 2021, the median annual wage for administrative services and facilities managers was $99,290, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics (opens in new tab).