Program Information

WGS Mission Statement

WGS Learning Goals

The Women's and Gender Studies Program is interdisciplinary. The courses enable students to understand changing social patterns and the effects of institutions and culture on behavior. Courses explore how gender shapes social roles and identities, as well as the function of race, class, and sexuality in the experience of gender within and across cultures. Some courses focus specifically on the roles of women, their contributions, and experiences. Other Women's and Gender Studies courses study the impact of women and gender on various cultures at various times, and enable students to understand and evaluate changing social patterns and the effects of institutions and cultural assumptions.

From a Women's and Gender Studies perspective, the construct of gender difference is fundamental to the organization of human relations. The more aware one becomes of gender, the more one's view of the world of relationships changes, and the better able one is to make intelligent choices. When a gender lens is added to a traditional one, a broader and deeper understanding of the world appears. The major prepares students for a variety of professional and graduate schools, as well as positions in corporations, government agencies, and service industries.