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Minor Requirements

The minor in gender and sexuality studies consists of six courses.

Requirements for Minors graduating in 2011 and 2012

Students are required to take at least one of the following courses:

  1. GNDR 103 (Gender and Society) or GNDR 201(Gender in a Global Perspective) or GNDR 280 (Sexuality, Society and Culture)

and

  1. GNDR 290 (Gender and Feminist Theory)

In addition, minors must take three gender and sexuality studies or cross-listed electives, at least two of which should be at the 300 or 400 level. No more than one of these elective courses may be take from any single department other than gender and sexuality studies.

A research project or paper must be completed as part of either a 300- or 400-level cross-listed elective seminar or a 400-level gender studies independent study. Students must secure the consent of the instructor and the approval of the gender and sexuality studies curriculum committee prior to undertaking independent study.

*Elective courses are approved for cross-listing by the gender and sexuality studies advisory board, and are listed in the class schedule with both gender and sexuality studies and the relevant department or program (i.e., anthropology, Canadian studies, English, art and art history, global studies, government, history, modern languages and literatures, performance and communication arts, philosophy, psychology, religious studies and sociology).

Minor Requirements for Students declaring in 2011 and 2012

The minor in gender and sexuality studies will consist of six courses.

Core Courses

Students are required to take at least one of the following courses:

  1. GNDR 103 (Gender and Society) or GNDR 201(Gender in a Global Perspective) or GNDR 280 (Sexuality, Society and Culture)

As well as:

  1. GNDR 290 (Gender and Feminist Theory)

And a methods course or an additional upper division theory course:

  1. GNDR 348 (Participatory Action Research Methods) or GNDR 326 (Gender Research and Embodied Research) or GNDR 301 (Masculinities) or GNDR 367 (Feminist Post-Colonial Theory) or GNDR 334 (Feminist Philosophy) or GNDR 369 (Making Sexualities)

Praxis requirement:

  • In addition students must engage in two praxis projects where they use what they have learned in the minor to foster social change. One project can be met on campus through a course, but the other must be met off campus. Courses that will meet the on campus requirement are:

GNDR 280 (Sexuality, Society and Culture) or GNDR 335 (Sex Talk) or GNDR 352 (Transnational Feminist Activism). Students may also petition to have a Community Based Learning course count (the work in the community must focus on issues of gender and sexuality).

**Students can also meet this requirement with activist work on campus by organizing or co-organizing at least three events for any of the following theme houses and community groups: the Women’s Resource Center, Pink Triangle House, La Casa Latina or the Black Women’s Resource Center or for the Advocates Program. Students who choose to meet the requirement through direct action, must include a two-page-typed statement chronicling their work on campus and how it speaks to the minor. This document will be submitted to your advisor and should be placed into your portfolio.  

The off campus requirement can be met by the following:

Research fellowships, internships or externships, off campus study, community based learning or community organizing. Students must include a one paged typed statement chronicling their experience and how it speaks to the minor.

Senior Portfolio

  • During the first two weeks of the spring semester of their senior year, students must submit a portfolio to the chair of the department which includes work (papers, art projects, video, and/or community activist materials) that demonstrates how they have met at least three of the five learning goals of our minor (see www.stlawu.edu/academics/ programs/gender-and-sexuality-studies/page/2212). Students should include a short statement detailing how the materials provided speak to and reflect these learning goals. Seniors will meet with the GSS faculty to discuss their minor and what they have learned during the last two weeks of term.

Electives

  • In addition, minors must take two gender and sexuality studies or cross-listed electives, at least one of which should be at the 300 or 400 level (these courses may also count toward your praxis requirement if the meet the criteria listed above). No more than one of these elective courses may be take from any single department other than gender and sexuality studies.

*Elective courses are approved for cross-listing by the gender and sexuality studies advisory board, and are listed in the class schedule with both gender and sexuality studies and the relevant department or program (i.e., anthropology, Canadian studies, English, art and art history, global studies, government, history, modern languages and literatures, performance and communication arts, philosophy, psychology, religious studies and sociology).