Gender and Sexuality Studies
About Our Program
Our gender and sexuality studies program will empower you to consider the complexity and diversity of gender and identity as you seek to make the world a more inclusive place. You’ll study the ways in which gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and social class intersect to impact society and your own life.
What you learn will enrich your understanding of your major or other minor and make you a more insightful contributor to conversations about equity in healthcare or representation in media, for example. Outside the classroom, it will inspire you to address issues of social justice and become an agent of positive change on campus, in the North Country community, and beyond.
Learning Experiences to Prepare for Your Career
The more you learn in the classroom, the more motivated you’ll become to apply your understanding to the world around you. Your ability to think critically will make you a more compassionate advocate, employee, or leader--able to draw on multiple perspectives when working toward more equitable and inclusive solutions to contemporary issues.Senior Year Experience (SYE)
What begins as a topic that sparks your interest can turn into a passion that takes you places. That was the case for Jenny Henneberry ’21, who completed an independent study on feminism in Northern Ireland and is currently enrolled in Queen’s University Belfast for her Master’s in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice. Our faculty are eager to help you explore the themes and questions that motivate you to dig deeper as you collaborate throughout the research process.
Praxis Requirement
Gender and sexuality studies minors use what they learn in the classroom to foster social change in their communities. You’ll meet your praxis requirement by engaging in activism on campus, working with advocacy groups in the North Country, or exploring issues of gender and sexuality while studying abroad.
Interdisciplinary Coursework
Our minor is flexible and versatile. Whether you’re interested in history, government, or public health, innovative courses like “De/Constructing Sex Differences: Intersex, Health, and Gender,” are integrated across disciplines and can help you fulfill other majors or minors.
Past Internships
Our minors deepen their understanding of their coursework and confront real-world issues while interning at a variety of organizations, including:
- U.S. Senate
- Center for American Progress
- St. Lawrence Health Initiative
- AmeriCorps
- Tory Burch
Volunteer Work
You can also gain experience while making a difference through service work in St. Lawrence County and beyond.
- Habitat for Humanity
- Renewal House
- Reading Buddies
- Campus Kitchens
Explore Volunteer Opportunities
St. Lawrence Public Interest Corps (SLU PIC)
Budding activists and changemakers like you can invest in the issues they care about while helping to empower the North Country community through the Public Interest Corps. Apply to live on campus over the summer as work with organizations like:
- Planned Parenthood of North Country, New York
- St. Lawrence County Community Development Program
- St. Lawrence County Arts Council
- North Country Children’s Museum
Study Abroad
Choose from more than 30 semester-long programs offered in more than 20 international locations. Many of our students connect their off-campus experiences to their minor—you could apply for a research grant to study childcare and communal living in Denmark or gender equality in education in Kenya.
Off-Campus Study in the U.S.
Other U.S-based off-campus study programs include a Liberal Arts in New York City experience, which includes an internship with a Manhattan-based business or nonprofit.
Connect with Community
Among the 150+ clubs and organizations at St. Lawrence, you’ll find many that involve the outdoors, wildlife and environmental advocacy, including:
- Spectrum
- The Barista
- The Advocates Program
- Women’s Resource Center
- La Casa Latina
- Planned Parenthood Generation Action
- PLEN Chapter
- Carefree Black Girls
- Dance Team
- Environmental Action Organization
- Model U.N.
- Self Care Club
- SLU Performing Arts Collective
- SLU Legal
Why St. Lawrence for Gender and Sexuality Studies
Outcomes Rate
Recent graduates were employed or in graduate school within 7-9 months of graduating.
Alumni Network in the Country
The Princeton Review, 2023
of recent graduates studied off campus at least once
Volunteer-producing University
Peace Corps 2019, 2020
More Program Information
Program Requirements & Courses
Explore gender and sexuality studies minor requirements, as well as electives and combined study options.
Complementary and Related Programs
Our program is flexible and versatile. Because it helps to inform and explain concepts in just about any other discipline, it pairs well with a variety of majors and other minors.
Gender and Sexuality Studies Faculty
Meet Our Faculty
“When it comes to their praxis projects, our students investigate a range of topics. It’s dependent upon who the student is and what their interests are.”
Valerie Lehr, Ph. D.
Jennifer MacGregor, Ph. D.
Morolake Odetoyinbo
Ceyda Onaran Kartal, M.S.
Celeste E. Orr
Stephanie Yingyi Wang, Ph. D.
“Senior year, I decided to take on a gender and sexuality studies minor. I wanted to finalize my time here by learning as much as I could so I could confidently contribute to the world I will soon be entering outside the North Country.”
Molli Morris
Expert, Passionate Faculty
Our faculty are disability advocates, race scholars, behavioral therapy experts, visual artists, and performers. Their broad spectrum of passions means you’ll have opportunities to learn about gender and sexuality through multiple lenses.
Opportunities Across Disciplines
From gender in Asian art to archaeology and identity, you’ll choose from a rich diversity of course offerings to fulfill your minor requirements.
Get More Information
We’re excited to learn more about you, tell you more about our interdisciplinary academic programs, show you around our beautiful campus, and help you navigate your college search.
Apply to St. Lawrence
We’re looking for curious students who are eager to make a difference. We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications and consider all aspects of your application and what we learn about you.