Undergraduate Studies
Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Wyoming offers students an interdisciplinary exploration of the issues of sex, gender and sexuality. The required classes offer students breadth of study, while our electives allow students to explore an area of interest.
Undergraduate major:
Total hours: 33 credits; all courses must be taken with a grade of “C” or better.
Core Courses (12 credit hours):
1. Introductory Course: (3 credits) Choose ONE from:
a. WMST 1080: Intro to Women’s Studies OR
b. WMST 2000: Intro to GLBTQ/NS Studies OR
c. WMST 1900: Women & Leadership
2. Theory/Methods Courses (9 credits)
a. WMST 3710: Gender & Humanities; AND
b. WMST 3500: Gender & Society AND
c. WMST 4700: Feminist Theories
Required Electives: (one course in each category; 9 credit hours)
1. History-based course (any level)
2. Global (upper division)
3. Sexualities, Ethnicities, Identities (upper division)
Students cannot double-dip for these electives. Free Electives: 12 credit hours.
- Students may choose from our full complement of courses to complete their major requirements.
- Students have the option to do 12 hours in one of the following areas, or a combination in one or more areas, or create an independent path under consultation with the advisor. Possible areas of emphasis include: Culture and Representation; Health, the Body and Sexualities; Social Policy and Social Justice; Independent Path. (see attached list of offerings)
As part of their 12 free elective hours students have the option of pursuing internships (WMST 4970) within the program but should recognize that internships require both a 3.3GPA and consent of instructor.
Gender and Women’s Studies with Honors:
Students pursuing Gender and Women’s Studies with Honors would complete, as part of their 12 free elective hours: WMST 4965 Senior Honors Project
To be eligible for this option, students must have an overall 3.5 GPA and submit their request for admittance to Honors to the faculty in the spring of their junior year, or after completion of WMST 4700 Feminist Theories, whichever comes first, or by instructor consent for concurrent enrollment. We will address transfer students on a case-by-case basis in terms of their timing.
Honors in Gender and Women’s Studies recognizes academically ambitious students; it requires that you are a candidate with leadership potential who is ready for graduate school work and/or community activism; that you can formulate and articulate original ideas as well as do a sustained feminist analysis of others’ studies. In addition, Honors means you have acquired the breadth of knowledge to become a feminist voice in academia and/or in the community.
Undergraduate minor in Gender and Women’s Studies
Students pursuing a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies complete 18 hours of course work, including ONE core course from the list below, the remainder coming from their own selection of electives. At least 9 hours must be in 3000/4000-level courses.
- 1080 Introduction to Women’s Studies
- 3710 Gender and Humanities
- 3500 Gender and Society
- 4700 Feminist Theories
Please see the Director to declare a minor: cdenney@uwyo.edu
Gender and Women’s Studies Minor through the Outreach School
The Gender and Women's Studies Program regrettably is phasing out its Outreach minor effective Fall 2012. Please note that we will continue all of our offerings for the Outreach minor through Summer 2012 but starting in the fall 2012 we will be moving to a reduced set of offerings: WMST 1080, WMST 2000 and WMST 1900, as well as independent studies and, where appropriate, internships, at least for 2012-2013. As we move into the new Outreach model we may be able to consider more offerings, but we cannot promise anything beyond the above set of courses at present. Our on-campus Gender and Women's Studies minor, major and graduate minor will continue as before.
Students who are currently pursuing the Gender and Women's Studies minor through Outreach should contact the Director, Colleen Denney, at: cdenney@uwyo.edu or (307) 766-4351 to work on accommodations for completion of the Outreach minor.
Gender and Women’s Studies Club
We host informal gatherings, such as lunchtime talks or pizza parties, for our undergraduates to discuss various topics of interest that may not take place in the classroom, such as, women and leadership opportunities, activism opportunities, what to do with a Gender and Women’s Studies degree, health issues for women, etc. All students are welcome to participate.
