Student Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Gender & Women's Studies and Queer Studies Undergraduate Learning Outcomes and Objectives

These learning outcomes reflect our curricular investments across the undergraduate programs. Students in the GWST major will be expected to have broader knowledge across these areas. Minor students in GWST and Queer Studies should gain understanding and skills in all of the numbered outcomes with varied / individualized exposure to bulleted objectives.

Learning Outcomes. Students will:

1. Engage in intersectional, interdisciplinary feminist analysis.

Objectives:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the field
• Understand interrelatedness of gender, race, ethnicity, class, disability, sexuality, age, religion, and other social categories
• Apply theoretical frameworks of feminism, gender and women’s studies, queer studies, sexuality studies
• Apply methods and methodologies  

2. Analyze socio-historical and contemporary power dynamics underpinning group relations, social institutions, and systems of representation.

Objectives:

• Gain knowledge of multiple forms of oppression and marginalization 
• Understand historical and contemporary context in which women, queer, and gender non-conforming individuals have exercised their agency 
• Analyze systemic and institutional strategies of exclusion and inclusion 

3. Situate their analyses within various place-based contexts, including the rural, local, community, transnational, and global. 

Objectives:

• Link rural justice issues to broader social movements 
• Understand intersectional environmentalism and ecofeminism 
• Apply decolonial, First Nation, and indigenous perspectives 
• Connect crip, queer, critical race and ethnic studies approaches to place, environments, and the land 

4. Understand and articulate the history, strategies, and goals of interconnected movements for social justice. 

Objectives:

• Gain historical understanding of social movements and social justice 
• Articulate interrelated and intersectional nature of feminist, LGBTQ+, racial, disability, environmental, immigration, labor, and economic justice movements
• Translate feminist and social justice theories into service or activism 

5. Demonstrate mastery of critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in diverse, 21st century work forces and communities. 

Objectives:

• Be prepared to assume leadership roles in diverse workplaces and communities 
• Practice critical thinking through research, writing, and application of theory in interdisciplinary contexts
• Demonstrate information and digital literacy
• Engage in fieldwork, internship, community, non-profit or advocacy work