About the Queer Studies Minor
The queer studies minor is an excellent program for anyone wishing to deepen their liberal arts education and understand various issues and topics related to sexuality. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for this minor. This program draws upon the strengths of various departments to provide students with a unique, interdisciplinary education. This is why each student works with a queer studies advisor to customize their curriculum and choose elective courses they’re most interested in.
What can you do with a queer studies minor?
Whether working in education, healthcare, social services, advocacy, the arts, media, business or law, students apply what they’ve learned to foster equity, challenge bias, and support diverse communities. The minor strengthens skills in critical thinking, communication and cultural awareness—valuable assets in today’s increasingly diverse and interconnected world.
A queer studies minor gives you the tools to think critically about identity, power and social structures through a queer theory lens. It helps you approach any career with greater empathy, inclusivity and insight, enhancing your ability to engage thoughtfully and inclusively in any career path.
- LGBTQ+ program coordinator
- Community outreach specialist
- Case manager
- Social worker
- Teacher or professor
- Academic advisor
- Education program developer
- Research assistant
- Mental health counselor
- Health educator
- Patient advocate
- Public health professional
- Social media manager
- Communications specialist
- Writer or screenwriter
- Museum or cultural center curator
- Arts administrator
- Civil rights advocate
- Legal assistant
- Policy analyst
- HR professional
- Nonprofit manager
- Corporate social responsibility coordinator
- Grant writer
Certainly! Many of our students receive additional education in graduate programs, teach in higher education and/or conduct research. Recent graduates have gone on to complete graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Wyoming and many other prestigious institutions.
Yes! Employers increasingly value skills in cultural awareness, critical thinking and inclusivity—all of which a queer studies minor builds. It shows you're prepared to work thoughtfully with diverse communities, a major asset in today’s workplaces.
Alumni Spotlights
Dr. Ben Noren completed a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wyoming.
Now, he uses his education as a successful medical researcher who integrates queer
theory into his company’s marketing strategies. His company is a biotech firm, named
Cell Drop Biosciences, located right here in Laramie, WY.
Sierra Jech is a UW alumna who is pursuing a Ph.D. in quantitative biology at the
University of Colorado Boulder. She integrates queer theory into her scientific studies.
Last year, she choreographed and performed a dance melding queer theory and microbial
soil ecology. Her performance was grant-funded and performed in Moab, UT and Boulder,
CO.
UW alumni, Liam Guille, is currently finishing his graduate degree in genetic counseling
at Johns Hopkins University. He just accepted his first post-grad role, and he credits
his undergraduate microbiology major and queer studies minor to his success in his
field.
“Studying Queer Theory challenged me to understand the powerful forces that shape our understanding of ‘normal.’ More importantly, Queer Theory has equipped me with the ability to question these forces so I can advocate for a world that embraces diversity in all its forms. Queer Theory investigates every facet of our lives, from the clothes we wear and the food we eat to the classes we take and how we research the world around us. ‘Thinking Queer’ has given me the ability to live a more authentic life for myself and has better prepared me to be a better student, researcher and practitioner."
- Liam G.
