Women's and Gender Studies Minor

The Women’s and Gender Studies (WGST) Minor is an interdisciplinary minor that focuses on the centrality of gender and sexuality to understand our past and present world. Students and faculty probe assumptions about gender, allowing students to critically question structures of inequality in local and global contexts, expanding our thinking about other relations of power, such as race, class, ethnicity, nationality and physical ability. WGST also fosters connections with the local community and promotes advocacy of human rights and social justice through internship opportunities.

Students must complete a minimum of 18 WGST-related credit hours.
Students must complete a minimum of 12 upper-division (3000-level and above) credit hours in the minor, chosen from the approved courses below.
Students must earn a minimum grade of C- (1.7) in all courses that apply to the minor and must achieve a minimum cumulative minor GPA of 2.0. Courses taken using P+/P/F or S/U grading cannot apply to minor requirements.
Students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours with CU Denver faculty chosen from the approved courses below.

All courses for the minor must be approved by a WGST advisor. Students may double count up to six credits being applied to other graduation requirements (major, certificate or general education).
Students are strongly urged to take at least one course that focuses on international perspectives on women's and gender issues.
Students have the option to complete an internship working in the community around issues related to women and gender. The alternative to this is a WGST capstone course at the 4000 level.
Students who major in Sociology and complete the Gender and Society option will automatically earn a Women's and Gender Studies Minor

Complete WGST1050: Introduction to Women and Gender Studies
Complete 12 credit hours of WGST-related courses at the 3000-level or above.
Complete one of the following Women's and Gender Studies Capstone courses:

WGST 3939 Internship
WGST/ENGL/HIST 4306 Survey of Feminist Thought
WGST/PHIL 4308 Contemporary Feminist Thought

Eligible courses for elective credits include, but are not limited to:

HUMANITIES

ENGL 4000 Studies of Major Authors and Directors (depending on author or director being studied; e.g., Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen, Margaret Atwood, George Sand, etc.)
ENGL 4290 Rhetoric and the Body
ETST 4768 Chicano/Chicana Narrative and Social History
PHIL 3500 Ideology and Culture: Racism and Sexism
RLST 4000 Religion and Cultural Diversity
WGST 3020 Gender, Sexuality and Race in American Popular Culture
WGST/HIST 3343 Women & Gender in US History
WGST/ENGL 3450 Contemporary Women Writers
WGST 4010 Special Topics in Women's and Gender Studies
WGST/HIST 4225/GEOG 4625 Urban America
WGST/HIST 4230 Women in the West
WGST/HIST 4303 Sex and Gender in Modern Britain
WGST/ENGL/HIST 4306 Survey of Feminist Thought
WGST/HIST 4307 History of Sexuality
WGST/ENGL/PHIL 4308 Contemporary Feminist Thought
WGST/HIST 4345 Gender, Science, and Medicine: 1600 to the Present
WGST/RLST 4420 Goddess Traditions
WGST/PHIL 4500 Feminist Philosophy
WGST/ENGL 4510/RLST 4730 Whores and Saints: Medieval Women
WGST 4511/FREN 4510 French Women Writers
WGST 4540/SPAN 4340 Race, Class, and Gender in Spanish Golden Age Literature
WGST/RLST 4710 Women and Religion
WGST/PHIL 4933 Philosophy of Eros

SOCIAL SCIENCES

ANTH 4200 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective
ANTH 4260 Human Reproductive Ecology
COMM 3271 Communication and Diversity
COMM 3275 Family Communication
COMM 4265 Gender and Communication
COMM 4268 Communication and Diversity in U.S. History
CRJU 4190 Gender and Crime
ECON 3100 Economics of Race and Gender
ECON 3400 Economics of Sex and Drugs
HDFR 4010 Family and Cultural Diversity
PBHL 3010 Human Sexuality and Public Health
PBHL 4200 The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
PSCI 3034 Race, Gender, Law and Public Policy
PSCI 3035 Political Movements: Race and Gender
PSYC 3235 Human Sexuality
PSYC 3405 Family Psychology
PSYC 3611 Psychology of Women
PSYC 3612 Domestic Abuse
SOCY 4110 Sociology of Health Care
WGST/SOCY 3010 Sociology of Human Sexuality
WGST/SOCY 3080 Sex and Gender
WGST/SOCY 3700 Families and Society
WGST/PSCI 4150 Gender Politics in the Middle East: Beyond Orientalism & Islamism
WGST/PSCI 4215 Women's Rights, Human Rights: Global Perspectives
WGST/PSCI 4248 Gender, Development and Globalization
WGST/SOCY 4270 Social Meanings of Reproduction
WGST/ETST 4305 Women of Color Feminisms
WGST/PSCI 4555 International Women's Resistance
WGST/PSCI 4564 Gender and Politics
WGST/COMM 4610 Communication, Media, and Sex
WGST/COMM 4660 Queer Media Studies
WGST/SOCY 4780 Violence in Relationships
WGST/PSCI 4827 Women and the Law

Who is this Minor For?

Everyone! Humanistic studies of Women & Gender provide an excellent addition to science-based and liberal arts curricula, as well as a stand-alone program that addresses many current issues and interests.

How can a minor in Women's and Gender Studies complement my major?

An interdisciplinary Women's and Gender Studies (WGST) minor pairs well with many majors, particularly those that benefit from understanding gender dynamics, power structures, and inclusivity.

Below are some examples* how a WGST minor might pair well with your major:

*not a comprehensive list

Communication: Equips students to critically analyze and craft inclusive, impactful messages for diverse audiences
Sociology: Examines social constructs, such as gender, and their roles in shaping institutional inequality.
Political Science: Explores the intersectionality of gender and politics, including policymaking, representation, and activism.
Anthropology: Investigates gender roles and cultural practices across global societies.
Psychology: Studies gendered behaviors, identity formation, and mental health disparities between groups and individuals.

History: Adds depth and critical perspetcives to the study of women’s history, feminist movements, and the role of gender in historical contexts.
Philosophy: Incorporates feminist and queer philosophy into ethical and theoretical discussions on gender and power.
English / Literature: Focuses on the representation of gender in texts and feminist literary criticism.

Prepares future educators to create inclusive curricula
Addresses gender dynamics in educational settings

Strengthens knowledge of workplace diversity, equity, and gender-inclusive leadership
Critically analyze institutions historically disadvantaging diverse groups, such as capitalism

Biology / Medicine: Addresses gendered health issues and biases in research and practice.
Computer Science: Tackles gender equity in technology, coding, and AI
Environmental Studies: Links gender with environmental justice, focusing on the disproportionate effects of environmental issues on women and marginalized communities

Prepares students to address gender-based violence, systemic inequalities, and victim advocacy through data and legislation
Critically analyze and address marginilization of various communities in the Justice System

Helps artists engage with themes of identity, gender, and representation in creative work
Adds a feminist and queer dimension to one's own creative work

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Women's and Gender Studies Minor

Eligible courses for elective credits include, but are not limited to:

HUMANITIES

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Who is this Minor For?

How can a minor in Women's and Gender Studies complement my major?

Have questions?

The form to declare a Minor can be downloaded here.

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Women's and Gender Studies Minor

Eligible courses for elective credits include, but are not limited to:

HUMANITIES

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Who is this Minor For?

How can a minor in Women's and Gender Studies complement my major?

Have questions?

The form to declare a Minor can be downloaded here.