College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Director: Ann M. Berghout Austin

Website: www.usu.edu/womenandgender

The Women and Gender Studies Program provides a broad base of study that addresses the intersecting issues of gender, age, race, ethnicity, class, regionalism, nationalism, and sexual identity as they affect women and men. Traditional disciplines are reexamined through the lens of gender, introducing students to new scholarship on gender and expanding their understanding of the differential experiences between and within the genders.

An interdisciplinary academic program, Women and Gender Studies is unique at Utah State University in bringing together women and men of all ethnicities and sexual identities to explore the many ways in which gender influences our lives and world views. Each semester, WGS courses are taught by faculty members from a variety of disciplines, and new special topics courses are offered frequently. Courses focus on the role of gender in human culture, examining the dynamics of sex roles and gender ideals, both historically and in the present. WGS courses engage in the study of femininities and masculinities from many perspectives and disciplines, as well as the social forces that construct these gender identities.

Students may enroll in individual courses or apply coursework toward either a minor or Area Studies Certificate in WGS. At least 50 percent of the WGS coursework must be taken at USU. The Alison Comish Thorne scholarship is awarded to a WGS undergraduate student each year.

Area Studies Certificate in Women and Gender Studies (3.0 GPA)

Students desiring to explore WGS in depth may want an area studies certificate. To receive the certificate, students must complete 24 credits of courses from the list below or from the course list published each semester and earn a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in these courses. Courses must be taken from at least three different academic areas; no more than 12 credits can be counted from a single discipline. At least 15 credits must be taken at the 3000 level or above. Courses may come from major, minor, or University Studies programs. Area studies certificates may be earned by undergraduate and graduate students. Forms for the area studies certificate may be obtained in Taggart Student Center 309.

Please note that we would like to keep the general description of the Women and Gender Studies program that appears above the certificate description. We would also like to add a sentence below that description that states, “Honors study is available in Women and Gender Studies for honors students who are pursuing a minor or area studies certificate in the program.”