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Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies

College of Arts & Sciences

Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies (GWSS) examines social and political realities shaped by gender, sexuality and power. GWSS approaches topics from transnational and intersectional perspectives, enabling students to analyze and address issues of gender, sexuality and social difference at personal, historical, institutional and structural levels. GWSS is devoted to generating and bringing visibility to many kinds of feminist knowledge production such as women of color feminism, transfeminism, queer feminism, feminist science and technology studies and more. Graduates of this degree pursue careers in a variety of fields such as health care, journalism, nonprofit, public policy, business, media and communication, education, law and psychology.

 

Major category: Open

Topic(s): Social sciences

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Degree requirements

Applicant type

Applicant type

Freshmen can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)

Read more about applying to the UW as a freshman, including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).

Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies is an open major. You may declare this major at any time after enrolling at the UW as long as you are in good academic standing. Visit the department website for more information.

Quarters of general admission to UW: autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring / summer

Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.

  • Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
  • Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
  • Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
  • UW college and school graduation requirements

Department admission information

Departmental application deadline: Students in good academic standing may declare the major at any time, including on their application for admission to the UW.
Please contact the department for details about the application process.
Students are encouraged to prepare for the major before transfer.

Student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 to declare the major.

Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.

Courses recommended for the major:

  • GWSS 200 SSc — Introduction to Women Studies
  • One of the following courses: GWSS 206 SSc — Philosophy of Feminism OR GWSS 257 SSc — Psychology of Gender OR GWSS 283 SSc — Introduction to Women’s History OR GWSS 290 SSc – Special Topics in Women Studies

Entering transfer information:

Total undergraduates: 63
Total from Washington community colleges: 5

Career outcomes


See list of all majors