A Bachelor of Arts degree with a Major or Second Major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, including the degree with specialization in health and politics, requires a total of 27 credits, 21 of which must be taken in courses numbered 3000 or above. We cannot count courses in which the chief modality is online (remote) instruction, even those offered by Washington University. All courses taken for the major must be taken for a grade and earn at least a C- or above. A WGSS major may transfer up to 9 credits from Study Abroad. The Theory, Intro, and Methods/Service-Learning requirements MUST be completed at Washington University. Exceptions to the WashU required courses must be approved by the co-directors of Undergraduate studies in WGSS and the department chair.   

The following requirements must be fulfilled through WGSS courses or approved courses in another department taken at Washington University.  

Majors/Second Majors in WGSS must meet the following criteria:  

• 3 credits of an Introductory-level course: WGSS 1500 Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. You must file a copy of a paper from this course with the WGSS office (McMillan Hall, Room 210).  

• 3 credits of a WGSS Theory course  

• 3 credits of an approved Methods Course. Students who plan to write an honors thesis must take WGSS 4141 Feminist Research Methodologies fall of Junior year.  

• 6 credits of 4000 level work - this may include two semesters of honors thesis work. One of the 3 credit classes must be a WGSS class; the second may be either a WGSS course or an approved course in another department.   

• 3 credits of a Historical Context course - A WGSS course or an approved course in another department that examines gender in a historic context, or approved study abroad credit.  

• 3 credits of an Ethnic/Global/Racial Context course - A WGSS course or an approved course in another department that examines gender in an ethnic/global or racial context, or approved study abroad transfer credit   

• 6 credits of WGSS elective - any WGSS course at the 2000 level or above, any approved WGSS course in another department, or study abroad transfer credits.   

To find courses that meet the requirements, consult the Bulletin and for the most up-to-date courses reference the document called, “Requirements for the Major or Second Major in WGSS”. 

Majors or Second Majors with Specialization in Health must meet the following criteria using courses approved as “Health” unless otherwise noted. 

• 3 credits of WGSS Intro to Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies You must file a copy of a paper from this course with the WGSS office (McMillan Hall, Room 210).  

• 3 credits of WGSS Theory from health list 

• 3 credits of WGSS or WGSS-approved Historical Context from the health list 

• 3 credits of WGSS or WGSS -approved Race or Non-U.S. from the health list 

• 3 credits of WGSS health elective 

• 6 credits of 4000-level WGSS coursework; one may be WGSS-approved from another department.  Two semesters of honors thesis work could count for this requirement. 

• 3 credits of WGSS or WGSS-Approved Methods. Students who plan to write an honors thesis must take WGSS 4141 Feminist Research Methodologies fall of Junior year.  

• 3 credits of WGSS elective preferably from the health list, but any WGSS or WGSS-approved courses count. 

To find approved courses for the health specialization, consult the Bulletin and for the most up-to-date courses reference the document called, “Requirements for the Major with Specialization in Health”. 

Majors or Second Majors with Specialization in Politics must meet the following criteria using courses approved as “Politics” unless otherwise noted. 

• 3 credits of WGSS Intro to Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies You must file a copy of a paper from this course with the WGSS office (McMillan Hall, Room 210).  

• 3 credits of WGSS politics approved Race/Ethnicity/Politics classes. 

• 3 credits of WGSS approved Sexuality and Politics classes 

• 3 credits of WGSS approved non-U.S. politics course 

• 3 credits of WGSS approved politics Theory course 

• 6 credits of 4000-level WGSS coursework, one of the classes must be WGSS. The honors thesis may count for this requirement (both semesters of thesis work).
• 3 credits of WGSS Historical Context coursework 

• 3 credits of WGSS approved Methods coursework. Students who plan to write an honors thesis must take WGSS 4141 Feminist Research Methodologies fall of Junior year.  

To find approved courses for the politics specialization, consult the Bulletin and for the most up-to-date courses reference the document called, “Requirements for the Major with Specialization in Politics”.