Gender and Sexuality Studies Major
Students must also complete the Undergraduate Registration Requirement and the degree requirements of their home school.
Double-counting note: Weinberg College prohibits double-counting a major course toward some other major or minor, except where this is explicitly permitted in this catalog (see Related Courses, below). Weinberg College does allow double-counting a major course toward a general bachelor's degree requirement (i.e. degree requirements other than majors or minors). Other programs or schools may have their own restrictions that supersede this, so check the relevant parts of this catalog for possible limits.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Program Courses (10 units) | |
| 2 Introductory Courses chosen from: | |
| Sexual Subjects: Introduction to Sexuality Studies | |
| Traditions in Feminist Thought | |
| Introduction to Queer and Trans Studies | |
| 2 Theory Courses chosen from: | |
| Black Feminist Theory | |
| Queer Theory | |
| Feminist Theory | |
| 6 Additional Courses: | |
At least 3 at the 300-level | |
At least 2 with a research focus (one 200-level and one 300-level course) 1 | |
At least 1 with a U.S. focus 1 | |
At least 1 with a global focus 1 | |
At least 1 with a social science focus 1 | |
At least 1 with a historical focus 1 | |
At least 1 with a humanities focus 1 | |
| Related Courses (2 units) 2 | |
2 related courses at the 300-level, evidently and coherently related to gender & sexuality studies. | |
These may be approved courses with a focus on gender and/or sexuality from other departments/programs, or may be Gender & Sexuality Studies (GSS) courses not applied to the Program course requirements listed above. | |
- 1
Some courses fall into two or more categories. Students may use a single course to count for multiple foci (for example, a course may count for a humanities focus and a global focus at the same time).
- 2
Double-counting note: Weinberg College allows double-counting a related course toward some other major, minor, or general bachelor's degree requirement. Other programs or schools may have their own restrictions that supersede this, so check the relevant parts of this catalog for possible limits.
Note: With approval, one 300-level course may be a transfer or study abroad credit. No College Seminars or First-Year Writing Seminars may be counted to the major.
Gender and Sexuality Studies Areas of Focus
- Please note that these categories are distinct from the WCAS Foundational Disciplines, and U.S./Global Perspectives on Power, Justice and Equity, requirement areas. Check other sections of this catalog, and quarterly class listings, to confirm any Weinberg College degree-requirement attributes.
- The lists here are not exhaustive. Many GSS courses vary their focus between class offerings, therefore these tables are only a starting point. Check specific class listing descriptions or contact the director of undergraduate studies (gss-undergraduate@northwestern.edu) for updated information.
U.S. Focus for GSS
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| GSS 235-0 | Beyond the Binary |
| GSS 260-0 | Critical Fat Studies |
| GSS 324-0 | US Gay and Lesbian History |
| GSS 340-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and the Law |
| GSS 354-0 | Critical Trans Studies |
Global Focus for GSS
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| GSS 233-0 | Gender, Politics, and Philosophy |
| GSS 270-0 | Gender, Sexuality, & Indigeneity |
| GSS 341-0 | Transnational Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality |
Humanities Focus for GSS
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| GSS 231-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and Representation |
| GSS 233-0 | Gender, Politics, and Philosophy |
| GSS 260-0 | Critical Fat Studies |
| GSS 361-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and Literature |
| GSS 362-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and Drama |
| GSS 372-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and Performance |
| GSS 373-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and Film |
| GSS 374-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and Digital Technologies |
| GSS 382-0 | Race, Gender, and Sexuality |
Historical Focus for GSS
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| GSS 270-0 | Gender, Sexuality, & Indigeneity |
| GSS 321-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and History |
| GSS 324-0 | US Gay and Lesbian History |
Social Science Focus for GSS
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| GSS 221-0 | Beyond Porn: Sexuality, Health and Pleasure |
| GSS 232-0 | Sexuality and Society |
| GSS 234-0 | Language & Gender |
| GSS 235-0 | Beyond the Binary |
| GSS 250-0 | Gender Issues in Science and Health |
| GSS 260-0 | Critical Fat Studies |
| GSS 327-0 | Language & Sexuality |
| GSS 331-0 | Sociology of Gender and Sexuality |
| GSS 332-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and Health |
| GSS 340-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and the Law |
| GSS 351-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and Public Policy |
| GSS 352-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and Political Theory |
| GSS 353-0 | Gender and Citizenship |
| GSS 354-0 | Critical Trans Studies |
| GSS 371-0 | Gender, Sexuality, and Popular Culture |
Honors in Gender and Sexuality Studies
Majors with strong academic records and an interest in pursuing honors should contact the honors coordinator (typically the Director of Undergraduate Studies) in their junior year and identify a faculty member who will serve as thesis adviser. Students take GSS 396-0 Senior Capstone Seminar in fall quarer of their senior year, and GSS 399-0 Independent Study in winter quarter of their senior year. Students whose theses and grades meet program criteria are recommended to the college for graduation with honors. For more information, consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies and see Honors in the Major.