Women and Gender Studies Concentration
Women and Gender Studies was founded model of the “three-pronged” stool: teaching, research and activism. We offer an exciting array of classes, at both the undergraduate and graduate level that interrogate systems in inequality, including gender, sexuality, race, class, ableism, religion, and region of the world.
Other Concentrations
Catalog Year: 2023-2024
Banner Code: LA-BA-INTS-WGST
The Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies brings together research, theory and practice across numerous disciplines. Integrative studies majors select a multidisciplinary concentration or work with student services staff to develop their own concentration, uniquely suited to their academic and career goals. Integrative studies majors explore new topics and experiences while gaining the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce. Required coursework is offered in small classes with ample room for discussion, collaborative learning, and experiential learning, including in-community projects, volunteer opportunities, field work, internships and work with faculty on research that directly engages current social and global challenges.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: minimum 120
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Students pursuing a BA in Integrative Studies must complete a minimum of 30 credits of (INTS) coursework, with at least 15 credits at the 300 and 400 levels.
Integrative studies students complete INTS 391 Understanding Integrative Studies and INTS 491 Senior Capstone and choose a concentration from the options below. Before registering, students should see an advisor to help plan their degree program to meet Mason requirements. The advisor also can help students choose electives or a minor.
Required Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTS 391 | Understanding Integrative Studies | 1 |
| INTS 491 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 4 | |
Concentration in the Major
A concentration is the equivalent of a major in a traditional degree program. Concentration coursework combines integrative studies (INTS) classes with coursework from other Mason units (departments, schools, and colleges). While fulfilling the concentration requirements, students are also responsible for completing a minimum of 30 credits of INTS coursework. Any INTS courses required for the concentration will apply. Students must present a minimum GPA of 2.00 in courses applied to the concentration.
Concentration in Women and Gender Studies (WGST)
Exploration of gender in social, political, cultural, and economic life; gender in history; women and the media; feminist theory; the relationship between sex and gender; the impact of sex, race, class, disability, and sexual orientation on people’s lives; and the ways in which gender stereotypes influence the self in relationship to others
Students complete the following coursework:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| WMST 200 | Introduction to Women and Gender Studies (Mason Core) | 3 |
| WMST 208 | Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies (Mason Core) | 3 |
| WMST 330 | Feminist Theories of Gender, Sexuality, and Race | 3 |
| WMST 410 | Feminist Research Methods | 3 |
| INTS 437 | Critical Race Studies (Mason Core) | 3 |
| Intersections of Gender, Sexuality and Race | ||
| Select two courses from the following: | 6-7 | |
| Current Issues in Women and Gender Studies 1 | ||
| Current Topics in LGBTQ Studies | ||
| Queer Theory | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
| Transnational Sexualities | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
| Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
| Race, Class, and LGBTQ Communities | ||
| Policing Black Bodies | ||
| Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies 1 | ||
| Critical Race Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| Representations of Race (Mason Core) | ||
| Black Social Movements: Gendering of Violence and Activism | ||
| Women During the Enslavement Era | ||
| Women's Activism: From Jim Crow to Black Power | ||
| Gender, Race, Sexuality, and TV | ||
|
Other WMST special topics courses with advisor approval
|
||
| History and Culture | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Gender, Race, and Class in the Media | ||
| U.S. Women's History | ||
| Women in Islamic Society (Mason Core) | ||
| Temptress: Sexuality and Power | ||
| Philosophy, Race, and Gender | ||
| Women in Religious Traditions | ||
| Women and Work | ||
| Black Social Movements: Gendering of Violence and Activism | ||
| Women During the Enslavement Era | ||
| Women's Activism: From Jim Crow to Black Power | ||
| Gender, Health, and Culture in the United States | ||
|
Other WMST special topics courses with advisor approval
|
||
| Transnational Perspectives | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core) | ||
| Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core) | ||
| Human Trafficking and Smuggling | ||
| Global Representations of Women (Mason Core) | ||
| Transnational Sexualities | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
| Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Asian American Women Writers (Mason Core) | ||
| Topics in Communication and Gender | ||
| Topics: Women and Literature | ||
| Cultural Constructions of Sexualities | ||
| Women's Health | ||
| Images and Experiences of Childhood: Social Construct, Literature, and Film | ||
| Issues in Family Relationships (Mason Core) | ||
| Contemporary Youth Studies (Mason Core) | ||
| Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core) | ||
| Women and Leadership | ||
| Psychology of Gender | ||
| Contemporary Gender Relations (Mason Core) | ||
| Contemporary Women Playwrights | ||
|
Courses in above areas not already taken
|
||
| Special Topics 2 | ||
| Feminist Research Methods 2 | ||
| Feminist Theories 2 | ||
| Transnational Issues of Gender and Race 2 | ||
| Total Credits | 30-32 | |
| 1 |
Various special topics courses with the approval of the undergraduate advisor. |
| 2 |
Six credits of WMST 600 Special Topics, WMST 610 Feminist Research Methods, WMST 630 Feminist Theories, or WMST 640 Transnational Issues of Gender and Race may apply to elective requirement for students accepted into the accelerated master's degree in interdisciplinary studies (MAIS) with a concentration in women and gender studes. |
Additional Electives
Any remaining credits may be completed with electives to bring the degree total to 120.
