Mary Beth Myers
Administrative Coordinator
Women's and Gender Studies (Minor)
Women's and Gender Studies (Minor)
What is women’s and gender studies?
In the women’s and gender studies minor, you’ll explore basic questions about gender roles, gender identity and social justice while examining the diverse experiences of women in various cultures and historical eras. You’ll study the intersection of gender with categories of identity including race and religion, and with topics including film and sports. You’ll also have the opportunity to pursue an intensive study of a specialized topic. Combine this minor with a major such as history, literature, international affairs, psychology or social work to enhance your future career opportunities or prepare for graduate studies.
Why study women’s and gender studies at UNH?
As a relatively small department in the College of Liberal Arts, we’ll provide you with a sense of community and opportunities to contribute directly to social justice, including through internships at innovative organizations both on and off campus. In a rigorous academic environment, our women’s and gender studies minor helps offer you a springboard for activism. You’ll benefit from a structured yet flexible undergraduate program on cutting-edge subjects that bridge theory and applied studies. Your course of study will be tailored to your interests. Additionally, you’ll receive excellent advising and mentoring to help you with career or graduate school preparation.
Potential career areas
- Arts
- Business
- Education
- Government
- Healthcare
- Human services
- Journalism
- Law
- Non-governmental organizations
Curriculum & Requirements
Women's and gender studies provides students with an understanding of the status of women in various cultures and historical eras, in the nexus of race, class, sexuality, religious and disability studies. Students learn the use of gender as a category of analysis and increase their knowledge of women's contributions to many fields. Women's studies courses offer students critical perspectives on such basic questions of the social order as assumptions about gender roles and gender identity.
As a relatively small department in the College of Liberal Arts, we provide students with a sense of community and opportunities to contribute directly to changing the campus climate. In a rigorous academic environment, women's and gender studies offers students a springboard for activism. Our internship program enables students to gain first-hand work experience across many fields.
A major or minor in women's and gender studies prepares students for careers where the changing roles of women are having a perceptible impact. Alumni go on to law school and graduate school in a variety of disciplines. Some have taken positions with social change or family service agencies, while others have found work in such fields as health care, journalism, education, human rights, social and environmental justice, and the arts.
Students who wish to minor in women's and gender studies should consult with the department chair or coordinator.
For the women's and gender studies minor, students must complete 20 credits of women's and gender studies courses with a grade of C- or better. Courses taken pass/fail may not be used toward the minor. No more than eight credits used to satisfy the requirements for another major may be used for the women's and gender studies minor. Students electing the women's and gender studies minor must complete:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
WS 401 | Introduction to Women's Studies | |
or WS 405 | Gender, Power and Privilege | |
| WS 798 | Colloquium (normally taken at the end of the course sequence) 1 | 4 |
| Complete three other women's studies courses, either program courses or those that are cross-counted with other departments | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
- 1
It may be possible to substitute WS 795 Independent Study, WS 796 Advanced Topics, WS 797 Internship, and WS 799 Honors Thesis for WS 798 Colloquium with permission from a women's studies adviser.
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