Program Overview

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Gender and Women's Studies, Certificate

The Gender and Womens Studies certificate provides a platform for students to study how equity and social justice are connected to gender, sexuality, and identity. Gender and Women's Studies students explore the field through traditional disciplines, such as literature, history, anthropology, sociology, public health, education, law, biology, psychology, political science, and the visual arts. Students can tailor the certificate to reflect their interests, complement their major, or plan for graduate or professional school.

How to Get in

Intent to pursue the certificate can be declared by meeting with the Department of Gender and Women's Studies undergraduate advisor or completing the online declaration form. Declaring the certificate as early as possible allows students to best align certificate coursework with their interests.

• Students declared in the Gender and Women's Studies major are not eligible to declare the Certificate in Gender and Women's Studies at the Undergraduate Level.

Requirements

15 credits of which at least 12 credits are in GEN&WS courses, to include:

Humanities

• Complete one from:
  • GEN&WS 101: Gender, Women, and Cultural Representation
  • GEN&WS 105: Intersectional Approaches to Disability Studies
  • GEN&WS/SOC 200: Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+ Studies
  • GEN&WS/LITTRANS 205: Women in Russian Literature in Translation
  • GEN&WS/AFROAMER 221: Introduction to Black Women's Studies
  • GEN&WS/AFROAMER 222: Introduction to Black Women Writers
  • GEN&WS 240: Feminist Approach to Research and Writing
  • GEN&WS/CHICLA/HISTORY 245: Chicana and Latina History
  • GEN&WS/ENGL 248: Women in Ethnic American Literature
  • GEN&WS/LITTRANS 270: German Women Writers in Translation
  • GEN&WS/RELIG ST 305: Women, Gender and Religion
  • GEN&WS 310
  • GEN&WS/COM ARTS 316: Gender and Communication
  • GEN&WS 319: Study Abroad Special Topic: Gender, Women and the Humanities
  • GEN&WS/ASIAN AM 321: Asian American Feminist & Queer Cultural Productions
  • GEN&WS/AFROAMER 324: Black Women in America: Reconstruction to the Present
  • GEN&WS/AFROAMER 326: Race and Gender in Post-World War II U.S. Society
  • GEN&WS 330: Topics in Gender/Class/Race/Ethnicity (Humanities)
  • GEN&WS/CHICLA 332: Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change
  • GEN&WS 340: Topics in LGBTQ Sexuality
  • GEN&WS 342: Transgender Studies
  • GEN&WS 343: Queer Bodies
  • GEN&WS 344: Bi/Pan/Asexuality: Community & Representation
  • GEN&WS/HISTORY 346: Trans/Gender in Historical Perspective
  • GEN&WS/ENGL 350: Special Topics in Gender & Literature
  • GEN&WS/CLASSICS 351: Women and Gender in the Classical World
  • GEN&WS/HISTORY 353: Women and Gender in the U.S. to 1870
  • GEN&WS/ENGL 359: Visionary and Speculative Fiction: Social Justice Approaches
  • GEN&WS/CLASSICS 361: Sex and Power in Greece and Rome
  • GEN&WS/AFROAMER 367: Art and Visual Culture: Women of the African Diaspora and Africa
  • GEN&WS 370: Topics in Gender and Disability
  • GEN&WS/ENGL 401: Race, Sex, and Texts (How to do things with writing)
  • GEN&WS 410: Special Topics in Gender and Visual Culture
  • GEN&WS 412: Contemporary Queer Art and Visual Culture
  • GEN&WS/THEATRE 415: Introduction to Contemporary Feminist Theatre and Criticism
  • GEN&WS/COM ARTS 418: Gender, Sexuality, and the Media
  • GEN&WS/FOLKLORE 428: Gender and Expressive Culture
  • GEN&WS/AMER IND/ANTHRO/FOLKLORE 437: American Indian Women
  • GEN&WS/LITTRANS/SCAND ST 438: Sexual Politics in Scandinavia
  • GEN&WS 441: Contemporary Feminist Theories
  • GEN&WS 444: From Past Feminisms to Postfeminism: Feminisms for the 21st Century
  • GEN&WS 445: The Body in Theory
  • GEN&WS 449: Special Topics in Feminist Theory
  • GEN&WS/PORTUG 450: Brazillian Women Writers
  • GEN&WS/PORTUG 460: Carmen Miranda
  • GEN&WS/ASIAN AM/ENGL 463: Race and Sexuality in American Literature
  • GEN&WS/ASIAN AM/ENGL 464: Asian American Women Writers
  • GEN&WS/HISTORY 519: Sexuality, Modernity and Social Change
  • GEN&WS/HIST SCI/MED HIST 532: The History of the (American) Body
  • GEN&WS 547: Theorizing Intersectionality
  • GEN&WS/PHILOS 556: Topics in Feminism and Philosophy
  • GEN&WS/AFROAMER 624: African American Women's Activism (19th & 20th Centuries)
  • GEN&WS/AFROAMER 625: Gender, Race and the Civil Rights Movement
  • GEN&WS/AFROAMER 677: Critical and Theoretical Perspectives in Black Women's Writings
  • FRENCH/GEN&WS 285: Rebellious Women from the Global South
  • HISTORY 275: Topics in LGBT History
• Total Credits: 3

Social Science

• Complete one from:
  • GEN&WS 102: Gender, Women, and Society in Global Perspective
  • GEN&WS 104: Gender, Sexuality, and Global Health
  • GEN&WS/SOC 200: Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+ Studies
  • GEN&WS 240: Feminist Approach to Research and Writing
  • GEN&WS 320: Special Topics in Gender, Women and Society
  • GEN&WS/AFROAMER 323: Gender, Race and Class: Women in U.S. History
  • GEN&WS 329: Study Abroad Special Topic: Gender, Women in Society
  • GEN&WS 331: Topics in Gender/Class/Race/Ethnicity (Social Sciences)
  • GEN&WS/CHICLA 332: Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change
  • GEN&WS/AFROAMER 333: Black Feminisms
  • GEN&WS 340: Topics in LGBTQ Sexuality
  • GEN&WS 344: Bi/Pan/Asexuality: Community & Representation
  • GEN&WS/C&E SOC/SOC 347: Gender and Sexuality in Rural Places
  • GEN&WS/HISTORY 353: Women and Gender in the U.S. to 1870
  • GEN&WS/HISTORY 354: Women and Gender in the U.S. Since 1870
  • GEN&WS/HISTORY 392: Women and Gender in Modern Europe
  • GEN&WS/LEGAL ST/SOC 406: Law, Sexuality, & Society
  • GEN&WS/COM ARTS 418: Gender, Sexuality, and the Media
  • GEN&WS 420: Women in Cross-Societal Perspective
  • GEN&WS/LEGAL ST 422: Women and the Law
  • GEN&WS 423: The Female Body in the World: Gender and Contemporary Body Politics in Cross Cultural Perspective
  • GEN&WS/LEGAL ST/SOC 425: Crime, Gender and Justice
  • GEN&WS/POLI SCI 429: Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective
  • GEN&WS/POLI SCI 435: Politics of Gender and Women's Rights in the Middle East
  • GEN&WS 441: Contemporary Feminist Theories
  • GEN&WS/ANTHRO 443: Anthropology by Women
  • GEN&WS 446: Queer of Color Critique
  • GEN&WS 449: Special Topics in Feminist Theory
  • GEN&WS/POLI SCI 469: Women and Politics
  • GEN&WS 472: Food for Thought: An Intersectional Approach
  • GEN&WS/GEOG 504: Feminist Geography: Theoretical Approaches
  • GEN&WS/PSYCH 522: Psychology of Women and Gender
  • GEN&WS 523: Framing Fatness: Gender, Size, Constructing Health
  • GEN&WS 524: Race, Gender, Health, and Medicine
  • GEN&WS 525: Gender and Global Health in Critical Perspective
  • GEN&WS 527: The Environment of the Womb: Epigenetics and Parent/Child Health
  • GEN&WS 528: Sexuality and Science
  • GEN&WS 534: Gender, Sexuality, and Reproduction: Public Health Perspectives
  • GEN&WS 536: Queering Sexuality Education
  • GEN&WS/HIST SCI 537: Childbirth in the United States
  • GEN&WS 538: Special Topics in LGBTQ+ Health
  • GEN&WS 539: Special Topics in Gender and Health
  • GEN&WS/ED POL 560: Gender and Education
• Total Credits: 3

Natural and Biological Science

• Complete one from:
  • GEN&WS 103: Gender, Women, Bodies, and Health
  • GEN&WS 528: Sexuality and Science
  • GEN&WS 530: Biology and Gender
  • GEN&WS/HIST SCI/MED HIST 531: Women and Health in American History
  • GEN&WS 533: Special Topics in Gender and Biology
  • GEN&WS/INTL ST 535: Women's Global Health and Human Rights
• Total Credits: 3

Electives

• Additional courses in GEN&WS to reach 15 credits for the certificate
• Total Credits: 6

Footnotes

1. Students cannot take courses pass/fail for credit in the certificate.
2. Students may not take both GEN&WS 101 and GEN&WS 102 for the certificate.

Residence and Quality of Work

• Minimum 2.000 GPA on all certificate courses.
• At least 9 credits at the intermediate or advanced level.
• At least 8 certificate credits must be completed in residence.

Undergraduate/Special Student Certificates

This certificate may be completed within the context of an undergraduate degree or as a Special student after an undergraduate degree has been awarded from any institution. The certificate may be completed in its entirety while enrolled as a Special student. Candidates are encouraged to contact the certificate coordinator to discuss course enrollment and the sequencing of certificate requirements.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate interdisciplinary understanding of core concepts and debates in Gender and Women's Studies.
2. Demonstrate the practical skills related to Gender and Women's Studies, such as critical thinking and analysis, inquiry, and written and oral communication.
3. Understand the interdisciplinary nature of Gender and Women's Studies research and connect this scholarship to the institutions that shape everyday life.
4. Develop Gender and Women's Studies knowledge, skills, and social engagement and demonstrate how these ideas can be applied to new settings, ideas, and understandings.

Advising and Careers

Connecting and working with the undergraduate advisor in Gender and Women's Studies as early as possible helps you create a meaningful course plan and stay on track as you complete the certificate requirements.

• The undergraduate advisor is available to consult on a variety of topics, including declaring the certificate, course selection, study abroad, volunteer and internship opportunities on campus and in the community, applying to graduate programs, and preparing for the job market after graduation.

Declaration

Intent to pursue (or cancel) the certificate can be declared by meeting with the undergraduate advisor in Gender and Women's Studies and completing the online declaration form.

SuccessWorks

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.

• What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
• Make a career advising appointment
• Learn about internships and internship funding
• Try Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them, an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UWMadison students