Undergraduate studies

Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies is an interdisciplinary major that draws its questions and approaches from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and arts. It helps students to develop theoretical, empirical, and methodological perspectives for studying gender as a crucial category for understanding the world.

The WGST Department offers both a BA, and BS degree, and a 100% online B.A. degree. In addition, an accelerated BA with MA degree program is open to students who wish to begin graduate work in WGST as they complete the BA  in WGST. The Department also offers three minors:  a minor in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies; a minor in Race and Gender Studies, offered in Cooperation with The Department of Pan African Studies; a minor in LGBTQ Studies and a LGBTQ health studies certificate.

The University of Louisville is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). For more information --- www.louisville.edu/accreditation.

Academic Common Market - If your state does not offer the BA or BS in WGST and your state is part of the academic common market, you could qualify for in-state tuition. This is a southern state consortium. Search your state university's website to check participation. "Academic Common Market" is something you should check out. Arkansas is one state that is included in the Academic Common Market for the University of Louisville BA or BS in WGST.

What makes the Department of WGST at UofL special?

Interdisciplinary and Flexibility:

As an interdisciplinarymajor, students are able to take a broad spectrum of courses from across the university.  Students take classes in Political Science, History, Psychology, Communication, Sociology, Philosophy, Health and Sport Science, English, Anthropology, Art and Art History, Pan African Studies among others in addition to WGST courses.

We offer extremely flexible scheduling for our majors: we have three core courses, offered regularly; students are allowed to choose from a wide variety of electives in the social science and humanities to complete the remainder of their requirements. This not only gives students flexibility in terms of when they may take courses, but it allows them a fair amount of control in selecting the classes that will be most helpful to them in their chosen career path.  Students in our program also find it easy to double major, if they so desire. Our students are also required to engage in service learning opportunities outside the university, giving them useful career experience.

Exploring the Connections That Shape Our Lives and Society:

Virtually every course offered by WGST examines the complex ways in which race, gender, class, and sexuality shape human experiences and societal structures. Our curriculum explores how these factors influence individual lives and communities, fostering a deeper understanding of the world and the challenges faced by people from different backgrounds.
WGST’s dedication to exploring these interconnected issues is exemplified by the creation of the Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, a pioneering position that supports research and education on these important topics. Additionally,  WGST offers a range of minors that examine how various social, cultural, and historical factors intersect to shape human experiences. These include Race and Gender, Women and Entrepreneurship, the LGBTQ minor—Kentucky’s first program of its kind—which explores the roles and contributions of LGBTQ communities in history and society.  WGST also houses the Undergraduate LGBTQ Applied Health Studies minor, a multidisciplinary program focused on addressing key aspects of health care for members of the LGBTQ population.

Undergraduate advisor: -

Undergraduate Majors and Minors

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Student Opportunities