Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Simmons was founded over a century ago for the purpose — radical at the time — of enabling women to earn their own livelihoods through access to education. Today, we continue that legacy in all that we do.

Students sitting in class

Face the world with confidence, competence and conviction

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies courses, whether taken as part of the major or to enrich another discipline, invite students to understand past and present experiences in order to prepare for challenges and opportunities in their future personal and professional lives.

Our students develop theoretical, empirical and methodological perspectives for studying the status and experiences of women. By considering gender in diverse national and international contexts, you'll study the multiple and contested meanings and roles of gender to develop an understanding of how gender is related to other social categories such as race, class, age, sexuality, religion and nationality.

Our students find fulfilling careers in management, law, academia, counseling, education, library, museum or archival work, as well as health care, social services, public administration, writing, publishing and the media.

 

40 semester hours (10 courses):

Four semester hours (1 course) in one of the three 100-level courses:

WGST100 Introduction to Multicultural Women's Studies 4
WGST111 Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Studies 4
WGST125 Rosie the Riveter to #MeToo: Women & Work 4

Take the following

WGST204 Roots of Feminism 4

Four semester hours (1 course) in a Globalization course selected from one of the following:

WGST200 Women, Nation, Culture 4
WGST210 Black Women, Gender, and Feminism(s) 4
WGST214 Women in World Economy 4

Four semester hours (1 course) in a Methodology course selected from one of the following:

LTWR390 Advanced Seminar in Literature and Writing 4
HIST260 Interpreting the Past: The Craft of History 4
SOCI239 Introduction to Social Research I 4
PSYC203 Research Methods in Psychology 4

Four semester hours (1 course) in advanced coursework chosen from:

WGST350 Independent Study 4
WGST353 Special Topics Seminar 4
WGST355 Thesis 4
WGST365 Intimate Family Violence 4
WGST370 Internship 0
WGST380 Gender and Queer Theory 4
WGST398 Feminist Media Studies 4
HIST360 Seminar in the History of Women and Gender 1790-1920 4
POLS356 Feminist International Relations 4

Capstone:

WGST354 Feminist Theories 4

Twelve semester hours (3 courses) chosen from the list of Women’s and Gender Studies courses and electives.

A course taken to fulfill the race/ethnicity requirement may not also count as an elective.
ART248 Gender and Art 4
BIOL109 Sex, Gender, and Biology 4
ECON125 Gender at Work: From Rosie the Riveter to #MeToo 4
ECON214 Gender, Globalization, and Development 4
LTWR254 The Victorian Novel 4
LTWR320 American Women Poets 4
LTWRLTWR 354 Studies in Film: Melodrama 4
HIST213 Race and Ethnicity in U.S. History 4
HIST360 Seminar in the History of Women and Gender 1790-1920 4
PHIL223 Philosophy of Diversity 4
PHIL390 Seminar 4
POLS223 Human Rights: The Basic Dilemmas 4
POLS219 Gender and Politics 4
PSYC220 The Psychology of Gender 4
SPAN336 Latin American Women Writers 4
SOCI210 Body Politics 4
SOCI220 Working for Social Justice 4
SOCI222 Organizing for Social Change 4
SOCI249 Inequalities 4
SOCI346 Gender and Islam 4
SOCI348 Re-envisioning the Third World 4

Four semester hours (1 course) in a Race Ethnicity and Diversity course selected from one of the following

WGST210 Black Women, Gender, and Feminism(s) 4
WGST232 Race, Gender & Health 4
HIST213 Race and Ethnicity in U.S. History 4
PHIL223 Philosophy of Diversity 4
SOCI249 Inequalities 4
A minor in Women’s and Gender studies includes 20 semester hours (5 courses).

One of the three 100 level courses

WGST100 Introduction to Multicultural Women's Studies 4
WGST111 Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Studies 4
WGST125 Rosie the Riveter to #MeToo: Women & Work 4

Take the following

WGST204 Roots of Feminism 4

3. Three elective courses selected from the list of WGST offerings

ART248 Gender and Art 4
BIOL109 Sex, Gender, and Biology 4
ECON125 Gender at Work: From Rosie the Riveter to #MeToo 4
ECON214 Gender, Globalization, and Development 4
LTWR254 The Victorian Novel 4
LTWR320 American Women Poets 4
LTWR398 Feminist Media Studies 4
HIST213 Race and Ethnicity in U.S. History 4
HIST219 History of Sexuality and the Family 4
HIST230 Women and Gender in Europe 4
HIST360 Seminar in the History of Women and Gender 1790-1920 4
PHIL223 Philosophy of Diversity 4
PHIL390 Seminar 4
POLS223 Human Rights: The Basic Dilemmas 4
POLS219 Gender and Politics 4
PSYC220 The Psychology of Gender 4
SPAN336 Latin American Women Writers 4
SOCI210 Body Politics 4
SOCI220 Working for Social Justice 4
SOCI222 Organizing for Social Change 4
SOCI330 Transnational Studies 4
SOCI249 Inequalities 4
SOCI346 Gender and Islam 4
SOCI347 Antiracism and Social Justice 4
SOCI348 Re-envisioning the Third World 4
WGST215 Women and Gender in U.S. History Before 1890 4
WGST216 Women and Gender in U.S. History: Since 1890 4

Spotlight on Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Students and Alums

Julia Wilen ’24

Celebrating a Safe Space for Survivors with the Peer Education and Support Group Betsy’s Friends

Julia Wilen ’24, a double major in Spanish and Women’s and Gender Studies, with a minor in Literature and Writing, began her work supporting survivors of violence before she came to Simmons and stayed involved throughout her time at the University.


Estela Raya-Fouts Profile Photo

Enjoying the Opportunities at Simmons: From Studying Abroad to Internships to Research

Political Science and Spanish double major Estela Raya-Fouts ’24 discusses impactful internships, catching the travel bug, her favorite course and more Simmons memories.


The cupola of the Main College Building on the Simmons campus with a Pride flag in the foreground

Trans & Non-Binary Living-Learning Communities at Simmons Offer Residential Support and Allyship on Campus

The Trans & Non-Binary Living-Learning Communities (LLC) are for students who identify anywhere within the transgender and non-binary spectrum, as well as active allies. We spoke to students, staff, and Resident Advisors about how the LLC supports trans undergraduate students on campus.


Photo of Sara Slager

Sara Slager '23 Researches History of Reproductive Activism in Boston

When Roe v. Wade was overturned on June 24, 2022, student Sara Slager — a double major in Education and Women's and Gender Studies — was in the middle of a research project on local reproductive rights activism. She spoke...


Headshot of Gina Patterson

Taking Initiative: Gina Patterson '06 on Giving and Leadership at Boston Medical Center

As Boston Opportunity System (BOS) Collaborative Director at the Boston Medical Center, Patterson invests in local communities by bolstering the work of existing non-profits. Learn more about her work and how Simmons brought out the leader within.


Headshot of Lola Getz

Lola Getz '21 Seeks to Carry on Gwen Ifill's Legacy

Congratulations to Lola Getz '21, recipient of the Ifill Scholarship!