The Women's and Gender Studies minor emphasizes intersectional approaches to the study of gender, race, class, ethnicity, and sexuality in national and transnational contexts. Course offerings examine social constructions of sex and gender and provide students with an opportunity to learn about women's historical and contemporary roles, gain a working knowledge of interdisciplinary feminist scholarship, and reflect critically on their life experiences as shaped by gender and other forms of diversity. Courses are drawn from various departments and schools, including Anthropology, Art, Communication and Media, Criminal Justice, Film, English, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Nursing, Social Work, Sociology, Theater, and the Women's and Gender Studies Program. Subcategories of focus include feminist theories, girl studies, queer studies, and global and transnational issues.
Minor Admission Requirements
Minor Requirements
- Students cannot earn both the minor in Women's and Gender Studies and the Certificate on Gender Studies.
Prerequisite Courses
The Women's and Gender Studies Minor may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
12 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- WST3015 - Introduction to Women's Studies (3)
- WST3603 - Introduction to Gender Studies (3)
- Complete at least 2 of the following:
- WST3522 - First and Second Wave Feminisms (3)
- WST3561 - Third Wave Feminisms (3)
- WST3621 - Theories of Masculinity (3)
- WST4415 - Global and Transnational Feminism (3)
- WST3020 - Girls' Studies (3)
- WST3460 - Women, Race and Struggle (3)
- WST3371 - Women and Leadership (3)
- WST3610 - Gender and Technology (3)
- WST4349 - Ecofeminism (3)
Restricted Electives
6 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
- Students should complete at least one of their two Elective courses from outside their major. Students may count additional WST courses from above as electives toward the minor. Course substitutions, internship, independent study, or Special Topics credit may be applied to the minor only with the approval of the program director. No more than one 2000-level course will count toward the minor.
- A list of approved restricted elective courses is found in the myKnight audit.
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Choose any combination of two courses from the categories listed below:
Women's Studies Interdisciplinary Theories- Complete all of the following
- HUM 3326 - Theories of Sex and Gender in Humanities (3)
- HUM 4823 - Queer Theory in the Humanities (3)
- LIT 4554 - Advanced Feminist Theories (3)
- PHM 3123 - Feminist Theories (3)
Women's History- Complete all of the following
- AMH 3561 - Women in American History I (3)
- AMH 3562 - Women in American History II (3)
- AMH 4680 - Women in American Science (3)
- ASH 4304 - Women in China (3)
- EUH 4610 - Women in European Society: From Medieval to Modern (3)
- JST 3510 - Notable Women in Jewish History (3)
Representations of Women- Complete all of the following
- AML 3283 - Contemporary American Women's Fiction (3)
- AML 3286 - Early American Women's Words (3)
- ARH 4871 - Women in Art (3)
- COM 4014 - Gender Issues in Communication (3)
- COM 4461 - Intercultural Communication (3)
- ENC 4374 - Gendered Rhetorics (3)
- FIL 3880C - Images of Women in Film (3)
- FRW 4380 - Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales to Ex-Machina (3)
- LIT 3381 - Women Writers of Color (3)
- LIT 3383 - Women in Literature (3)
- LIT 3823 - Hispanic Women Writers (3)
- THE 3272 - Shakespeare to RuPaul: Drag in Entertainment (3)
Women's Wellness- Complete all of the following
- CLP 3184 - Women's Mental Health (3)
- NSP 4425 - Women's Health Issues (3)
- SOP 3742 - Psychology of Women (3)
Gender and Social Policy- Complete all of the following
- ANT 3302 - Sex, Gender and Culture (3)
- CCJ 4670 - Women and Crime (3)
- CCJ 4681 - Domestic Violence and the Justice System (3)
- CPO 4710 - Women in Comparative Politics (3)
- INR 4085 - Women, Gender, and Globalization (3)
- PHI 3629 - Family Values (3)
- PHM 3020 - Philosophy of Love (3)
- PUP 4323 - Women and Public Policy (3)
- SYD 3800 - Sex and Gender in Society (3)
- SYD 4810 - Women in Contemporary Society (3)
- SYD 4813 - Women, Law and Social Change (3)
- SYO 4100 - Family Trends (3)
- SYP 3060 - Sociology of Sex and Reproduction (3)
Grand Total Credits: 18
Other Requirements
- Minimum grade of "C" (2.0) is required in each course used to satisfy the minor.
- At least 12 hours used in the minor must be earned at UCF.
- No credit by exam (TSD, military credit) may be used.
