Women's and Gender Studies, B.A.

Women’s and Gender Studies (WGST) graduates are sophisticated critical thinkers, they are able to synthesize different kinds of information, and they can easily apply academic knowledge to real world situations—skills that are valued by many prospective employers. WGST graduates also have a complex understanding of national, transnational, and global issues as well as a specialized knowledge of women’s experiences and of social, political, economic, and cultural issues facing women and other historically marginalized people. Women’s and Gender Studies graduates at NJCU have pursued a variety of careers including: education, health services, criminal justice, social work, psychological services and counseling, public administration, community organizing, political consulting, public advocacy, and law. Students have also advanced to graduate programs in history, sociology, human rights and global studies, sociology, English, and creative writing.

There are no requirements for entering the WGST major other than the general university requirements for declaring a major.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Transfer students must complete at least 12 credits at NJCU. 

Required
WGST 101Telling Women's Lives3
or WGST 109 Gender, Sexuality and Culture
WGST 108Race, Class and Gender Activism3
or WGST 208 Sex: Power, Pleasure, Politics
WGST 320Feminist Practices3
WGST 380Internship in Women's and Gender Studies3
WGST 490Senior Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies3
Restricted Electives
At least 9 credits should be taken with WGST prefix and at least 9 credits of cross-listed electives. 9 credits should be taken at 300/400 level. 21
WGST 1003
WGST 103Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies3
WGST 101Telling Women's Lives3
WGST 109Gender, Sexuality and Culture3
WGST 110Diversity and Difference: Identities, Communities, and Cultures3
WGST 130Rebel Girls3
WGST 141Masculinities3
WGST 190Introduction to Sexuality and Queer Studies3
WGST 2023
WGST 204Theorizing Bodies: Gendered Perspectives3
WGST 208Sex: Power, Pleasure, Politics3
WGST 210Black Womanhood3
WGST 215Men of Color in Urban America3
WGST 220Women and Leadership: Work and Community3
WGST 225Women, Hip Hop Spoken Word and Social Change3
WGST 226LGBTQ Social Change3
WGST 310Girls, Girl Culture, and Girlhood Studies3
WGST 322Reproductive Justice3
WGST 330Gender and Popular Culture3
WGST 370Transgender, Gender Variant, and Gender Queer History, Identities, and Politics 13
WGST 405US Latina Feminisms3
WGST 410Gender, Migration, and Citizenship3
ART 150Empower Tools: Art as a Catalyst for Social Change3
ART 202Philosophies of Art3
ART 266Women Artists3
CJ 303Women and Criminal Justice3
ENGL 205Queer Literature
ENGL 226Women in Literature3
ENGL 235Reading Hip Hop3
ENGL 3003
ENGL 305African American Women Writers3
ENGL 313Stories of Teaching & Learning: Narratives of Education3
ENGL 319The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire3
ENGL 351African & Caribbean Women Writers3
ENGL 386Memoir Workshop3
HIST 154History of Women3
HLTH 300Women and Health3
LATI 209Sex and Gender in Latin America3
MEDI 327Cinema and Media Studies: Women in Film3
PHIL 245The Philosophy of Social Justice in the United States3
POLI 215Women and Law3
PSYC 2103
SOCI 201Women and Family in Different Cultures3
SOCI 450Seminar: Domestic Violence3
Total Credits36

Note: If a student takes both 101 and 109, one will satisfy the required course and the other will count as an elective

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
Semester 1Credits
ENGL 101
English Composition I
or English Composition I for English as a Second Language Students
4-6
MATH 114
Contemporary Mathematics
or Statistics I
3
WGST 101
Telling Women's Lives ( (General Education Tier I Course))
or Gender, Sexuality and Culture
or Diversity and Difference: Identities, Communities, and Cultures
3
WGST 220
Women and Leadership: Work and Community ((General Education Tier II Course))
or Women, Hip Hop Spoken Word and Social Change
3
General Education Tier I Course 3
INTD 101 Orientation to College *first time freshmen only 1
 Credits17-19
Semester 2
ENGL 102
English Composition II
or English Composition 2 ESL
4-6
WGST 101
Telling Women's Lives ((General Education Tier I Course))
or Gender, Sexuality and Culture
or Diversity and Difference: Identities, Communities, and Cultures
3
WGST 101
Telling Women's Lives ((General Education Tier I course))
or Gender, Sexuality and Culture
or Diversity and Difference: Identities, Communities, and Cultures
3
General Education Tier II 3
General Education Tier II 3
 Credits16-18
Sophomore
Semester 1
WGST 108
Race, Class and Gender Activism
or Sex: Power, Pleasure, Politics
3
General Education Tier II 3
General Education Tier II 3
General Education Tier II 3
WGST Cross Listed Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester 2
WGST 300/400 Elective 3
WGST Cross-Listed Elective 3
General Education Tier III Capstone 3
Minor/Elective 3
Minor/Elective 3
 Credits15
Junior
Semester 1
WGST 320 Feminist Practices 3
WGST 300/400 Level 3
Minor/Elective 3
Minor/Elective 3
Minor/Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester 2
WGST 300/400 Level 3
Minor/Elective 3
Minor/Elective 3
Minor/Elective 3
Minor/Elective 3
 Credits15
Senior
Semester 1
WGST 380 Internship in Women's and Gender Studies 3
Minor/Elective 3
Minor/Elective 3
Minor/Elective 3
Minor/Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester 2
WGST 490 Senior Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies 3
Minor/Elective 3
Minor/Elective 3
Minor/Elective 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits120-124

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Women’s and Gender Studies BA program, students will be able to:

  1. Describe women's historical and contemporary contributions to culture and society.
  2. Examine urban lives from the perspective of Women's and Gender Studies.
  3. Use gender as a central category of analysis in relation to other axes of difference.
  4. Develop interdisciplinary research skills and familiarity with feminist theories and modes of inquiry.
  5. Demonstrate oral communication, writing, information technology, and critical thinking skills.
  6. Apply feminist principles and ethics to their own lives and surrounding communities.