Women and Gender Studies

Women and Gender Studies at UND is an exciting interdisciplinary and practical program that includes introductory courses and an advanced theory course.

Students pursuing a major or minor design their own unique program drawing on cross-listed courses, ranging from social sciences like anthropology and psychology to humanities like history and English. Contact the WGS Director or Advisor to get approval for a class to count toward your WGS degree.

Our classes explore the complex interaction of gender with other features of human difference such as race, class, religion, ethnicity, age, ability, sexuality and nationality. We examine our own personal experiences as well as cultural norms and structures, especially those that lead to social inequality.

Students can also minor in Women and Gender Studies, a perfect supplement to any major, allowing an understanding of the complex issues around gender and power. An undergraduate certificate in Women and Gender Studies is also available.

What can I do with a degree in Women and Gender Studies?

Students who earn a B.A. in Women and Gender Studies (WGS) or a WGS minor set themselves apart in many different fields and professions. Employers value the skill sets and abilities acquired by graduates, such as intercultural and interpersonal awareness and communication, self-reflection, collaboration, critical thinking and analysis across multiple academic disciplines, and research and writing expertise.

In addition, students who take Women and Gender Studies courses develop historic and contemporary insights into identity, knowledge, and power. Their understanding and appreciation of marginalized perspectives and experiences, garnered from theoretical and practical engagements, can potentially transform whatever field they choose to enter.