Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Major - Bachelor of Science (BS)
Race, gender, and sexuality studies (RGSS) is an interdisciplinary program that helps students understand the enormous diversity of the U.S. and a globalizing world, and the structures of inequality on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, and social class that shape this world. We study and teach about the lives of people of all gender and racial identities.
Students uncover hidden histories that include experiences of discrimination and marginalization, as well as of resilience, resistance, and coalition building. We study how social change works and what social justice might look like.
In RGSS, we work with students to develop research and communication skills to help students creatively use the knowledge and practices of our discipline, preparing them for careers, advanced degrees, and engaged citizenship.
(All colleges)
33 credits (24 credits must be 300/400-level)
Courses may not count in more than one category.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Category I: Introductory | ||
| RGS 100 | Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Class | 3 |
| or ERS 100 | Introduction to Ethnic and Racial Studies | |
| Category II: Theory and practice | ||
| RGS 377 | Critical Research and Advocacy Methods | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Indigenous and Postcolonial Feminisms | ||
| Anti-Colonial Theory and Movements | ||
| Objectively Biased: Knowledge Systems as Power Systems | ||
| Category III: Senior seminar | ||
| RGS 490 | RGSS Senior Capstone | 3 |
| Category IV: Electives | ||
| Select 21 credits from the courses listed below (a maximum of three credits may be taken from the additional electives list): | 21 | |
| Introduction to LGBT Studies | ||
| Introduction to Social Justice | ||
| Independent Study in Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Women and Gender in the Modern United States: 1890-Present | ||
| History of Motherhood in the United States | ||
| Ethnic, Racial, and Gender Stereotypes in the Media | ||
| Justice and Film | ||
| Music of Black America | ||
| Topics in Queer Studies | ||
| Race, Gender, and Sport | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Social Change in Religion | ||
| Indigenous Thought | ||
| Violence and Gender | ||
| Sexual and Racial Violence in the United States | ||
| Identity-Based Violence Prevention | ||
| Exploring White Privilege | ||
| Sex/Work | ||
| Topics in Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Indigenous and Postcolonial Feminisms | ||
| Anti-Colonial Theory and Movements | ||
| Globalization, Women, and Work | ||
| Objectively Biased: Knowledge Systems as Power Systems | ||
| Gender, Race, and Leadership | ||
| Asian American Studies in Race, Gender, and Sexuality | ||
| The Disability Experience in the Contemporary World | ||
| Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | ||
| Gender and Human Rights | ||
| Poverty as Public Policy | ||
| 20th Century Civil Rights Movement | ||
| Internship in Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Additional electives: | ||
| Anthropology of Childhood and Youth | ||
| Hmong Americans | ||
| History of Women in the Ancient World | ||
| Art and Gender | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Gender Communication | ||
| Communication and Race | ||
| Media and Sexuality | ||
| Communication, Media and Identity | ||
| Women in the U.S. Economy | ||
| Multicultural Literature of the United States | ||
| Literature of Black America | ||
| African American Authors | ||
| Women and Popular Culture | ||
| Literature of American Ethnic and Minority Cultures | ||
| Women Authors | ||
| Women's Health Issues | ||
| Sexual Health Promotion | ||
| Native American History | ||
| Latinos in the United States: 1450-2000 | ||
| Women, Gender and Sexuality in Modern Europe | ||
| Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Latin America | ||
| Women in South Asia | ||
| Women and Gender in the Middle East | ||
| Multicultural Philosophy in the United States | ||
| Philosophy of Love, Sex and Friendship | ||
| Identity Politics | ||
| Cross-Cultural Psychology | ||
| Culture and Mental Health | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Psychology of Women | ||
| Men and Masculinities | ||
| Multicultural Counseling | ||
| Racism and Oppression | ||
| Prejudice and Stigma | ||
| Sociological Aspects of Work and Life | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Fat Studies and Body Politics | ||
| Multicultural U.S. Drama and Theory | ||
| At least one course taken within the major must be a transnational course: | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Social Change in Religion | ||
| Anti-Colonial Theory and Movements | ||
| Globalization, Women, and Work | ||
| Gender and Human Rights | ||
| History of Women in the Ancient World | ||
| Women, Gender and Sexuality in Modern Europe | ||
| Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Latin America | ||
| Women in South Asia | ||
| Women and Gender in the Middle East | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |
No more than six credits can count for the race, gender, and sexuality studies major and another major or minor.
All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.
College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH/VPA) Bachelor of Science core requirements
The following conditions apply to one or both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees:
- Students majoring in English (writing and rhetoric or literary and cultural studies emphases) or in the department of global cultures and languages must earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Education majors earn a Bachelor of Science degree; English major: medical professions emphasis majors may earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
- Students majoring in other CASSH programs may choose either a B.A. or a B.S. degree.
- Language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) used to fulfill general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2) may also be used to meet the B.A. and B.S. language requirements.
- All other courses used to meet the requirements below must be in addition to the minimum 42 credits required in the General Education Program.
- At least one course in the B.A. or B.S. college degree program (core requirements) must be a CASSH designated diversity course.
- Applicable courses may be found on the CASSH B.A./B.S. Degree Option Course List or in the Advisement Report (AR) when the degree has been declared.
Courses used to fulfill general education requirements will not apply to core requirements except for language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) that count in the general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2).
Bachelor of Science students complete four courses outside the department of the student's major as follows:
- A lab science course (from the general education list); and
- A social science course; and
- Another social science or general education natural science, or math course, or an approved CASSH alternative (ENV 101, PHL 334, PHL 339); and
- One additional course in humanities or fine arts or complete a global cultures and languages course 102 level or higher.
In addition to all other College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities core requirements, all students in CASSH must complete a second major, minor, or program option by satisfying one of the following:
- Complete a minor (or second major) outside of the student's major program, consisting of at least 18 credits; or
- Complete an emphasis, program or concentration of at least 18 credits outside the student's major program. General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements; or
- Complete 18 credits in two or more departments or programs (at least 12 credits earned at the 300/400 level). These courses must be outside the student's major department and can be from any college. General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements.
Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the general education requirements.
- Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
- 1
Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.
- 2
The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.
No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.
Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.
The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.
General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.
At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level.
Note: New students and transfer students with 15 or fewer credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.
This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| RGS 100 or ERS 100 | 3 | CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Math | 4 | Gen Ed Global Studies | 3 |
| ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written) | 3 | RGS Elective Course | 3 |
| Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 |
| FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar) | 3 | Gen Ed Natural Lab Science | 4 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Gen Ed Health & Well-Being | 3 | RGS 335, 336, or 340 | 3 |
| CASSH Core Course | 3 | Gen Ed Lang/Logical Systems | 3-4 |
| Gen Ed Self & Society | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| RGS 300/400-Level Elective Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| RGS Elective Course | 3 | Gen Ed World History | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| RGS 377 | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| CASSH Core Course - Natural Lab Science | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | RGS 300/400-Level Elective Course | 3 |
| RGS 300/400-Level Elective Course | 3 | Gen Ed Humanistic Studies | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| RGS 300/400-Level Elective Course | 3 | RGS 490 | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | CASSH Core Course | 3 |
| CASSH Core Course | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| CASSH Core Diversity Course | 3 | RGS 300/400-Level Elective Course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
At least one course taken in the major must be a transnational course. See program requirements for which courses meet this requirement.
At least two courses must be designed as writing emphasis.