Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Major - Bachelor of Arts (BA)

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

Category I: Introductory
RGS 100Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Class3
Category II: Theory and practice
RGS 340Objectively Biased: Knowledge Systems as Power Systems3
RGS 377Critical Research and Advocacy Methods3
Category III: Senior seminar
RGS 490RGSS Senior Capstone3
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
RGS/SOC 105
Introduction to LGBT Studies
RGS/SOC 150
Introduction to Social Justice
RGS 205
Data and Power: Feminist Science Studies
RGS 300
Independent Study in Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
RGS 303
Sex, Race, and Species: Critical Animal Studies
RGS 307
Ethnic, Racial, and Gender Stereotypes in the Media
RGS 308
Justice and Film
RGS 309
Music of Black America
RGS 310
Topics in Queer Studies
RGS 314
Race, Gender, and Sport
RGS/SOC 316
Gender, Sexuality, and Social Change in Religion
RGS 320
Violence and Gender
RGS 321
Sexual and Racial Violence in the United States
RGS 322
Identity-Based Violence Prevention
RGS 328
Sex/Work
RGS 330
Topics in Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
RGS/SOC 337
Globalization, Women, and Work
RGS 340
Objectively Biased: Knowledge Systems as Power Systems
RGS 350
Asian American Studies in Race, Gender, and Sexuality
RGS 353
The Disability Experience in the Contemporary World
RGS 360
Hip Hop Culture, Race, and Gender
RGS 373
Gender and Human Rights
RGS 374
Poverty as Public Policy
RGS/HIS 409
20th Century Civil Rights Movement
RGS 450
Internship in Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Additional electives:
ANT 323
Anthropology of Childhood and Youth
ANT/RGS 362
Hmong Americans
ARC/HIS 372
History of Women in the Ancient World
ART 335
Art and Gender
CHE 372
Sexual Health Promotion
CHE 412
Women's Health Issues
CST 332
Intercultural Communication
CST 334
Gender Communication
CST 337
Communication and Race
CST 338
Media and Sexuality
CST 419
Communication, Media and Identity
ECO 336
Women in the U.S. Economy
ENG/RGS 207
Multicultural Literature of the United States
ENG/RGS 210
Literature of Black America
ENG/ERS 215
African American Authors
ENG 220
Women and Popular Culture
HIS 310
Native American History
HIS 336
Latinos in the United States: 1450-2000
HIS 359
Women, Gender and Sexuality in Modern Europe
HIS 360
Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Latin America
HIS 383
Women in South Asia
HIS 389
Women and Gender in the Middle East
PHL 335
Multicultural Philosophy in the United States
PHL 342
Philosophy of Love, Sex and Friendship
POL 309
Identity Politics and Polarization
PSY 282
Cross-Cultural Psychology
PSY 285
Culture and Mental Health
PSY 305
Human Sexuality
PSY 318
Psychology of Women
PSY 319
Men and Masculinities
PSY/RGS 415
Multicultural Counseling
PSY/RGS 442
Racism and Oppression
PSY/RGS 443
Prejudice and Stigma
SOC 338
Sociological Aspects of Work and Life
SOC 370
Sociology of Gender
SOC 380
Fat Studies and Body Politics
THA 130
Multicultural U.S. Drama and Theory
At least one course taken within the major must be a transnational course:
RGS/SOC 316
Gender, Sexuality, and Social Change in Religion
RGS/SOC 337
Globalization, Women, and Work
RGS 373
Gender and Human Rights
ARC/HIS 372
History of Women in the Ancient World
HIS 359
Women, Gender and Sexuality in Modern Europe
HIS 360
Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Latin America
HIS 383
Women in South Asia
HIS 389
Women and Gender in the Middle East
Total Credits33

 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 Arts core requirements

The CASSH core provides opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge by taking courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and/or sciences beyond the requirements of general education. Students may select from courses offered by the full range of academic departments within the college according to their interests. The college core allows students to build their critical thinking, communication, problem solving, teamwork, and global competencies through in-depth exploration of topics of their choosing.

The following conditions apply to one or both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees:

  1. 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.
  2. Students majoring in other CASSH programs may choose either a B.A. or a B.S. degree.
  3. Language courses at the 102-level or higher (CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HCK, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA, or SPE 214) used to fulfill a general education requirement may also be used to meet the B.A. and B.S. language requirements.
  4. At least one course in the degree must be a CASSH designated diversity course.
  5. All other courses used to meet the requirements below must be in addition to the minimum 41 credits required in the General Education Program.
  6. 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 as noted above.

Bachelor of Arts students declare one of the following tracks online via the CASSH website:

A. Language track
  1. Native speakers of English complete:
    Select one of the following:
    CHI 202
    		Chinese Language and Culture in Action II
    FRE 202
    		French Language and Cultures in Action II
    GCL 202
    		Intermediate Languages II
    GER 202
    		German Language and Cultures in Action II
    HCK 202
    		Hoocak Language and Culture IV
    HMG 204
    		Hmong Heritage Language: Intermediate
    HMG 304
    		Hmong Heritage Language: Advanced
    JPN 202
    		Intermediate Japanese II
    RUS 202
    		Russian Language and Cultures in Action II
    SPA 202
    		Spanish Language and Cultures in Action II
    or SPA 221
    		 Introduction to Spanish for the Health Professions
    Non-native speakers of English: provide English proficiency evidence acceptable for admission to UWL as a degree seeking student.
  2. Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different categories selected from the following: humanities, social sciences, or fine arts.
B. Humanities track
  1. One global language course at the 102-level or higher (including SPE 214); and
  2. Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different departments selected from the following: communication studies, English, history, philosophy, or race, gender, and sexuality studies (see the Advisement Report (AR) for a listing of the approved courses); and
  3. One additional course in social sciences or fine arts.
C. Fine arts track
  1. One global language course at the 102-level or higher (including SPE 214); and
  2. Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different departments selected from the following: art, music, or theatre and dance; and
  3. One additional course in social sciences or humanities.
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 individualized option by satisfying one of the following:
  1. Complete a minor (or two certificates with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400-level or a second major) outside of the student's major program, consisting of at least 18 credits; or
  2. 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

  3. Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits. At least 12 credits must be earned at the 300/400-level outside the major department. The remaining six credits may consist of:

    1. 100-level or higher courses outside the major (general education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements); or

    2. 300/400-level courses inside the major department not being used to fulfill major requirements.

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. 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.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Submit Intent to Graduate" 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 less than 12 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
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RGS 100 (Gen Ed 1005 Ethnic Diversity)3CST 110 (Gen Ed 1003 Spoken Literacy)3
ENG 110 (Gen Ed 1002 Written Literacy)3Gen Ed 1012 Planet That Sustains Us3
FYS 100 (Gen Ed 1001 First-Year Seminar)3Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics2
Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics2Gen Ed 1008 Experiential Science4
Gen Ed 1004 Quantitative Reasoning3-4RGS Elective Course3
 15 15
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RGS Elective Course3RGS 3403
RGS 300/400 Level Elective Course3Gen Ed 1013 Cultures of Our World/CASSH Core Language13
Gen Ed 1006 Mind and Body3Gen Ed 1011 Pasts That Define Us3
Gen Ed 1009 Social and Behavioral Studies3Minor Course3
CASSH Core Course3University Elective3
 15 15
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RGS 3773RGS 300/400 Level Elective Course3
RGS 300/400 Level Elective Course3Gen Ed 1010 Stories We Tell3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
University Elective3Minor Course3
University Elective3University Elective3
 15 15
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RGS 300/400 Level Elective Course3RGS 4903
CASSH Core Course3RGS 300/400 Level Elective Course3
CASSH Core Diversity Course3CASSH Core Course3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
University Elective3University Elective3
 15 15
Total Credits: 120
1

CASSH Core Humanities and Fine Arts Tracks require 102+ level language. CASSH Core Language Track requires 202 level language. Students unprepared for 202 level will need to complete prerequisite course work.

At least one course taken in the major must be a transnational course. See program requirements for which courses meet this requirement.