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

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 378
Anime Studies
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
Race, 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
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
Race, 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 to qualify for a degree. All enrolled students have access to a degree audit to track all of these requirements. 

College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH/VPA) Bachelor of Science core requirements

The college core provides opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge by taking courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and/or sciences beyond the Core General Education Requirements (CGER). 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:

  1. Students majoring in English (writing and rhetoric or literary and cultural studies emphases only) or in the Department of Global Cultures and Languages must earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Teacher education majors earn a Bachelor of Science degree and follow the School of Education core. Students majoring in other CASSH programs may choose either a B.A. or a B.S. degree.
  2. Courses completed for the college core cannot overlap with CGER or the student's first major except where otherwise stated. The college core is in addition to those degree requirements. Overlap with a second major, minor, or certificate is allowed.
  3. Courses approved for use in the college core:
    1. Fine arts category: 150-300 level in ART, 100-300 level in MUS or THA.
    2. Humanities category: 100-300 level in CHI, FRE, GCL, JPN, HCK,
      HMG, RUS, or SPA, SPE 207, SPE 214, CST 211, CST 213,
       CST 310 , CST 312, CST 315 , CST 319, CST 338 , CST 410 ,
       CST 412       , CST 413 , CST 415 , CST 419 ,
             100-300 level in PHL, 200-300 level in ENG or HIS,
       MS 402, RGS 207, RGS 210, RGS 308, RGS 309, RGS 321, RGS 360,
       RGS 374.
    3. Social science category: 100-300 level in ANT, ARC, CRIM, ENV,
      POL, PUB, or SOC, CST 190, CST 230, CST 260, CST 271,
       CST 280, CST 301, CST 321, CST 322, CST 330,  CST 331, CST 332,
       CST 333, CST 334, CST 336, CST 337, CST 339, CST 350, CST 351,
       CST 353, CST 354, CST 358, CST 360, CST 365, CST 378, CST 380,
       CST 388, PSY 100,100 level in RGS,
       RGS 205, RGS 303, RGS 307, RGS 314, RGS 316, RGS 320, RGS 322,
       RGS 328, RGS 337, RGS 340, RGS 350, RGS 353, RGS 362, RGS 373,
       RGS 377, RGS 409. Students with a declared minor in child/youth
      care or psychology may request additional courses from those programs be applied to the core by contacting the CASSH Academic Services Director.

Diversity course requirement

All students in CASSH must complete at least one diversity course from within CASSH. This course can overlap with CGER, major, minor, or other degree requirements. Select from the 100-400 level in ANT, ARC, CHI, CRIM, FRE, GCL, GER, HCK, HMG, JPN, RUS, SOC, SPA, or RGS; or from the following:
 ART 215, ART 251, ART 301, ART 331, ART 332, ART 335, CST 271,
 CST 332, CST 337, CST 419, ENG 207, ENG 208, ENG 210, ENG 212,
 ENG 215, ENG 220, ENG 336, ENG 357, ENG 360, ENV 350, ENV 351,
 ENV 352, ENV 353, ENV 354, HIS 195, HIS 220, HIS 230, HIS 250,
 HIS 260, HIS 285, HIS 310, HIS 319, HIS 327, HIS 328, HIS 329,
 HIS 330, HIS 333, HIS 335, HIS 336, HIS 338, HIS 345, HIS 357,
 HIS 359, HIS 360, HIS 362, HIS 363, HIS 377, HIS 383, HIS 386,
 HIS 389, HIS 390, INS 494, MUS 205, MUS 209, MUS 377, PHL 212,
 PHL 335, PHL 336, PHL 349, POL 130, POL 140, POL 202, POL 205,
 POL 309, POL 325, POL 330, POL 332, POL 335, POL 336, POL 340,
 POL 341, POL 344, POL 345, POL 346, POL 355, PUB 210, PSY 282,
 PSY 283, PSY 318, PSY 319, PSY 325, PSY 360, THA 130, THA 351. 

Bachelor of Science course requirement

Bachelor of Science students complete four courses as follows:

  1. A lab science course from:
     ANT 102, BIO 100, BIO 105, BIO 203, BIO 312,BIO 313, CHM 103,
     CHM 104, ESS 205, ESS 206, GEO 101, GEO 221, GEO 222, MIC 100,
     MIC 230, PHY 103, PHY 104, PHY 106, PHY 155, PHY 160, PHY 203,
     PHY 204; and
  2. An approved college core social science course; and
  3. An additional course from the previously listed lab sciences, college core social science, or a qualitative course from: CS 101, CS 115, CS 120, CT 100, FIN 207, MTH 115, MTH 116, MTH 123, MTH 150, MTH 151, MTH 160, MTH 175, MTH 207, MTH 208, MTH 215, MTH 216, STAT 145, STAT 245; and
  4. One course from the college core fine arts or humanities categories.

Second major, minor, certificates, or individualized option requirement

In addition to all other College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities core requirements, all students in CASSH must complete one of the following:

  1. Complete a second major outside of the student's major program; or
  2. Complete a minor outside of the student's major program, consisting of at least 18 credits; or
  3. Complete two certificates outside of the student's major program with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400-level; or
  4. Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits that are in addition to the minimum credits required in the CGER. 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; 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 Core General Education Requirements (CGER).
  2. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  3. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  4. 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.
  5. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  6. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  7. 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 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 their degree audit and work closely with their advisor(s) and college dean's office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

Core General Education Program

The Core General Education Requirement (CGER) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include CGER placeholders to ensure completion of the core general education requirements. The CGER category listed in parentheses indicated the recommended course to help complete CGER and the program requirements. Transferred courses may alter the plan. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. CGER 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 Core 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 The Eagle Advantage for College Success (UWL 100, 2 cr.) or 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 (CGER CP-CU Civics & Perspective: Communities of the United States)3RGS Elective Course3
ENG 110 (CGER CL-WL Communication & Literacy: Written Literacy)3CST 110 (CGER CL-SL Communication & Literacy: Spoken Literacy)3
UWL 100 or FYS 100 (CGER SBS-FS Social & Behavioral Science: Social Foundation for Success)2CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics1
CGER MQR-QR Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: Quantitative Reasoning3CGER NSWL-ES Natural Science & Wellness: Experiential Science4
CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics2University Elective3
University Elective2University Elective1
 15 15
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RGS Elective Course3RGS 3403
RGS 300/400-Level Elective Course3CGER CP-CW Civics & Perspective: Cultures of Our World 3
CGER NSW-MBP Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet3CGER HA-PDU Humanities & Arts: Pasts that Define Us3
CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies3Minor Course3
CASSH Core Course3University Elective3
 15 15
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RGS 3773RGS 300/400-Level Elective Course3
RGS 300/400-Level Elective Course3CGER CL-SWT Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell3
CASSH Core Course - Natural Lab Science3Minor Course3
Minor Course3Minor 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

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