Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies
811 Mazur Hall
215-204-1644
https://liberalarts.temple.edu/academics/departments-and-programs/gender-sexuality-and-womens-studies
Dr. Barbara Thornbury, Program Director
811 Mazur Hall
barbara.thornbury@temple.edu
LaTasha Goodman, Administrator
1041 Mazur Hall
215-204-8516
latasha.goodman@temple.edu
Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies offers a cohesive framework of inquiry into gender and sexuality issues in the U.S. and around the world. The program's curriculum highlights the ways in which gender and sexuality relate to other social categories, such as race, class, disability, nationality, and ethnicity. As an interdisciplinary field, Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies takes into account social, historical, economic, political, and cultural variables in its study of women's experience, the workings of gender as both an analytical category and identity, and the functioning of sexuality in social life. The field pays particular attention to inequality and discrimination based on gender, sexuality, and gender identity. Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies also seeks to transform traditional fields of study by incorporating new methodologies, data, theories, and frameworks developed by feminist scholars.
The Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies Program offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum taught by faculty from various departments and other schools and colleges across the university. Students learn to apply the methods and theories of social scientists, historians, philosophers, film and literary critics, and legal analysts to the study of women's experiences, as well as gender, sexuality and trans identities. They explore a growing body of feminist theories that revise our understanding of gender, society, and culture.
The Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies Program offers an undergraduate major and minor that can be taken by students in the College of Liberal Arts or by students in other colleges. In addition, the program also offers a minor in LGBT Studies that can be taken by students in the College of Liberal Arts or by students in other colleges and a certificate in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies that is available only to students outside the College of Liberal Arts.
Special Programs
Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies majors are required to take a Fieldwork course involving an internship which gives them the opportunity to get hands-on professional experience.
We encourage students to take advantage of university study abroad programs. Please contact the director for more information.
Accelerated Degree Programs
Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies majors have three options for a 5 year BA/master's program. The master's degree programs are the Master of Arts in Sociology, the Master of Education in Advocacy and Organizational Development and the Master of Public Policy in Public Policy. For more information on these programs see the Accelerated Programs section of this Bulletin as well as the department's web site.
Policies
We encourage students to take Foundations in Women's Studies (GSWS 1301), Critical Race Feminist Theory (GSWS 2051), Feminist Theory (GSWS 3097) and Field Work (GSWS 4389) before taking the Research Seminar (GSWS 4396).
Double-Counting of Credits: Students combining a minor in LGBT Studies and a major, minor, or certificate in GSWS may double-count for both programs only Field Work (GSWS 4389 or LGBT 4489) and Queer Lives (GSWS 2405 or LGBT 2405).
Honors
Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies majors have the opportunity to graduate with distinction in the major if they have a GPA of 3.5 or better in the major, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, and have successfully completed an honors thesis.
The Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies Program has the below five annual undergraduate awards that honor academic and creative excellence in our students:
- Barbara Brownstein Prize
- Sonia Sanchez Scholarship
- Lucia Beck Weiss and Howard J. Weiss Prize
- Audre Lorde Prize
- Certificate of Excellence
Professional Development
After graduation, Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies students enter professional schools in law, medicine and business; take graduate degrees in the humanities and social sciences; and pursue careers in health, counseling, teaching, public advocacy and many other fields.