The women’s, gender and sexuality studies (WGSS) program examines how ideas about women, gender and sexuality are organizing principles of society that intersect with racialization, urbanization, immigration, (dis)ability, religion and a number of other historical phenomena. Our interdisciplinary program’s curriculum spans the four divisions of Earlham College and encourages you to take artistic, literary, social scientific, historical, psychological and medical approaches to gender and sexuality.
As a WGSS major, you’ll dedicate your first three years to deep engagement in reading, writing, on the stage, in the laboratory, in the archive or at work in the community. During your senior year, you’ll do a collaborative demonstrative project, where you present your work to the wider Earlham community. You will also take a capstone seminar, where you produce an original research project on an individualized topic that you workshop with your peers. You will end up with a coherent area of expertise that directly translates to your life and work after Earlham.
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in women’s, gender, sexuality studies, you must complete the following courses, in addition to general education requirements.
8 elective courses (24 - 32 credits), which must include:
At least two classes in each of the three WGSS designations
At least five upper-level courses (300-level or above)
Designation 1: Creative Texts and Objects
Classes that engage topics of women, gender, and sexuality through cultural production make up this designation.
Designation 2: Social and Political Critique
This designation regroups classes about social movements, historical events, and intuitions.
Designation 3: Genetics, Development, and Behavior
This designation defines courses that take psychological, genetic, and biological approaches to gender and sexuality.