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Gender Studies (BA)

The Gender Studies major explores how gender and sexuality influence constructions of human identity historically and culturally, and how these in turn shape human development, behavior, and the processes of justice. Students in the major will learn to examine gender and sexuality from a broad variety of academic perspectives. As such, they become versatile thinkers with strong skills in critical problem solving, research, data collection, and writing. The Gender Studies major has been designed in the best tradition of liberal arts study: courses are structured to support independent inquiry, ethical reflection, and critical thought, and they culminate in a final research project that enables students to test their skills on a question of their own choosing. Students graduating with a B.A. in Gender Studies go on to a wide variety of careers and post-graduate study, including the arts, business, education, health care, media, politics, law, public policy and social work.

Credits required: 36

Advisor: Professor Allison Pease, Department of English, (212.237.8565, apease@jjay.cuny.edu)

 

PART 1. HISTORICAL AND THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS       Subtotal: 12 credits

Gender Studies 101 Introduction to Gender Studies
Gender Studies 2XX Gender and Justice
Gender Studies 2YY Gender and Science
History 3XX The History of Gender and Sexuality


PART 2. CRITICAL METHODS       Subtotal: 3 credits

Gender Studies 3XX/Philosophy 3XX Theories of Gender and Sexuality


PART 3. RESEARCH METHODS       Subtotal: 3 credits

Students must choose one of the following research methods courses

Social Science Research 325 Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences
Humanities and Justice Studies 315 Research Methods in the Humanities and Justice Studies


PART 4. SENIOR SEMINAR       Subtotal: 3 credits

Gender Studies 401 Senior Seminar in Gender Studies

prerequisites: 24 credits completed toward major


PART 5. GENDER STUDIES AREA ELECTIVES       Subtotal: 15 credits

Students select five electives from Gender Studies-designated courses and may substitute a semester-long internship in a gender-related field for one elective. To ensure that students are exposed to significant and significantly different approaches to thinking about gender and sexuality, students must take at least one course in each of the following categories:

Category A. U.S. and/or Global Ethnic/Racial Gender and Sexual Diversity
These courses focus on non-dominant U.S. constructions of gender and sexuality internationally and among diverse communities and cultures in the United States. Recognizing that gender and sexuality are defined as much by their positioning within global political, social and economic systems as by their individual racial, ethnic, religious, class or sexual identity, this cluster offers a comparative look at both the individual and the global aspects of gender and sexuality. Courses that satisfy this requirement will examine the diversity of histories, experiences and cultures within the United States or internationally.

African-American Studies Psychology 245 Psychology of the African American Family
Art 224 African American Women in Art
Corrections 320 Race, Class & Gender in a Correctional Context
Drama 243 Black Female Sexuality in Film
History 265 Class, Race, and Family in Latin American History
Latin American and Latina/o Studies 255 The Latin American Woman
Sociology 333 Gender Issues in International Criminal Justice

Category B. Art, Media, Literary and Cultural Representations of Gender and Sexuality
These courses focus on the study of art, media, literature and cultural production both as sites of theoretical and political work about gender and sexuality and as sources of the construction and representation of gendered/sexed identities. Courses that satisfy this requirement will examine forms of expression and representation, such as literature, art, philosophy, theory, and cinema, as constitutive and contested arenas of sexuality and gender.

Art 224 African American Women in Art
Literature 316 Gender and Identity in Literature
Drama 245 Women in Theatre
Drama 243 Black Female Sexuality in Film

Category C. Socio-Political and Economic Systems and Gender & Sexuality
These courses address the construction of gender and sexuality within the legal, economic and social structures of our society. They look at the very pragmatic ways that societies both reinforce and undermine gender and sexuality through their policies and social practices. Courses that satisfy this requirement will investigate historical or contemporary gender and sexuality within law, sociology, economics, government, criminology, and psychology.

African-American Studies Psychology 245 Psychology of the African American Family
African-American Studies Sociology 2XX Men: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Anthropology 210/ Psychology 210/ Sociology 210 Sex and Culture
Corrections 230 Sex Offenders in the Criminal Justice System
Corrections 320 Race, Class & Gender in a Correctional Context
Criminal Justice 420/ Sociology 420 Women and Crime
Counseling 360 Gender and Work Life
Economics 3XX Economics of Gender
Government 2XX Women and Politics
Government 318 The Law and Politics of Sexual Orientation
Government 319 Gender and the Law
History 265 Class, Race, and Family in Latin American History
Police Science 235 Women in Policing
Psychology 228 Psychology and Women
Psychology 234 Psychology of Human Sexuality
Sociology 215 Social Control and Gender: Women in American Society
Sociology 333 Gender Issues in International Criminal Justice

Students must consult with the Gender Studies Major Advisor to ensure adequate coverage. Individual courses count toward one category of elective only.

In addition to the regularly offered electives listed above, a number of unique electives that count toward the major will be offered each semester. The Director of the Gender Studies Program will compile a list each semester and disperse it amongst Gender Studies majors and minors.

Total credits: 36