Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

BA

Why study Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies?

Women's, gender, and sexuality studies is an interdisciplinary major that explores the complexity of human experiences and lives. Through a broad range of subjects, women’s studies raises questions about gender, race, sexual identity, nationality and social class, focusing particularly on their intersections. Women's, gender, and sexuality studies also examines women’s roles and achievements historically and cross-culturally. This program of study challenges stereotypes and inequalities, promotes critical thinking and self-awareness and empowers individuals to work for social change.

Admission Requirements

Freshmen applicants, please visit the Admission Requirements page for more information.

Attention to the intersections between theory and practice is at the heart of women's, gender, and sexuality studies. As an interdisciplinary course of study, women’s studies calls for a range of verbal, analytic and critical skills, as well as the ability to integrate different modes of scholarly inquiry. Students with a keen interest in literature, social science or critical analysis can also focus their work in elective courses.

  • advocate for domestic violence or hate crime victims
  • art therapist
  • battered women's center director
  • business owner
  • clinical social worker
  • doctor
  • health clinic medical assistant
  • human services administrator
  • lawyer
  • minister
  • recreational therapist
  • town manager
  • union organizer
  • writer

Minor/Certificate Information
The women’s, gender, and sexuality studies minor consists of core courses offered within the department and elective courses offered by other departments across the university. Because of the interdisciplinary structure of the program, students can often pursue this minor with any other major without having to take additional credits or increasing time to degree. Students often minor in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies to apply their insights on gender to another field and to gain an additional credential that serves them well for graduate and professional work.

Minor/Certificate Application
Students interested in minoring in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies should complete the Declaration of A&S Minor and schedule an advising session with the undergraduate director.

Students in the UC College of Arts and Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, Tristate location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Students in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at UC experience small classes with much individualized attention, outstanding research and teaching faculty, rigorous and diverse curricula, internship and study-abroad opportunities, graduate student teaching experience, regular symposia and guest speakers, an excellent placement record and a highly supportive environment. They also enjoy mentoring and grant support from the Friends of Women’s Studies, one of the oldest and largest women’s studies community support groups in the country.

To graduate from the UC College of Arts and Sciences, students must:

  • Earn at least 120 credits. This can include transfer credit, AP credit and free electives, but does not include preparatory coursework. Students who have met all other degree requirements must continue earning credit until the total number of their earned hours comes to at least 120.
  • Attain a 2.0 grade point average for all courses taken at the University of Cincinnati.
  • Be in good academic standing, that is, not on either academic probation or disciplinary probation or suspension.
  • Complete the residency requirement by earning at least 30 credits after matriculating into the university.
  • Complete all of the requirements of at least one major (see major requirements above).
  • Complete the College Core Requirements.
  • Submit an application for graduation to the registrar's office by their posted deadline.

Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus student who was admissible directly from high school and has cumulative 2.0 GPA and a 2.0 in the most recent institution.

Students who were not admissible directly from high school must have:

  • 24 semester (36 quarter) hours earned
  • at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA and a 2.0 at most recent institution

Transfer students should apply using our transfer student online application

University transfer scholarships are available to those who meet specific requirements and ANY admitted A&S transfer student might qualify for an A&S transfer scholarship. Deadlines and eligibility criteria are online via the previous links.

For any inquiries, please contact us at artsci@ucmail.uc.edu 

Admission to A&S is generally available for University of Cincinnati students enrolled in other colleges if they were admissible directly from high school, have a cumulative 2.0 GPA and a 2.0 in their most recent UC college.

Application Deadlines

While midyear admission is possible, fall semester is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that semester. Applicants to the UC College of Arts and Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree-seeking students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in French West, 2nd Floor). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact Information

Carolyn Peterson
3316 West-French Hall
PO Box 210164
Cincinnati, OH 45221
513-556-3917
carolyn.peterson@uc.edu

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Program Code: 15BAC-WGS-BA