Undergraduate Minor

The Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies, which is administered by the Program in Women, Gender and Social Justice, provides students with in-depth opportunities to study gender and its intersections with other aspects of identity within the students’ field of interest.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Women’s and Gender Studies or the Specialization in Women, Gender, and Social Justice.  With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. College of Social Science students completing this minor to meet the College of Social Science Interdisciplinary Minor Requirement should refer to the section below for the Social Science Track.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in Women, Gender and Social Justice.

Requirements for the Minor in Women's and Gender Studies

1. Complete a minimum of 15 credits from the following:
2. 1. Both of the following courses (6 credits):
   1. WS 201 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies (3)
   2. WS 202 Introduction to Contemporary Feminisms and Gender Theories (3)
3. 2. Complete a minimum of 9 credits in courses from one of the following areas:
   1. Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and History
   2. ANP 330 Race, Ethnicity, and Nation: Anthropological Approaches to Collective Identity (3)
   3. ANP 425 Issues in Medical Anthropology (3)
   4. ANP 432 American Indian Women (3)
   5. ANP 433 Contemporary American Indian Communities (3)
   6. ENG 351 Readings in Chicano and Latino Literatures (3)
   7. ENG 354 Readings in Native American Literature (3)
   8. GEO 418 The Ghetto (3)
   9. HST 310 African American History to 1876 (3)
   10. HST 311 African American History since 1876 (3)
   11. HST 312 African American Women (3)
   12. HST 313 Women in the United States to 1869 (3)
   13. HST 314 Women in the United States since 1869 (3)
   14. HST 317 American Jewish History (3)
   15. HST 324 History of Sport in America (3)
   16. HST 327 History of Mexican Americans in the United States (3)
   17. HST 412 Women in Modern European History (3)
   18. HST 413 Families in Historical Perspective (3)
   19. HST 420 History of Sexuality since the 18th Century (3)
   20. MC 325 State and Society in Comparative Perspective (4)
   21. MC 386 Women and Power in Comparative Perspective (4)
   22. MC 388 Sexual Politics: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives (4)
   23. MC 395 Cultural Dimensions of Public Affairs (4)
   24. SOC 215 Race and Ethnicity (3)
   25. SOC 216 Sex, Gender, and Sexuality (3)
   26. SOC 315 Family and Society (3)
   27. SOC 361 Contemporary Communities (3)
   28. WS 102 Navigating Sex and Gender in Everyday Life (2)
   29. WS 307 Women of Color Feminisms (3)
   30. WS 203 Introduction to Methods for Women's and Gender Studies Research (3)
   31. Sexuality and Conflict/Violence
   32. ANP 220 Gender Relations in Comparative Perspective (3)
   33. CJ 425 Women and Criminal Justice (3)
   34. GEO 413 Urban Geography (3)
   35. HDFS 145 The Individual, Couples and Families (3)
   36. HDFS 445 Human Sexuality (3)
   37. HST 420 History of Sexuality since the 18th Century (3)
   38. MC 325 State and Society in Comparative Perspective (4)
   39. MC 386 Women and Power in Comparative Perspective (4)
   40. MC 388 Sexual Politics: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives (4)
   41. MC 482 Gender and Violent Conflict (4)
   42. NEU 310 Psychology and Biology of Human Sexuality (3)
   43. PSY 339 Psychology of Women (3)
   44. SOC 216 Sex, Gender, and Sexuality (3)
   45. WS 203 Introduction to Methods for Women's and Gender Studies Research (3)
   46. WS 301 Sexual Violence Against Women and Children: Theory and Response (3)
   47. WS 304 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) and Sexuality Studies (3)
   48. WS 351 Gendered Violence and Intersections of Power (3)
   49. WS 404 Women and the Law in the United States (3)
   50. WS 424 Seminar in Queer Studies (3)
   51. Gender and the Arts and Humanities
   52. ENG 130 Film and Society (4)
   53. ENG 153 Introduction to Women Authors (4)
   54. ENG 351 Readings in Chicano and Latino Literatures (3)
   55. ENG 353 Readings in Women Writers (3)
   56. ENG 354 Readings in Native American Literature (3)
   57. ENG 482 Seminar in Feminist Literary and Cultural Theory (3)
   58. HST 310 African American History to 1876 (3)
   59. HST 311 African American History since 1876 (3)
   60. HST 312 African American Women (3)
   61. HST 313 Women in the United States  to 1869 (3)
   62. HST 314 Women in the United States since 1869 (3)
   63. HST 317 American Jewish History (3)
   64. HST 324 History of Sport in America (3)
   65. HST 327 History of Mexican Americans in the United States (3)
   66. HST 412 Women in Modern European History (3)
   67. HST 413 Families in Historical Perspective (3)
   68. HST 420 History of Sexuality since the 18th Century (3)
   69. LIN 225 Language and Gender (3)
   70. MC 395 Cultural Dimensions of Public Affairs (4)
   71. PHL 356 Philosophical Aspects of Feminism (4)
   72. PHL 456 Topics in Feminist Philosophy (4)
   73. WS 102 Navigating Sex and Gender in Everyday Life (2)
   74. WS 307 Women of Color Feminisms (3)
   75. Gender Applied: Health, Urban, and Public Policy
   76. ANP 270 Women and Health:  Anthropological and International Perspectives (3)
   77. ANP 370 Culture, Health, and Illness (3)
   78. ANP 436 Globalization and Justice:  Issues in Political and Legal Anthropology (3)
   79. ANP 439 Human Rights:  Anthropological Perspectives (3)
   80. CJ 425 Women and Criminal Justice (3)
   81. EPI 390 Disease in Society: Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health (4)
   82. GEO 413 Urban Geography (3)
   83. GEO 418 The Ghetto (3)
   84. HDFS 448 Child and Family Policy (3)
   85. HST 425 American and European Health Care since 1800 (4)
   86. LB 336 Gender, Sexuality, Science, Technology (W) (4)
   87. MC 380 Social Policy (4)
   88. MC 386 Women and Power in Comparative Perspective (4)
   89. NEU 310 Psychology and Biology of Human Sexuality (3)
   90. PLS 304 Minority Politics (3)
   91. PSY 339 Psychology of Women (3)
   92. PSY 320 Health Psychology (3)
   93. SOC 361 Contemporary Communities (3)
   94. SOC 375 Urban Sociology (3)
   95. SOC 475 Health and Society (3)
   96. WS 203 Introduction to Methods for Women's and Gender Studies Research (3)
   97. WS 404 Women and the Law in the United States (3)
4. A list of additional approved courses is maintained by the advisor in Women's and Gender Studies. Specific courses on this list will fulfill the minor requirements when the topics include sufficient content regarding women, gender, and one area.
5. Social Science Track
6. The following track is available to students enrolled in a College of Social Science major, to meet the college's minor requirement for graduation:
7. 1. Both of the following courses (6 credits):
   1. PSY 339 Psychology of Women (3)
   2. WS 201 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies (3)
8. 2. One of the following courses in the College of Social Science (3 credits):
   1. ANP 220 Gender Relations in Comparative Perspective (3)
   2. ANP 270 Women and Health: Anthropological and International Perspectives (3)
   3. CJ 425 Women and Criminal Justice (3)
   4. HST 312 African American Women (3)
   5. HST 313 Women in the United States to 1869 (3)
   6. HST 314 Women in the United States since 1869 (3)
   7. HST 412 Women Modern European History (3)
   8. SOC 216 Sex, Gender, and Sexuality (3)
9. 3. Two of the following courses outside the College of Social Science (6 to 8 credits):
   1. ENG 153 Introduction to Women Authors (4)
   2. ENG 353 Readings in Women Writers (3)
   3. FLM 452 Studies in Film, Gender, and Sexuality (3)
   4. PHL 356 Philosophical Aspects of Feminism (4)
   5. REL 432 Modern Muslim Thought (W) (3)
   6. WS 202 Introduction to Contemporary Feminisms and Gender Theories (3)
   7. WS 301 Sexual Violence Against Women and Children:  Theory and Response (3)
   8. WS 491 Special Topics (3)
10. Students who are also completing the Minor in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Sexuality Studies may only use WS 201, 202, or 304 in fulfillment of the requirements for both minors.