B.S. in Gender Studies

Program Purpose The Gender Studies Program at the University of Utah offers a B.S. or B.A. undergraduate major, as well as a minor, through the College of Social and Behavioral Science. The overall mission of the Program is to provide a quality undergraduate education in gender scholarship, to promote an integration of this scholarship and research into the university curriculum, to encourage new pedagogies, and to foster the growth of an interdisciplinary community of scholars who are interested in gender as a category of analysis. More specifically, the Program provides students with the tools of academic analysis so that they may explore the significance of gender as a crucial component in the organization of personal lives and social institutions. To this end, the courses offered by the Gender Studies Program re-evaluate the assumptions at work in traditional disciplines as they study individuals, cultures, social institutions, policy and other areas of scholarly inquiry. Learning Outcomes Overall: Effectively communicate gender-related understanding, analyses, and arguments in written and oral format. GNDR 3100 (Medusas and Manifestos): Demonstrate an understanding of gender in relation to the history of social movements and the search for social justice over the last 150 years in the United States, i.e., comprehend, apply, and evaluate movements in women's rights, civil rights, gay rights, and labor organizing from an interlocking perspective. Theory Courses: Be familiar with particular strands of feminist theory – for instance, political theory, queer theory, critical and post-structural theory, theories of masculinity; and with theoretical fields that intersect with feminism and gender studies, such as critical race theory. Have a working knowledge of the schools of thought relevant to the discipline in which the course was generated and the ways in which such theories underpin or interact with particular cultural, political, and social phenomena. Have the ability to articulate, engage with, question, critique, apply, and generate theoretical concepts related to gender, sexuality, race, class, and body type; and start developing their own theoretical insights. Demonstrate these skills in assignments particular to each course, which may include written examinations, analytical essays, summary, précis, and book review; and oral presentations (individual or group), active participation in class discussions and debates; and creative projects. Disciplinary Seminar Courses: Conduct primary source research in a chosen discipline, including collection and interpretation of data according to disciplinary/interdisciplinary standards. Demonstrate the capacity to research and ascertain the current state of the field relative to the student's assigned research. Relate that research to traditional disciplinary methods and current scholarly literature; and, position that research within current gender studies scholarly literature. Understand questions of ethics in scholarly research. Consider the applications and/or relevance of their research interests to non-classroom settings. (For example, academic research, community-based research, community engagement, public or private sector work.)