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Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies
The Major
For this major, you must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in Women's Studies core and elective courses. Of these, at least 24 hours must be at the 3000-4000 level. The three required courses for all majors are WST 3015, Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Women's Studies; WST 3415, Transnational Feminism; and WST 4935, Capstone Seminar in Women's Studies. WST 3015 must be taken before admission to the major. WST 4935 should be taken in the senior year. Students are required to have a minimum 2.0 GPA in courses taken for credit in the major by the time of graduation.
To ensure a good grasp of the content, theories, and methods
of Women's Studies scholarship, in addition to the three core courses
students may take Women's
Studies-approved electives from a variety of disciplines as
well as those offered
under the WST designator. Students choose one of three
concentrations (described below) in the major. They plan and
monitor their progress to degree by using the appropriate Undergraduate
Progress to Degree form for their track. Students should consult
the
program's FAQ
page and/or the undergraduate advisor with questions about areas
of concentration, degree requirements, and progress towards graduation.
General Concentration
The "General Concentration" allows students to tailor their coursework for maximum exposure to the various issues covered by scholarship in Women's Studies. In addition to the core requirements, students in the general concentration must take at least 9 credit hours in approved Humanities courses, 9 credit hours in approved social science courses, and 3 credit hours in internship (WST 4940) or 3 credit hours in approved Gender & Science courses. Using the General Concentration Progress to Degree worksheet helps to ensure that students remain on track for this concentration. Please print it out and use it to keep track of all requirements.
Concentration in Theories and Politics of Sexuality
A concentration in "Theories and Politics of Sexuality" emphasizes the history, politics, social structures, and biological explanations for sexualities. In addition to the core requirements, students take 18 credits of approved course work, including a 3-credit course, either WST 4641 (Lesbian & Gay Studies) or ENG 4844 (Queer Theory ), and the remaining 15 hours drawn from an approved list of electives with a "T" designation. New courses or one-time courses may also count for this concentration, and if a student takes a course s/he believes might count for this concentration, s/he may petition the Women's Studies undergraduate advisor to use that course as an approved elective. Using the TPS Progress to Degree Worksheet helps students remain on track for this concentration. Please print it out and use it to keep track of your requirements.
Concentration in Gender and International Development
"Gender and International Development" emphasizes the history, politics, social structures, economic, and environmental aspects of women's and men's experience of international economic development and globalization. In addition to the core requirements, students must take at least 21 credit hours in approved International/Diversity Focus courses with a "GID" designation. New courses or one-time courses may also count for this concentration; many students take courses in International Development offered across the university, build gender content into them in cooperation with the instructor, and then petition the Women's Studies undergraduate advisor to use that course as an approved elective. Using the GID Progress to Degree worksheet helps students remain on track for this concentration. Please print it out and use it to keep track of your requirements.
Double Major
The double major--one major in Women's Studies and one in
another field--is advisable for many students. Students may
"double-count," or apply one course towards both majors, up to 15
credits, but they must still meet the distribution requirements in
Women's Studies and all other requirements in their other major.
Honors
To graduate cum laude, a student must have an
overall junior-/senior- level grade point average of 3.5 or higher. To
graduate magna cum laude or summa cum laude,
students must enroll in WST4931 and complete an Honors Thesis under the
supervision of a committee consisting of an advisor and a second
reader.
To be enrolled in WST4931, students must first complete
the Application
to Pursue an Honors Thesis and submit it to the Undergraduate
Coordinator no later than the first week of classes in the term in
which the plan to graduate. Complete information on
choosing a topic, setting up a committee, completing and turning
in the thesis, and on evaluation standards is available
here.
Students will be awarded magna cum laude or summa
cum
laude based on their committee's evaluation of the Honors
Thesis.
Overseas Study
The program is building courses for study abroad, which provide credits at the 3000 level, meets UF summer residency requirements, and applies to the writing and math requirement. The courses generally focus on gender and development in the host country.
Transfer students
Transfer students must take a minimum of 30 hours of Women's Studies courses at the University of Florida, or petition the program for transfer credits.
Critical Tracking
To remain "on track" for this major you must meet the critical
tracking criteria shown below.
Note: The following courses are offered through Women's Studies each semester:
- WST 3015 Interdisciplinary Perspectives of Women
- WST 3930 Special Interdisciplinary Topics (changes each semester)
- WST 4905 Independent Study
- WST 4940 Internship in Women's Studies
Semester 1
2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
Semester 2
Maintain 2.0 UF GPA; complete one Women's Studies course
Semester 3
Maintain 2.0 UF GPA; complete one Women's Studies course
Semester 4
Complete one additional Women's Studies course with a 2.5 GPA on all critical tracking coursework (by Semester 4, at least two of the Women's Studies courses must have been at the upper-division level).
Semester 5
Complete two additional Women's Studies courses (by Semester 5, at least three of the four courses must be at the upper-division level) with a 2.5 GPA in all critical tracking coursework.
Sample Plan of Study
Semester 1 - Fall Credits
- One approved WS course 3
- Composition 3
- Foreign Language 4-5
- Mathematics (GE) 3
- Total 13-14 credits
Semester 2 - Spring
- Foreign Language 4-5
- Social & Behavioral Sciences or Humanities (GE) 3
- Physical & Biological Sciences Lab (GE) 1
- Electives 6
- Total 13-15 credits
Semester 3 -Fall
- One approved WS course 3
- Social & Behavioral Sciences or Humanities (GE) 3
- Physical & Biological Sciences (GE) 3
- Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) 6
- Total 15 credits
Semester 4 - Spring
- One approved WS course 3
- Mathematics (GE) 3
- Physical & Biological Science (GE) 3
- Electives (3000 or above) 6
- Total 15 credits
Semester 5 - Fall
- Two WST approved courses (3000 level or above) 6
- Physical & Biological Sciences (GE) 3
- Electives (3000 or above) 6
- Total 15 credits
Semester 6 - Spring
- Two WST approved courses (3000 level or above) 6
- Physical & Biological Sciences (GE) 3
- Composition 3
- Elective (3000 level or above) 3
- Total 15 credits
Semester 7 - Fall
- Two WST approved courses (3000 level or higher) 6
- Elective 3-4
- Electives (3000 level or higher) 6
- Total 15-16 credits
Semester 8 - Spring
- WST 4935 Capstone Seminar in Women's Studies 3
- One WST approved course (3000 level or above) 3
- Electives (3000 level or above) 9
- Total 15 credits
