The BA in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Portland offers you a critical and interdisciplinary approach to understanding gender identity and sexuality within historical, structural, and institutional contexts. This undergraduate degree is designed for students eager to explore how gender intersects with race, class, age, ethnicity, religion, and nationality, drawing on feminist, anti-racist, and decolonial pedagogies. You will develop the analytical skills to interrogate theories and practices, preparing you to challenge oppression and dismantle hegemonic legacies in any field you pursue.
This program is studied full-time on campus over four years, requiring 28 credit hours in major requirements, including foundational courses like Foundations of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies and a GWSS Capstone. You will select courses from diverse areas such as sociology, philosophy, and history, engaging with topics like the sociology of the family, decolonial education, and modern American women's history. You will graduate with the ability to articulate complex ideas orally and in writing, equipped to become a change-maker in professions across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and beyond.