Gender and Sexuality Studies

What Is Gender And Sexuality Studies?

Gender and sexuality inform everything — from our beliefs and perceptions of self and families to the construction of our institutions and societies. 

Gender and Sexuality Studies investigates gender identity and human sexuality from a broad, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural perspective and encourages students to see the profound impacts of societal understandings of gender and sexuality on our lives. Studying gender and sexuality helps students to question how social norms, gender identity, and sexual orientation, for example, work in tandem with intersections like race, ethnicity, nationality, class, disability, age, religion, and more. These social categories frequently result in structural, institutional, and ideological inequality and oppression. Gender and Sexuality Studies draws from many disciplines, each one contributing a unique perspective on how we “live” our gender and sexuality, and enabling students to analyze the many dimensions of human identity and experience that are shaped by sexuality and gender.

Why Take A Minor In Gender And Sexuality Studies At Springfield College?

The Gender and Sexuality Studies minor at Springfield College fosters a broad interdisciplinary investigation of how gender and sexuality structure our lives, ideas, and institutions. Incorporating both practical and theoretical approaches to understanding, students will examine the extent to which gender and sexuality are socially influenced, while also considering their significance in relation to each other and with regard to various intersections, such as race, class, and ethnicity. Courses in the minor range widely in focus and content. However, what these courses share is a recognition of the ways in which gender and sexuality function as part of a dynamic system, one that shapes identity, structures knowledge, and determines the distribution of social and political power. This makes our minor valuable if you are entering any professional field that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.

A minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies allows students to add an area of concentration to a larger field of study or explore interests outside of their main academic focus. Given the diversity of courses offered in the minor, students might also want to craft an impactful niche extension to their major that enables them to examine gender and sex roles from a particular disciplinary perspective — such as social and behavioral sciences, the humanities, the arts, or the health professions. 

What Courses Can I Take To Fulfill The Gender And Sexuality Studies Minor?

The Gender and Sexuality Studies curriculum will help you to write, problem solve, and think critically about gender and sexuality issues that affect society. The minor offers an interdisciplinary approach and draws upon the expertise of faculty in many departments across the College. 

The minor is 15 credits (5 courses), View the Program curriculum.

Is A Minor In Gender And Sexuality Studies Right For Me?

Students in all majors with an interest in learning more about the subject matter can obtain a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. You might like this program if...

• You are passionate about gender, sexuality, and human rights and want to work toward a more equitable and just society.
• You seek out inclusive environments, with persons of different backgrounds, cultures, and races to understand their points of view.
• If you enjoy crossing academic boundaries and admire those who dare to cross societal ones. 
• You want to how gain substantial knowledge about how gender and sexuality play a role in literature, health, the arts, psychology, criminal justice, and religion.
• You want to translate your interests, experiences, passions into actionable and meaningful work, and become a catalyst for change in this world!

What Are My Career Options With A Minor In Gender And Sexuality Studies?

The Gender and Sexuality Studies minor can enrich your understanding of your chosen field and, in turn, enhance your career prospects. 

A minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies provides students with the knowledge and skills that are essential for those pursuing graduate study or employment in both the public and private sectors, including nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations, where women and girls make up most of the customer/client base or where gender, sexuality, and sensitivity to diversity are areas of concern. 

Graduates use their skills to find success and advocate for social justice in a variety of fields such as:

• Social work
• Psychology
• Education
• Health professions
• Public policy
• Criminal justice
• Media
• Human resources
• Management
• Marketing
• Public relations
• Business
• Mental health
• Government
• Human services
• Journalism
• Human rights

The interdisciplinary nature of this program, encompassing English, psychology, health, criminal justice, liberal arts, and sociology, translates to a broad application in the job market — as do the highly developed written and oral communication skills and out-of-the-box thinking that you will develop. Possible careers include community health workers, teachers, human resource managers, probation officers, social and community service managers, government employees, writers, and workers in academia.

Declaring A Minor In Gender And Sexuality Studies

Undergraduate students (in good academic standing) may declare the minor at any time by completing the Academic Records Update Form on PrideNET. Please consult your advisor about this process if you need assistance.

Once the form is completed and signed by the student, the student should submit the form to the Department of Physical Education and Health Education  chair to be signed. Once the form has the signature of both the student and chair, the form is submitted to the Registrar’s Office, where the request will be reviewed and processed.