Programs

Major Program

Prerequisites: To declare the Gender & Women's Studies major, students must have completed GWS 10 and GWS 20 and have a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Upper Division Requirements: The requirements for a Gender & Women's Studies major consist of a minimum of eight upper division courses on gender and women's issues (30-32 units) distributed as follows:

• Core courses (20 units):
  • 101, Doing Feminist Research
  • 102, Transnational Feminisms
  • 103, Identities Across Difference
  • 104, Feminist Theory
  • 195, Senior Seminar
• Electives (10-12 units):
  • Three electives, at least one in the Department of Gender & Women's Studies
  • The other two electives may be fulfilled by classes offered by other departments that are listed in "Courses on Gender and Women," published each semester by the Department of Gender & Women's Studies.

Honors Program: Students must have a 3.3 for honors, a 3.5 for high honors, and a 3.7 for highest honors. In all cases, the senior thesis must be deemed excellent.

Minor Program

Students in the College of Letters and Science may complete one or more minors of their choice, normally in a field both academically and administratively distinct from their major. To be admitted to the minor in Gender & Women's Studies, students must complete GWS 10. Minors in Gender & Women's Studies must complete five upper division courses as follows: any three of the core courses (GWS 101, 102, 103, 104) plus two electives in Gender & Women's Studies. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for the minor program.

Prerequisites for Nonmajors and Nonminors

Students who are not majoring or minoring in Gender & Women's Studies but wish to take Gender & Women's Studies core courses (101, 102, 103, and 104) must take GWS 10, GWS 20, or their equivalent beforehand.

Undergraduate Student Learning Initiative

All departments on campus have worked collectively with the UC-wide Undergraduate Student Learning Initiative to establish department-specific learning goals as well as means for assessing students' progress in reaching those goals. Such a program enables us to provide concrete information in advance to students considering the major or minor about what skills they will acquire, as well as shared guidelines for students and instructors for what kinds of course pathways involve a specific skills development.

more information

Prerequisites for Nonmajors and Nonminors

Students who are not majoring or minoring in Gender & Women's Studies but wish to take Gender & Women's Studies core courses (101, 102, 103, and 104) must take GWS 10, GWS 20, or their equivalent beforehand.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Studies Minor

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Studies Minor is organized around four core courses: an introductory overview of LGBT culture and history in the U.S.; a visual and literary studies course; a cross-cultural studies course; and a history of sexuality course. In addition to these core courses, students are required to take two electives, which are approved each year by the director and posted online. Teaching is largely done by about 12 ladder-rank faculty.

more information

Graduate Program:
Designated Emphasis in Women, Gender, and Sexuality

Ph.D. students at Berkeley may add a Designated Emphasis in Women, Gender & Sexuality (DEWGS) to their major fields. Designed to enhance interdisciplinary graduate studies at Berkeley, the DEWGS provides curricular and research resources and opportunities to students who are already admitted to graduate degree programs on campus.

more information

Transfer Students

Though you indicated an interest in an L&S major in your application, once at Cal, you will need to declare your major. The first step for declaring the major in Gender & Women's Studies is to complete the prerequisite classes. Transfer students benefit most by meeting the dept's Student Affairs Officer to learn more about the details of the major, including options for internships, study abroad, special research and the GWS student association. Students can declare the major throughout the academic year.

more information

For more detailed information concerning this program,
students should consult the department.