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Appalachian State University

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Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies (BA)

About

Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies (GWS) is an interdisciplinary academic field. It critically engages beliefs, attitudes, assumptions and norms about gender, women and sexuality and their intersections with other axes of difference including race, ability, nationality and class. Studying this field equips students with critical analytical skills necessary to understand how power works in national and transnational contexts and to address and offer creative solutions to issues of equity, diversity and social justice in our world today.

Appalachian’s Bachelor of Arts degree in Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies is housed in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. The program has two primary faculty members, yet you’ll be learning from 53 affiliated faculty members representing five colleges and 15 departments on campus.

Besides the BA, Appalachian also offers a Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies minor, a Girls’ Studies minor and an LGBT Studies minor. At the graduate level, there is a 12-hour graduate certificate and a 9-hour graduate minor in Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies.

After Graduation

Employment: GWS majors have pursued careers in law, nursing, education, social work, counseling, victims advocacy, human rights advocacy and business entrepreneurship.

Graduate School: GWS majors also have pursued graduate degrees in GWS and other fields. Internationally, there are more than 900 GWS undergraduate and graduate programs. Programs attended by Appalachian’s GWS students include University of Iowa, UNC-Greensboro, University of Chicago, UNC-Wilmington and Emory University.

Career Exploration website

People

  • Student Profile: Sope Kahn
    Student Profile: Sope Kahn

    Spending a summer teaching collaborative portraiture to people in prison and presenting the link between feminist materialisms and clay at regional women’s studies conferences — these are among just a few of the undergraduate experiences of Sope Kahn.

Courses

  • Program of Study
    Program of Study
  • Four Year Guide
    Four Year Guide

    – click on the pdf for your major

  • NCCC Transfer Four Year Guide
    NCCC Transfer Four Year Guide

Minors

A minor is required. Since questions of gender and sexuality have broad relevance, this degree is complemented by a minor or double major in any field. Advisors work with students to identify minors that best match their interests.

The GWS program offers the following 15-hour minors: a GWS minor, LGBT Studies minor, and Girls’ Studies minor.

View all minors

Engagement Outside the Classroom

Many GWS majors are involved in leadership activities across campus, including leadership in several student clubs and other organizations.

GWS also provides support for internships, study abroad and community engagement.

Global Learning

Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.

GWS students can take a study abroad course led by a GWS affiliate or core faculty member as an elective when the content is relevant. Faculty can help students identify relevant opportunities.

Admission Requirements

There are no admission requirements beyond admission to Appalachian State University.

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Why Appalachian?

  • Students in this program are poised to be transformational leaders in their fields, workplaces and communities.
  • GWS has innovative curricula, student research opportunities, community engagement, internships, study abroad and more.
  • This degree is part of the new Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, which houses two other interdisciplinary degree programs: Global Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies.
  • The GWS major is completed by a required minor.
  • GWS students have an opportunity to complete their senior capstone experience through a course or internship.
  • Formerly named Women’s Studies, the program is the second oldest program in gender studies in North Carolina. The program changed its name to GWS in 2015 in order to better reflect the scope of its curriculum, student interest and faculty research.

Location

Boone and Hickory*

*The Hickory Campus location is pending accreditation from SACSCOC for this program. Accreditation is expected in summer 2023.

Careers

  • Human rights and diversity leadership
  • Advocates for victims of domestic violence and hate crimes
  • Social and human services
  • Business entrepreneurship
  • Director, university women’s center or LGBT center
  • Equity and diversity education leader
  • Professor
  • Student development professional
  • Clergy
  • Public health research and education
  • Nursing
  • Environmental research, activism and sustainability
  • Broadcasting, journalism, news media and new media online
  • Government, public policy, politics, law
  • Science and technology (research, etc.)
  • Artist
  • Publishing (writer, editor, etc.)
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • View more career possibilities

    Contacts

    College of Arts and Sciences

    Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

    Dr. Maria Pramaggiore
    Department Chair
    pramaggioremt@appstate.edu
    828-262-6400

  • Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

    The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies offers degrees in three program areas: global studies; gender, women’s and sexuality studies; and interdisciplinary studies. The department is also home to Watauga Residential College, an interdisciplinary, alternative general education program. The department promotes creative and imaginative engagement through a cross-disciplinary investigation of complex systems and problems.

  • College of Arts and Sciences

    Appalachian’s Largest College

    The College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college spanning the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. The college is dedicated to providing instruction and research essential to the university's mission and seeks to cultivate the habits of inquiry, learning and service among all its constituents.

    By the Numbers

    • 1/3 of the degrees awarded at Appalachian
    • More than 70% of general education courses are taught in the college
    • 93 majors offered
    • 53 minors offered
    • 6,411 undergraduate majors
    • More than 460 full-time faculty members
    • 41,203 living alumni
    • $8,754,800 awarded to the college in external grants during the 2020–21 academic year
    • $236,914 awarded to students through 6 collegewide scholarships and 98 departmental scholarships for the 2020–21 academic year

    Graduate Programs

    Accelerated Master’s program opportunities are available in pursuing a master's degree in 12 selected areas: Appalachian Studies, Biology, Computer Science, Engineering Physics, English, Geography and Planning, History, Mathematics, Romance Languages (French/Spanish), Political Science, Psychology (Experimental Science) and Public Administration. Other master’s degrees, graduate certificates and specialist degrees are listed on Appalachian’s School of Graduate Studies website.

    Top Employment Sectors

    • Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools
    • Federal, State and Local Government
    • Justice, Public Order and Safety Activities
    • Computer Systems Design and Related Services
    • Legal Services
    • Health Care
    • Biotech/Engineering
    • Elementary and Secondary Schools
    • Nonprofit Organizations

Appalachian Cares

It's up to me|us

Appalachian Cares is a place to find resources and support available for our students faculty and staff regarding student health and safety.

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