Women's Studies

Women's Studies Undergraduate Minor

About the Women's Studies Minor

Develop a greater respect for diverse populations - and understand yourself better, too.

Reconsider your assumptions about women, men and gender as you enhance your degree with a minor in women's studies from PennWest California.

This 21-credit minor program gives you a framework for examining your experiences and identity within the context of individual, family, national and global systems.

The women's studies curriculum encourages you to analyze the complex intersections of individual and cultural factors, such as gender, sex, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, age, religion and ability. You will examine how these factors relate to power, oppression and social justice, and affect:

  • Intimate relationships.
  • Family responsibilities.
  • Paid work and unpaid work experiences.

Think deeply about issues that shape your view of the world.

PennWest California students in the women's studies program engage with interesting and timely topics. They explore factual information and then consider how it influences their views of life, love, women, men, media, politics, healthcare and much more.

These topics are both intriguing and invigorating, students say. The women's studies curriculum also requires students to reflect, personally and professionally, on what they have learned through their formal education and social/cultural experiences. This makes the women's studies minor a meaningful addition to any academic major.  

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Women's Studies Minor

Career-focused skills: Students in the women' studies program hone their skills in critical analysis and develop the thinking, writing and speaking skills essential to high performance in any career field. Most students who take women's studies courses, especially those who complete the minor, report that they've learned a great deal and enjoyed their classes. In fact, many students say these classes should be required for all students.

Growth opportunities: Women's studies minors have first access to personal and professional development activities, including a three-day Design Your Life retreat and a weeklong off-campus women's leadership conference. Students also have many opportunities outside of class to engage in activism and, as Gandhi said, "be the change you wish to see in the world."

Learn about applying

21 
Number of credits required for a women's studies minor at PennWest California.
Top 3 
Pittsburgh is one of the locations with the highest concentration of women's studies graduates. Others are Ann Arbor, Mich., and Madison, Wis. SOURCE: www.dataisa.io
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Benefits of the Minor

Students who take courses in women's studies are better prepared to work with colleagues and clients from diverse backgrounds. Employers often prioritize hiring candidates who appreciate and respect diversity and who can work successfully with diverse populations. Students can complete the minor on campus or online.

 
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Graduate Outcomes

Students in the women's studies minor gain a fresh perspective on leadership and negotiation, developing the confidence to negotiate for higher salaries throughout their careers. Program graduates are employed in roles such as: Administrators in human services and human rights organizations. Social workers and victim advocates. Business owners and union organizers. Communications and public relations professionals. Nurses, public health educators and health clinic coordinators. Teachers, professors and librarians.

 
Women's Studies Minor in Women's Studies
A PennWest California student poses for a photo during an internship.

Raise your awareness

Grow in understanding and awareness as you learn about the experiences of groups not often highlighted in traditional curricula. Through increased knowledge, new perspectives and self-reflection, you'll come to know yourself better, too. 

A female student shakes hands during an interview.

Added value

A minor in women's studies can add to your college experience and help your resume stand out. It demonstrates your interest in people whose background and ideas may be different from your own, as well as your respect for diverse populations.

Women's Studies Courses

Curriculum

Course Credits
Required Courses 6
WST 200  Intro to Women's Studies 3
WST 400  Capstone: Advanced Women’s Studies 3
   
Women's Experience Electives
(Select two courses from the following)
6
ANT 300  Cultural Views of Women 3
ENG 127  Woman as Hero 3
ENG 315  Survey American Women Writers 3
HIS 309  Gender in Latin America 3
HIS 312  Women in Europe  3
HIS 325  History of American Women 3
NUR 101  Women’s Health Issues 3
PSY 311  Psychology of Gender Roles 3
SOC 290  Gender and Work 3
SOC 320  International Women’s Movement 3
WST 300  Selected Topics 3
WST 320  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Studies 3
WST 330  Exam Gender, Race, Sexuality and Class in Visual Media 3
WST 340  International Violence: Focused on Women 3
WST 430  Women’s Studies Internship  3
   
Women's Studies Electives
(Select three courses from the following)
9
ANT 300  Cultural Views of Women
3
ANT 329  Anthropology Internship 3
ECE 319  Parent and Community Involvement in Education  3
ECE 405  Early Childhood Education Seminar  3
EDU 310  Teaching Multicultural Society 3
ENG 112  Myth, Magic and Mysticism 3
ENG 127  Woman as Hero 3
ENG 315  Survey of American Women Writers 3
GTY 200  Aging in American Society 3
GTY 300  Aging Policies and Services 3
GTY 310  Aging in the Family 3
GTY 330  Dying, Death and Bereavement 3
GTY 340  Diversity in Aging 3
HIS 309  Gender in Latin America 3
HIS 312  Women in Europe 3
HIS 317  African-American History to 1877 3
HIS 318  African-American History since 1877 3
HIS 325  Women in U.S. History 3
HIS 347  Race and Ethnicity in U.S. 3
HIS 352  Native American History to 1850 3
HIS 353  Native American History from 1850 3
HIS 366  History of Modern Latin America 3
HIS 422  History of the Antebellum South 3
HIS 445  Social History 3
JUS 215  Victimology 3
JUS 399  Selected Topics (with WST director's approval) 3
PHI 225  Social/Political Philosophy 3
POS 322  Politics of the Middle East 3
POS 323  Politics of Latin America 3
POS 325  Politics of Asia 3
POS 326  Politics of Africa 3
PSY 311  Psychology of Gender Roles 3
PSY 424  Capstone (with WST director's approval) 3
PSY 425  Project (with WST director's approval) 3
SOC 205  Contemporary Social Problems 3
SOC 210  Social Stratification 3
SOC 290  Gender and Work 3
SOC 315  Social Minorities 3
SOC 320  International Women's Movements 3
SOC 325  The Family 3
SOC 377  Modern Freedom Movements 3
SOC 410  Social Theory and Society 3
SOW 303  Human Sex and Society 3
SOW 308  Diversity in a Changing World 3
SOW 340  Poverty/Related Social Problems 3
SOW 495  Seminar in Special Topics (with WST director's approval) 3
WST 300  Selected Topics in Women's Studies 3
WST 320  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Studies 3
WST 330  Examining Gender, Race, Sexuality and Class in Visual Media 3
WST 340  International Violence: Focused on Women 3
WST 430  Internship in Women's Studies 3
   
Total 21

Program Notes: 9 credits must be in 300- and 400-level courses.