Gender Studies, Bachelor of Arts
The Gender Studies major explores how gender and sexuality influence constructions of human identity historically and culturally, and how these in turn shape human development, behavior, and the processes of justice. Students in the major will learn to examine gender and sexuality from a broad variety of academic perspectives. As such, they become versatile thinkers with strong skills in critical problem solving, research, data collection, and writing. The Gender Studies major has been designed in the best tradition of liberal arts study: courses are structured to support independent inquiry, ethical reflection, and critical thought, and they culminate in a final research project that enables students to test their skills on a question of their own choosing. Students graduating with a BA in Gender Studies go on to a wide variety of careers and post–graduate study, including the arts, business, education, health care, media, politics, law, public policy and social work.
Credits required. 36
Coordinator. Professor Katie Gentile, Department of Counseling (212.237.8110, kgentile@jjay.cuny.edu)
Additional information. Students who enrolled for the first time at the College or who changed to this major in September of 2014 or thereafter must complete the major in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to the date may choose either the form shown here or the earlier version of the major. A copy of the earlier version may be obtained in the Undergraduate Bulletin 2013-14 on the College website at: http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/college-bulletins.
Part One. Historical and Theoretical Foundations
Required
Total Credit Hours: 12
Part Two. Critical Methods
Required
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Three. Research Methods
Choose one
| HJS 315 | Research Methods in Humanities and Justice Studies | 3 |
| SSC 325 | Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Four. Senior Seminar
Required
| GEN 401 | Senior Seminar in Gender Studies | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Five. Gender Studies Area Electives
Students select five electives from Gender Studies-designated courses and may substitute a semester-long internship in a gender-related field or an approved Independent Study with a GS faculty (GEN 389 or GEN 489) for one elective. To ensure that students are exposed to significant and significantly different approaches to thinking about gender and sexuality, students must take at least one course in each of the following categories:
Category A. Diversities of Genders and Sexualities
These courses focus on non–dominant U.S. constructions of gender and sexuality internationally and among diverse communities and cultures in the United States. Recognizing that gender and sexuality are defined as much by their positioning within global political, social and economic systems as by their individual racial, ethnic, religious, class or sexual identity, this cluster offers a comparative look at both the individual and the global aspects of gender and sexuality. Courses that satisfy this requirement will examine the diversity of histories, experiences and cultures within the United States or internationally.
Choose at least one
| AFR 248 | Men: Masculinities in the United States | 3 |
| COR 320 | Race, Class and Gender in a Correctional Context | 3 |
| GEN 356/HIS 356 | Sexuality, Gender, and Culture in Muslim Societies | 3 |
| GEN 380 | Selected Topics in Gender Studies | 3 |
| HIS 270 | Marriage in Medieval Europe | 3 |
| HIS 375 | Female Felons in the Premodern World | 3 |
| LLS 255 | The Latin American Woman in Global Society | 3 |
| LLS 265/HIS 265 | Class, Race and Family in Latin American History | 3 |
Category B. Cultural Representations of Genders and Sexualities
These courses focus on the study of art, media, literature and cultural production both as sites of theoretical and political work about gender and sexuality and as sources of the construction and representation of gendered/sexed identities. Courses that satisfy this requirement will examine forms of expression and representation, such as literature, art, philosophy, theory, and cinema, as constitutive and contested arenas of sexuality and gender.
Choose at least one
| ART 222 | Body Politics and Art in Global and Historical Perspective | 3 |
| ART 224/AFR 224 | African-American Women in Art | 3 |
| DRA 243 | Black Female Sexuality in Film | 3 |
| DRA 245 | Women in Theatre | 3 |
| LIT 316 | Gender and Identity in Literary Traditions | 3 |
Category C. Institutional Systems of Genders and Sexualities
These courses address the construction of gender and sexuality within the legal, economic and social structures of our society. They look at the very pragmatic ways that societies both reinforce and undermine gender and sexuality through their policies and social practices. Courses that satisfy this requirement will investigate historical or contemporary gender and sexuality within law, sociology, economics, government, criminology and psychology.
Choose at least one
CSL 260: Formerly CSL 360.
Students should consult with the Gender Studies Major Coordinator to ensure adequate coverage.
In addition to the regularly offered electives listed above, a number of unique electives that count toward the major will be offered each semester. The Director of the Gender Studies Program will compile a list each semester and disperse it amongst Gender Studies majors and minors.
Total Credit Hours: 15
Total Credit Hours: 36