COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) at San José State University requires a total of 120 units and provides an interdisciplinary education focused on feminist theory, social justice, and the study of gender and sexuality in relation to race, class, nationality, and other social structures. The program combines general education, major coursework, and a large portion of electives or a minor, allowing students flexibility to shape their academic experience while engaging deeply with critical social issues.The degree includes 25 units of Core Lower Division General Education, with some units potentially satisfied through major coursework, and 6 units of American Institutions requirements, which may partially overlap with GE Area 3B courses. Upper Division General Education consists of 3 units, with additional units potentially fulfilled through major coursework in upper-division areas. Students are also required to complete 2 units of Physical Education. The Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) is fulfilled through SOCI 100W. University electives or a minor account for a significant portion of the degree, totaling 45 units, allowing students to explore related disciplines or broaden their academic focus.The major requirements total 39 units and include core courses, advanced thematic courses, and electives. Core courses introduce foundational concepts in women, gender, and sexuality studies, including topics such as women of color in the United States, qualitative research methods, global feminist perspectives, and the relationships between sex, power, and politics. Students then complete additional coursework exploring themes such as global political economy, reproduction, trans studies, queer theory, sexuality, feminism, and religion. These courses provide a broad understanding of how gender and sexuality shape social systems and lived experiences across different contexts.Students also complete 9 units of major electives, selecting from a variety of sociology and WGSS-related courses such as family sociology, LGBTQ+ studies, masculinity studies, psychology of women, feminist philosophy, and internships or independent studies. This flexibility allows students to tailor their studies to specific interests and career goals. Overall, the WGSS program integrates critical theory and experiential learning to prepare students for careers in advocacy, education, social services, policy, and community-based work focused on equity and social justice.