Program Details
Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies, Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of ArtsVirginia Commonwealth University
Transfer Guides are designed to maximize transfer credit as students complete their associate degree at the community college before transferring to the bachelor's degree program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college. The following Transfer Guide(s), applicable to this program, are available in the Resource Center. If there is a program-specific Transfer Guide and a general or general studies Transfer Guide, you are advised to follow the program-specific Transfer Guide. Please see your community college advisor for assistance in selecting the best pathway.
With a Bachelor of Arts in GSWS from VCU, you’ll be introduced to new analytical, theoretical and creative frameworks for understanding today’s world. You’ll work toward positive social change, gaining life-changing insight on addressing social, cultural, economic and political inequities. When you graduate, you can enter any of a broad range of careers, including nonprofits, social services, healthcare, art and media production, publishing, education, government and international development agencies, social justice and law.
Outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following: Students will demonstrate strong critical thinking skills that connect theory to action. Students will employ multiple theories informed by intersectionality. Students will demonstrate critical engagement with multiple epistemologies and methods of research. Students will articulate the ways diverse feminisms converge and diverge in the 21st century. Students will articulate contexts for intellectual, academic and artistic activism.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | This degree program is an excellent choice if you want to sharpen your critical thinking and communication skills. Because our degree program is interdisciplinary, courses in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies range from focusing on Arts and Humanities to social and political sciences and health. You can expect to get a well-rounded education that will position you for work in all types of fields. Our faculty pride ourselves on being innovative in the classroom, so our courses feature hands on experience alongside more traditional modes of study. |
| Program Requirement Notes | Program Requirement Notes A Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies requires a total of 120 credits with 30 credits in GSWS courses and at least 15 of those credits in upper-level courses. Students may choose a general interdisciplinary program or a health and science concentration. All students must complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in the College of Humanities and Sciences. All students also must complete core course requirements of GSWS 301, GSWS 401 and GSWS 493 in addition to the ancillary requirement of GSWS 201. The general interdisciplinary program requires that students take at least one course in each of the following thematic areas: race, racism and antiracism; art, media, culture and creative expression; methods of social transformation; and systems of power. The remaining credits in the major are electives, but must be GSWS courses or courses crosslisted with GSWS. These electives may include GSWS 391, GSWS 491 and GSWS 492. Note, however, that an independent study is permitted only after the student has an agreement with a supervising faculty member and permission from the major’s adviser. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Complete courses that are equivalent to VCU's general education requirements. If your school has an Intro to Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies, please also take that course. If it doesn't, do not worry. There is plenty of time to complete all GSWS degree requirements in two years!
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies majors can select one of two concentrations. The first is a general interdisciplinary concentration and the second is a Health, Society and Justice concentration. The GSWS degree is an excellent standalone degree and it also is great alongside other degree programs as a second major. It is really easy to have GSWS as a second major and to graduate programs and employers, this looks really good because it demonstrates that you know how to analyze social problems and come up with concrete solutions, you are sensitive to issues of diversity, equity and justice and you are an excellent communicator. Additionally, the Health concentration is an excellent major for people going into health-related fields (medicine, nursing, physical therapy, midwife/doula, etc.) because alongside required science and math courses, the GSWS courses show one is well-rounded, aware of how diverse populations interface with medical/health systems, and knows how to advocate for equity and justice in the medical/health sphere. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | GSWS majors all are placed in internships, many of which lead to full time work after graduation. Additionally, our graduates have incredibly diverse career paths, from business and human resources to clothing design and the arts; from medical and law school to creative writing and social work. Because students are at the center of what we do in GSWS, we focus on the one-on-one experience of our students to ensure success during and beyond their time at VCU. |
Program Credit Requirements
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Virginia Commonwealth University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Students who earn an Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts & Sciences, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science, General Education Certificate, or Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System, Richard Bland College, or the College of Southern Maryland may be eligible to participate in the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. Students with one of these degrees may also be eligible to have the majority of their general education requirements waived. Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | VCU accepts a variety of types of credit for prior learning, including but not limited to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), military experience, Cambridge, and industry certifications that are recommended for credit by the American Council on Education or the National College Credit Recommendation Service. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | VCU is a large, research-driven institution nestled on two campuses in downtown Richmond, Virginia, offering a vast array of degree programs from arts to dental hygiene to engineering to education. VCU students have access to hundreds of student organizations, which is a great way to connect with others whether or not you choose to live in one of our many on-campus residence halls. Take advantage of VCU's location with access to the James River and its park system, internship and job opportunities, community engagement, and interstates to travel to the beach, the mountains, and Washington, D.C.. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | https://admissions.vcu.edu/apply-to-vcu/undergraduate/transfer/ |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William & Mary | Gender/Sexuality & Womens Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies - Bachelor of Arts | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-1062.00 | Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
Cost To Complete