Course Requirements for GSWS Major
Three core courses — 9 credits
These 3 foundational courses should be completed early in a student’s academic program:
- GSWS 0100 Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies
- GSWS 0500 Introduction to Feminist Theory
- GSWS 0550 Sex and Sexualities
Two Elective Courses — 6 credits
At least one elective course must come from Group A:
Group A: GSWS Courses
GSWS 0210 Wired Women
GSWS 0220 Contemporary Issues and Arguments
GSWS 0300 Special Topics in GSWS
GSWS 0350 Global LGBTQ Literature
Group B: Cross-listed courses
Any course officially cross-listed with GSWS counts; check course offerings each semester for other options marked by the GSWS attribute: www.courses.as.pitt.edu.
A sampling of cross-listed courses:
AFRCNA 0454 Man/Women in Literature
ANTH 0768 Human Sexuality in Cross Cultural Perspective
ENGCMP 0203 Seminar in Composition: Gender Studies
ENGLIT 0610 Women and Literature
ENGLIT 0630 Sexuality and Representation
FR 0012 French Kiss
PSY 0184 Psychology of Gender
SOC 0436 Social Aspects of Sexuality
SOC 0446 Sociology of Gender
GSWS 1140 Study Abroad: Pitt in China, Pitt in London, etc.
GSWS 1900 Internship (requires Junior/Senior standing)
Note: Students may fulfill the elective course requirement by taking one or more additional GSWS upper-level courses (1000-level).
Four Upper-Level Courses — 12 Credits
Choose two courses from each group:
Group A: Upper-Level GSWS Seminars
Any 1000-level officially cross-listed with GSWS counts; check course offerings each semester for other options: www.courses.as.pitt.edu.
A sampling of cross-listed courses:
1 Capstone Seminar — 3 Credits
Additional Information:
If you have identified a course with a focus on women, gender, or sexuality that is NOT officially cross-listed, you may consult the GSWS Studies Undergraduate Advisor about whether you could petition to have the course counted towards a requirement of the major.
Either GSWS 1900 (Internship) Or GSWS 1901 Independent Study may be used to meet an elective requirement, but in this case, the two other courses must each be in different departments.
GSWS 1900: GSWS Internship provides students the opportunity to extend their academic training beyond the classroom. For more information about possible sites, please make an appointment with the GSWS Undergraduate Advisor. A proposal outlining the purpose of the internship and its relevance to GSWS is required. To be eligible for an internship, students:
- Must have completed 60 credits and be in good academic standing
- Must have completed at least 4 courses toward the major
- Must identify an internship that aligns with the student's academic preparation
- Must receive special permission from the GSWS Undergraduate Advisor.
GSWS 1901: Independent Study provides students the opportunity to pursue an area of special interest beyond what is offered in the regular curriculum. A proposal outlining the purpose of the study, the relevance to gender, sexuality, or women's studies, and a plan of study including bibliography and course products (papers, annotated bibliography, film presentation, etc.) must be approved by a professor who agrees to supervise the work. The proposal must be submitted to—and approved by—the GSWS Undergraduate Advisor prior to registering for the course. In order to be approved for an independent study, students must already have taken at least two courses in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies and two courses in a discipline appropriate to the independent study.
Students may count no more than 3 GSWS credits in an online or hybrid format (with the exception of Flex@Pitt courses). Students may have an additional 3 credits in an online or hybrid format from another department or program.
Dietrich School Requirements
- Writing (W) requirement: Students must complete at least one writing-intensive (W) course in the major.
- Related area: A minimum of 12 credits is required in any one Dietrich School department or in a thematic cluster chosen in consultation with the major advisor. The completion of an official Dietrich School minor or a Dietrich School or UCIS certificate also satisfies this requirement.
- Grade requirement: A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in those courses that count toward the major. Students must also have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all GSWS courses.
- Overlapping credits: Students may count no more than six of the credits required for this major toward another major, a minor, or a certificate.