Women, Gender, and Sexuality, BA
Women, Gender, and Sexuality (WGS) is a dynamic and cutting-edge program centered on the study of gender and sexuality in human society and designed to prepare students for thoughtful and active participation in their communities and workplaces.
Program Overview
The program in Women, Gender, and Sexuality is designed for UT students who want to expand their worldview while preparing for innovative careers.
WGS faculty members come from Anthropology, Psychology, English, History, Geography, Political Science, Nursing, and other disciplines, creating the perfect home for students who want to explore classes in subjects across the university.
Our graduates attend medical school, earn spots at top law schools and postgraduate programs, work at national nonprofits, teach in various educational contexts, and build careers in diverse fields. We welcome any student who seeks to better understand the world around them.
Concentrations
Our program offers two concentrations that students can choose from to gain in-depth knowledge of women, gender, and sexuality.
Our current selection of concentrations include:
- Women, Gender and Sexuality concentration (general)
- Women’s Health concentration
Minors
If you’re interested in supplementing your primary field of study with knowledge of women, gender, and sexuality, our minors would be a great fit.
Our current selection of minors include:
- Women’s Health minor
- Women, Gender, and Sexuality LGBTQ+ Studies minor
- Women, Gender, and Sexuality minor
Why Study Women, Gender, and Sexuality?
The WGS program provides a dynamic, interdisciplinary approach to understanding how gender and sexuality shape societies, cultures, and institutions.
With courses drawing from history, social sciences, philosophy, psychology, literature, and the arts, students gain critical tools to analyze power structures, challenge assumptions, and drive meaningful change in their communities and careers.
What Can You Do with a BA in Women, Gender, and Sexuality After Graduation?
WGS graduates thrive in a variety of fields, from law and healthcare to advocacy, education, and media. The major’s emphasis on critical thinking, communication, leadership, and social analysis prepares students for success in both established and emerging careers.
Notable Career Paths for WGS Alumni:
- Law & Public Policy: Legal advocacy, human rights law, and gender policy analysis
- Education & Research: University faculty, K-12 education, museum curation, and public history
- Nonprofit & Social Advocacy: Reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights, gender-based violence prevention
- Healthcare & Public Health: Medical ethics, counseling, healthcare administration, patient advocacy
- Media & Communications: Journalism, social media management, marketing, and publishing
- Corporate Leadership & Human Resources: Talent development
WGS graduates have pursued law and medical degrees, earned Fulbright Scholarships, received PhDs, and worked in international NGOs, advocacy organizations, financial servic
Featured Courses
WGS 419 Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Western Philosophy
This class examines how ideas of gender and sexuality influence various aspects of ancient Western philosophy, including metaphysics, ethics, psychology, political philosophy, and theology. By closely reading influential texts, this course will investigate how aspects ancient Western philosophy that may initially seem removed from concerns about gender and sexuality are in fact influenced by them and how these views influenced the philosophies of later intellectual traditions.
GERM 370 Witches: Myth, Reality, and Representation
Traces representations of witches from the Middle Ages to contemporary pop culture. Covers the witch persecutions in central Europe, the politics surrounding the Salem witch trials, stories of witches in 19th-century fairy tales, and representations of witches in popular films and literature today. Aside from covering important moments in the cultural history of central Europe, the class exposes students to the methodologies of critical media studies.
WGS 370 Gender and Globalization
This international and intercultural course examines how economic and political processes affect gender, culture, and society across the globe. Emphasis is placed upon women’s subjectivity and agency in relation to these processes, and upon diverse forms of women’s activism for social change.
WGS 382 Philosophy of Feminism
A philosophical exploration of feminist perspectives on issues related to gender, sex, and sexuality, labor, sexism and racism, intersectionality, colonialism, oppression, and sexual violence.
Complementary Majors, Minors, and Certificates
Looking to enhance your degree? Consider these programs as a complement to your primary major.
- Sociology minor
- Political Science minor
Looking For More Options?
The College of Arts and Sciences offers students the broadest range of academic programs and opportunities for research and creative activities at the University of Tennessee, powered by faculty expertise across every discipline.
Admissions and Aid
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