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Students working on computers in the BGSU Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Minor

Cultural and Critical Studies: Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Explore how gender and sexuality shape people’s lives, cultures and communities. The  women’s, gender, and sexuality studies specialization in the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program in cultural and critical studies at Bowling Green State University takes an interdisciplinary approach to studying sex, gender and sexuality.

You’ll examine women’s lives and experiences in local, national and global contexts and explore how gender intersects with race, ethnicity, disability, class, age and sexual orientation. Your coursework will draw on perspectives from fields such as history, sociology, philosophy, psychology and literature.

You’ll study topics such as gender and race, media and popular culture, health, intimate relationships, politics and LGBTQI+ studies. By examining these topics from different perspectives, you’ll develop critical thinking, research, writing and communication skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the social and cultural forces that shape people’s lives.

The School of Cultural and Critical Studies also offers minors in ethnic studies, Latino/a studies, American culture studies, popular culture, folklore, women's studies and sexuality studies.

Why study women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at BGSU in Ohio? 

  • Develop a wide range of perspectives. The flexible, interdisciplinary program of study provides you with a rich liberal arts education. Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies courses cover gender, race and culture, service-learning, research methods and writing. You will learn how to look at the world from different perspectives, think critically, work with diverse populations and tackle large social and political issues.
  • The skills employers are looking for. Develop skills that are highly valued by employers and useful across a wide range of careers. 
    • Build critical thinking skills and learn to analyze diverse sources.
    • Conduct qualitative research.
    • Communicate through public speaking and clear writing.
    • Work with diverse populations.
  • Close-knit community. You’ll take core classes in your junior and senior years with other specializations across the cultural and critical studies major (including popular culture, American culture studies, and ethnic studies). This provides an opportunity to develop a stronger sense of community at BGSU. 
  • Research and connections. Build research, career and professional skills. Each spring, you can showcase your research at the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies research symposium. Throughout the year, attend workshops on interviewing and job skills, career fairs and talks by guest speakers.
  • Get involved. The BGSU women’s, gender, and sexuality studies program has strong ties to local community partners and links to local and global resources. You can gain leadership skills, network and broaden your knowledge by joining groups like:


"My time in the women’s studies program has inspired me to not only be a better person, but a better advocate in an unending fight for equality for all people.” 

Aris Kaleps-Clark, graduate of the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies program

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Public university in the nation for career prep

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Career - what can you do with a women's, gender, and sexuality studies specialization?

Employers are looking for flexible workers that can work with diverse populations in our global economy. The specialization in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies is excellent preparation for a wide range of jobs in today’s workforce that require critical research and creative thinking. 

Graduates of the BGSU program develop excellent communication skills. They can critically examine evidence gathered from various sources and become confident presenters and defenders of their thoughts and findings. 

Most importantly, students gain valuable knowledge about themselves and how they can affect positive change through work in public service organizations, education, advocacy, government, healthcare services, communications, media and private industry.  

Career paths

  • Nonprofit administrator 
  • Lawyer
  • Communications manager
  • Human resource specialist
  • Victims advocate
  • Educator
  • Healthcare worker
  • Counselor
  • Librarian
  • Journalist

Curriculum

The curriculum for the B.A. program in cultural and critical studies with a specialization in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies includes:

  • Cultural and critical studies core and elective courses  
  • Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies specialization courses  
  • Advanced upper division topics courses   
  • Senior capstone   
  • Selection of a minor that supports your career goals and interests

We encourage cultural and critical studies majors to pursue internships. Students often choose internships at nonprofit organizations, community centers, health organizations, government offices and campus resource centers.

Have questions about the program or the curriculum? Contact 419-372-8886 or ccs@bgsu.edu.

Two students looking at books on a table in the library.

Sample courses

  • History of Feminist Thought & Action
  • Contemporary Global Feminism
  • Introduction to LGBTQI+ Studies
  • Cultural Pluralism in the United States
  • Women of Color in the United States
  • Women, Gender, and Health
  • Women and Interpersonal Violence
  • Latinx Gender and Sexuality
  • Intersections of Gender, Race & Culture
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University in Ohio – big or small, public or private – students would choose again

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Frequently asked questions

Is women’s, gender, and sexuality studies a major or a specialization at BGSU?

You may hear students saying they’re majoring in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. But at BGSU, women’s, gender, and sexuality studies is technically a specialization within the cultural and critical studies program. 

This means that the degree you receive at graduation will be a Bachelor of Arts in cultural and critical studies. Think of cultural and critical studies as the broader degree program and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies as the area you choose to focus your studies.

You can also pursue women’s, gender, and sexuality studies as a minor to complement a different major.

What is women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and what will I study?

Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies is an interdisciplinary field. This means that you’ll examine sex, gender and sexuality and how they intersect with race, ethnicity, disability, class, age and sexual orientation. You’ll study women’s lives and experiences in local, global and cross-cultural contexts through perspectives including history, sociology, philosophy, psychology and literature.

Courses explore topics such as gender and race, health, LGBTQI+ studies, interpersonal violence, media and popular culture, politics and intimate relationships.

What skills will I gain?

You’ll develop skills in critical thinking, research, writing, public speaking and analyzing information from diverse sources. You’ll also learn to work with diverse populations and examine complex social and political issues from different perspectives.

What can I do with a women’s, gender, and sexuality studies specialization?

The skills and knowledge you develop can prepare you for careers in public service, education, advocacy, government, healthcare, communications, media and private industry. Career paths include nonprofit administrator, lawyer, communications manager, human resource specialist, victims advocate, educator, healthcare worker, counselor, librarian and journalist.

What kinds of experiences can I have outside the classroom?

You can gain experience through internships with nonprofit organizations, community centers, health organizations, government offices and campus resource centers. The program also hosts workshops, career fairs, guest speakers and a spring research symposium featuring student research. You can also develop leadership and networking skills through community partnerships and groups such as the Finding Your Voice in Social Justice Learning Community and the Institute for the Study of Culture and Society.

BGSU College of Arts and Sciences

The women’s, gender, and sexuality studies specialization of the cultural and critical studies program is offered through the School of Cultural and Critical Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Updated: 10/06/2026 08:48PM