An interdisciplinary and intersectional lens

The Gender and Sexuality Studies major is designed for students drawn to the interdisciplinary study of gender and sexuality. In exploring how gender and sexuality have operated across time and cultures, students will engage with the approaches and methodologies of established disciplines: sociology, literature, history, political theory, religion; as well as interdisciplinary fields like queer studies and ethnic studies. Our curriculum analyzes how gender and sexuality operate in politics, popular culture, the workplace, health, science, sports, intimate life and the very production of knowledge itself. Our classes emphasize that gender and sexuality are not stand-alone categories but rather take shape through their intersection with outer relations of power, including race and ethnicity, religion, class and nationality. Majoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies prepares students for graduate school in the social sciences and the humanities as well as in law, business and education. In addition, the major and each of our several minors prepare students for work in governmental and non-governmental organizations, communications and the media, arts and public service.

Requirements

A total of 40 units are required to complete the major in Gender and Sexuality Studies (usually 10 4-unit courses).

  • Choose one of the following 4-unit courses to fill the lower-division requirement.

    • SWMS 210gmw: Social Analysis of Gender (also fills GE-C and GE-G), OR
    • SWMS 212gp: Introduction to Gender and Sexuality: American Perspectives (also fills GE-B and GE-H), OR
    • SWMS 215gw: Introduction to Gender and Sexuality: International Perspectives (also fills GE-B and GE-G)

    AND

    Choose one of the following 4-unit courses to fill the lower-division requirement.

    • SWMS 219gp: Introduction to Feminist Theory (also fills GE-B and GE-H) OR
    • SWMS 221g: Introduction to Queer Theory (also fills GE-B)
    • SWMS 308: Advanced Gender Theory
    • SWMS 311: Gender and Sexuality Studies Internship (4 units required for majors)
    • SWMS 392: Junior Seminar in Gender and Sexuality Studies
    • SWMS 410: Senior Seminar in Gender and Sexuality Studies

  • Gender and Sexuality Studies is an interdisciplinary major. This means that many courses that count for credit towards the Gender and Sexuality Studies major are cross-listed with other departments.

    Over 20 courses are officially cross-listed with Gender and Sexuality Studies, plus additional Gender and Sexuality Studies (SWMS) upper-division courses (not including the courses listed above). There are many options for students who want to study gender and sexuality in diverse contexts. For more information about all of these course options, please see the Gender and Sexuality Studies section in the online USC Catalogue.

  • The Gender and Sexuality Studies Department offers a two-semester honors program in which qualified majors spend their first semester in an honors track in an upper-division seminar, usually SWMS 410: Senior Seminar in Gender and Sexuality Studies. During the second semester, honors students are required to take SWMS 492: Honors Thesis, in which each completes a thesis project on a topic of their choosing under faculty direction. Contact the department for further information.

Prerequisite Waiver Form