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Gender is a fundamental aspect of personal and social identity and is a biological, psychological, and cultural category of paramount importance for people everywhere. In addition, gender is often a criterion for social stratification and different political treatment, as well as a favored symbol for expressing values and beliefs. Gender studies offers students an opportunity for focused study of such varied issues, in both contemporary and past societies, as human reproduction, gender roles in the family and society, the psychology of identity, sexual orientation, and representations of women and men in literature, culture, music, and art.

Students who major in gender studies will be able to describe scholarly debates over definitions of gender and explain the culturally constructed nature of gender. They will articulate a variety of disciplinary perspectives on gender, demonstrate familiarity with a range of theoretical models and methods in gender studies, and apply one or more of these to an original scholarly inquiry, a community or activist initiative, or creative project.

The major in gender studies requires:

1. Two core courses:
   1. GEST 100 Introduction to Gender Studies
   2. GEST 240 Methods in Gender Studies
2. Either GEST 300 Queer Theory or GEST 301 Intersectional Feminist Theories
3. One course from ANTH/HIST category (GEST 110: Gender and Feminism in Historical Perspective or GEST 350: Anthropology of Gender)
4. One course from PSYC/BIOL category (GEST 180: The Biology of Human Reproduction or GEST 270: The Psychology of Gender)
5. Five additional 6-unit courses in (or cross-listed with) GEST; at least one must be at level 400 or above. A 600-level capstone course may count toward one of these five
6. A 600-level senior capstone project OR large project in a comparable course as a Senior Experience
   
   No more than 6 units of independent study may be substituted for one course

Students majoring in gender studies will enroll in a Senior Experience that is approved by the Gender Studies Advisory Committee and mentored by a Gender Studies faculty member.

The Senior Experience will be at least one term, but may be more depending on the route the student pursues. The experience may be an independent study, an internship/practicum accompanied by an independent study, or an approved project in an advanced course. The Senior Experience will culminate in a senior thesis about the project, and an oral presentation of the student's work. A variety of artistic or research projects, interdisciplinary projects, and projects based on social service or activist initiatives may be appropriate Senior Experiences, but must be approved in consultation with the student's advisor and the Advisory Committee.

Students interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary capstone that integrates their interests in gender studies with another major or student teaching are strongly encouraged to consult with their advisors and relevant department chairs to plan and negotiate their overall Senior Experience as early as possible.

1. Two core courses:
   1. GEST 100 Introduction to Gender Studies
   2. GEST 240 Methods in Gender Studies
2. Either GEST 300 Queer Theory or GEST 301 Intersectional Feminist Theories
3. Three additional 6-unit courses  in (or cross-listed with) GEST:
   1. At least two of the courses must be 200-level or above
   2. Six units of independent study may be substituted for one course

Courses cross-listed in gender studies will count toward completion of the minor whether students register for them using the program's designation (GEST) or an individual department's designation.