Gender Studies Minor

The interdisciplinary Gender Studies Minor offers students an excellent chance to achieve a better understanding of concepts of gender, ideologies surrounding them, and their impact. A student who minors in Gender Studies can expect:

To achieve a basic knowledge of the issues and theories of gender implied and/or addressed in areas such as literature, history, politics, social structures, religion, music and art.
To practice and improve upon critical-thinking skills, research skills, and analytical skills.
To increase awareness of gender concepts and their effects.
To increase ability to function and succeed in an increasingly diverse society and workforce.

Gender Study Advisors

Dahlonega: Erin Bush

Gainesville: Johanna Luthman

In addition to coursework, Gender Studies minors must present to the Gender Studies advisor a research paper or, in the case of art and similar courses in which it is more appropriate, a project that focuses on gender from any of the gender studies coursework.

In our world of constant contacts and interactions, all influenced in some way by gender, presentations, interpretations, and relationships of gender, students with a knowledge of Gender Studies are more competitive in the job market because employers need people who understand these complex dynamics. A minor in Gender Studies enhances students’ preparation for careers in business, healthcare, international affairs, law, mental health, politics and government, arts, and music.

In addition to the courses available for Gender Studies, students can also ask professors whether the work in a particular course may be counted toward their Gender Studies Minor. With a bit of planning this can often be done.

Curriculum

15 credit hours required

A minimum of 9 hours must be from upper-level courses. Courses included in the Gender Studies Minor are available in the online Undergraduate Catalog.

The Gender Studies Minor: Minor Requirements document is a useful resource when working toward the Gender Studies Minor.

Some approved elective courses have titles that do not indicate a specific gender focus. In these courses, when there is a major research paper or project, the instructor and student shall ensure that the student's work focuses on gender.

In addition to coursework, Gender Studies minors must present to the Gender Studies advisor a research paper that focuses on gender from any of the Gender Studies coursework.

Students will complete 15 hours of coursework in gender studies, beginning with the "Introduction to Gender Studies" course, GNST/ENGL/HIST 2140. At least 9 of these minor credits must be upper-level coursework either listed below or approved by the Gender Studies Council. The student may apply up to two independent-study courses. Independent-study courses, once designed by the student and the course instructor, must be approved by the minor advisor in order to count toward the minor. As a final requirement of the minor, students will present to their advisor a major project (including a bibliography) completed in any upper-level gender-studies course (including independent-study courses or advisor-approved courses). Students will obtain minor-advisor approval for the final project at least one semester before the advisor signs off on the minor plan of study.

Rules
Concerning the "select 12 credits" section of the minor requirements:

Students may enroll in any course listed in the online catalog listing and have it count automatically towards the minor.

However, only one course can be at the 2000 level; three of the courses must be at the 3000 or 4000 level in order to complete the minor.

A student may upgrade a course not listed in the electives list to count as part of the Gender Studies minor, contingent on several things.

First, the course content must be at least 33-percent gender-related.

Second, the student’s major project for the course must be gender-related.

Third, the instructor of record must agree to the upgrade.

In order to upgrade a course:

First, the student must meet with the Gender Studies adviser to fill out the upgrade form. The form is located on the Gender Studies team site.

The student will obtain the instructor of record’s signature and return the form to the Gender Studies adviser.