Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies

Overview

Our Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies program at Union College is designed to help students become aware of unexamined assumptions and stereotypes about sexual and gender differences, and how they shape human organizations, institutions and individuals’ lives. Many courses also introduce students to differences of class, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation in a range of societies.

You'll learn in small classes with engaging faculty from at least a dozen different departments, including Chinese, Classics, Economics, English, German, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, and Theater and Dance. You will embrace new ways of thinking as you cross traditional academic boundaries and explore gender issues from multiple perspectives.

Structure:

Start with an introductory course that covers topics in feminist theory and the social construction of gender. Then choose from among more than 160 courses as you analyze the diverse character of the American experience, shaped by gender, race, class, sexuality, geography and ethnicity. These experiences are studied within a context of global economic, cultural and political relations. For instance, you may examine issues in American education, learn about the American musical theater from vaudeville to Broadway, or take a seminar that traces New York City’s rise to become the preeminent American urban center. Your senior year capstone course will focus on any number of fascinating topics, from feminist film to women’s rights in the United States.