Women's and Gender Studies

Welcome to the Women’s and Gender Studies program at the University of the Incarnate Word.

 

Women's and Gender Studies (WGS) at UIW is an interdisciplinary concentration that challenges students to recognize, engage and validate the voices of women and other marginalized groups so you can be equipped to understand and influence social ideologies and cultural norms. Women's and Gender Studies examines all aspects of femininity, masculinity and sexuality studies. It fulfills the UIW mission of the Catholic tradition of inquiry that fosters a reverence for the dignity of each human being as one created in the image of God.

Women’s and Gender Studies students learn from award-winning faculty across a broad array of focuses, such as English, Music, History, Religious Studies, Education, Communication Arts and Criminal Justice. Courses help students become enlightened citizens who advance knowledge and the common good. Recent courses have included focuses on Toni Morrison, Chicana Literature, Motherhood Myths in Literature, Diversity in the Media, Women and Faith and American First Ladies. Students explore the history of female activism and how to create social change and justice in communities and grow critical thinking and communication skills.

18 Credit Hours are required for the concentration in Women's and Gender Studies

Required Courses (9 hours):

  • ENGL 3347 Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
  • PHIL 3395 Feminist Philosophy
  • and one of the following courses:
  • PSYC 3355 Psychology of Women
  • ENGL 3340 Women's Writing
  • RELS 3355 God and Human Sexuality

Electives (9 Hours):

Students may take any of the electives above that they have not already taken or select from a variety of courses, such as Women in Business, Women in Media, Behavioral Endocrinology or Human Rights. New and exciting courses are consistently developed to meet the needs of our students and create dialogue about contemporary issues.

Colloquium Requirement

Students must attend and document three WGS-related events.

In addition to offering a variety of classes, the Women’s and Gender Studies program hosts numerous events to raise awareness on campus and in the greater San Antonio community.

Past Events Include

Lectures

  • "Superwomen: Gender, Power and Representation," a lecture about the history and influence of comic book heroines by Eisner-award winning scholar, Carolyn Cocca.
  • "The Sexual Politics of Meat," a presentation by nationally renowned eco-feminist, Carol Adams.

Documentary Screenings

  • The Mask You Live In, a documentary about masculinity in America today
  • Embrace, a documentary about body image

Roundtable Discussions

  • Men and Feminism
  • Latindad in the TV show, Jane the Virgin
  • Romance on Catholic College Campuses/li>

Community Activism Projects

  • The program is an annual sponsor of Take Back the Night.
  • Denim Day, an annual event to raise awareness about sexual assault
  • Equal Pay Day Bake Sale to raise awareness about the gender wage gap

Career Opportunities

A concentration in Women's and Gender Studies deepens students’ critical thinking, analytical, communication and understanding of social structures and inequities, furthering their readiness to work in many different fields. Some of the areas in which university-level education in WGS are particularly beneficial include, social justice, healthcare, journalism, law enforcement, professor or college instruction, public health, psychology, teaching, social work, clergy, business administration, non-profit organizations, crisis centers and social services.