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MAJOR IN WOMEN'S STUDIES
Any student (female or male) enrolled at West Virginia University may earn an undergraduate Major In Women's Studies. If University admissions requirements are met, a student may be accepted to WVU as a women's studies major. There is no pre-major code for this program, as students can be accepted into the program as first-year students. Students already enrolled at WVU will need an overall GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) to enter the major.
Majors may choose to join the Eta chapter of Iota Iota Iota, the women's studies honorary, or FEM (Female Equality Movement), a student activist organization that sponsors such events as the annual "Take Back the Night" march to protest violence against women. They may also participate in the Center for Women's Studies' many public events, such as Fireside Chats (informal research presentations) and the annual fall residency for a visiting scholar.
WOMEN’S STUDIES MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:
Students must complete a total of 58 credit hours, maintain a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and earn a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the 9 required hours and an overall 2.0 in all their major courses. Students must complete 30 hours of approved women’s studies courses. Majors must complete all university and college requirements for graduation. These include cluster or GEC requirements, foreign language requirements, fine arts and international studies requirements. For the complete list of university and college requirements, see the appropriate advisor's checklist (below):
Advisor's Checklist for students who entered WVU before August 2005. Advisor's Checklist for students who entered WVU after August 2005. Required Courses (9 hours):
WMST 170 Introduction to Women's Studies (3 hr.)
WMST 330 Feminist Theory (3 hr.)
WMST 494 Seminar (3 hr.) Note: Spring Only Prerequisites for WMST 494 are WMST 170 and 3 electives or instructor's consent.
Elective Courses (21 Hours):
Minimum 12 credit hours of advanced electives (courses numbered at 300 or 400 level) from the current list of approved courses & instructors. Copies of this list are also available in 218 Eiesland Hall.
A maximum of 9 hours of intermediate (100 or 200 level) courses from the list of approved courses & instructors.
No more than 6 hours from one department (WMST courses exempted).
Up to two 3-hour approved courses from student's second major (or minor) may also count toward the major in women's studies.
Six hours of WMST 495 Independent study or WMST 491 Field Experience may substitute for one elective course.
How Do I Enroll In The Major In Women's Studies?
Contact the Center for Women's Studies, 218 Eiesland Hall (304-293-2339) or Dr. Barbara Howe, Director, at 293-2339 x 1155 or via email at barbara.howe@mail.wvu.edu, for an appointment. Check in at least once a semester with the Center to update your progress toward graduation.
What Can I Do With A Major In Women's Studies?
Women's studies majors not only gain an understanding of women's studies as a discipline, but they also gain valuable information literacy skills. These skills are developed across the curriculum and through students' pursuit of their own interests related to women's studies through field experience and independent study opportunities. A degree in women's studies can help you to expand your effectiveness in a wide variety of occupations, or it can open the door to a whole new career path. To learn more about the career opportunities available to women's studies graduates, follow the links on this page.
