Kansas State University

by T. Dickinson

In spring 2016 the Department of Women’s Studies changed its name to the Department of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies to better represent the the scope of our department. Throughout our history at K-State, Women’s Studies has taught classes that address gender, women, and sexuality, even though the department has focused on women. Since the first Women’s Studies classes were taught at K-State in the mid-1970s, students have learned about how the world works and how people can bring about positive changes in gender and sexuality relations, and women’s lives.

In our classes, we locate gender, women, and sexuality within the context of intersecting hierarchies, which include gender, sexuality, race/ethnicity, class, colonialism, age, (dis)ability and other socially constructed divisions in our historical global society. Courses provide students with the skills to understand and address inequalities as they simultaneously promote a more just, sustainable world through the interdisciplinary study of the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Our department emphasizes preparing students for work in the professions, research and policy positions, and for further professional and academic education.

Our fall 2016 courses are listed as GWSS rather than WOMST. Also beginning in the in fall 2016, our major, minor and graduate certificate will be awarded in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies.

Now is the time to take a look at the major, minor and graduate certificate in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. Also consider a minor in Queer Studies, also offered by our department. The discipline of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies provides an excellent complement to other majors, minors and certificates from all colleges at K-State. When you want to sign up for Women’s Studies in fall 2016, remember to look for the GWSS prefix in the course schedule.