This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2026-2027 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
The Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies at VCU introduces students to new analytical, theoretical and creative frameworks for understanding today’s world. Students work toward positive social change, gaining life-changing insight on addressing social, cultural, economic and political inequities. Graduates can enter any of a broad range of careers, including nonprofits, social services, healthcare, art and media production, publishing, education, government and international development agencies, social justice and law.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
- Students will demonstrate strong critical thinking skills that connect theory to action.
- Students will employ multiple theories informed by intersectionality.
- Students will demonstrate critical engagement with multiple epistemologies and methods of research.
- Students will articulate the ways diverse feminisms converge and diverge in the 21st century.
- Students will articulate contexts for intellectual, academic and artistic activism.
Special requirements
A Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies requires a total of 120 credits with 30 credits in GSWS courses and at least 15 of those credits in upper-level courses. Students may choose a general interdisciplinary program or a health and science concentration.
All students must complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in the College of Humanities and Sciences. All students also must complete core course requirements of GSWS 301, GSWS 393, GSWS 401 and GSWS 493 in addition to the ancillary requirement of GSWS 201.
The general interdisciplinary program requires that students take at least one course in each of the following thematic areas: race, racism and antiracism; art, media, culture and creative expression; methods of social transformation; and systems of power. The remaining credits in the major are electives, but must be GSWS courses or courses crosslisted with GSWS. These electives may include GSWS 391, GSWS 491 and GSWS 492. Note, however, that an independent study is permitted only after the student has an agreement with a supervising faculty member and permission from the major’s adviser.
Degree requirements for Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| GSWS 301 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
| GSWS 393 | Feminist Research and Methods of Inquiry | 3 |
| GSWS 401 | Topical Senior Seminar | 3 |
| GSWS 493 | Internship | 3 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| GSWS art, media, culture and creative expression course (200-400 level) | 3 | |
| GSWS race, racism and anti-racism course (200-400 level) | 3 | |
| GSWS systems of power course (200-400 level) | 3 | |
| • Major electives | ||
| GSWS electives (two of three courses must be upper-level) | 9 | |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| GSWS 201 | Introduction to Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| GSWS 420 | Algorithmic Inequalities: Gender, Race and Power in Big Tech | 3 |
| HUMS 203 | Career Compass | 1 |
| Experiential fine arts 1 | 3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) | 6 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 47 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Courses offered by the School of the Arts
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Perspective areas
Note: A course listed in two different areas may not be used to fulfill both area requirements for the major. Some courses may have prerequisites to meet before enrollment.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Race, racism and anti-racism | ||
| GSWS 291 | Topics in Women's Studies (if topics deal with race, racism and/or anti-racism) | 3 |
| GSWS 309 | Gender and Global Health | 3 |
| GSWS/AFAM/POLI 318 | Politics of Race, Class and Gender | 3 |
| GSWS/POLI 319 | Women and American Politics | 3 |
| GSWS 356 | Open Minds | 3 |
| GSWS 359/ENGL 355 | Black Women Writers | 3 |
| GSWS 360 | Mujerista Ethics | 3 |
| GSWS 361 | Decolonial Feminisms | 3 |
| GSWS/POLI 366 | Women and Global Politics | 3 |
| GSWS/RELS 371 | Women and Gender in Islam | 3 |
| GSWS/CRJS 382 | Gender, Crime and Justice | 3 |
| GSWS 383 | Beyoncé: Music, Race and Fame | 3 |
| GSWS 384 | Queer Nightlife | 3 |
| GSWS/AFAM/HIST 390 | Forced and Coerced Labor in Africa and the Americas | 3 |
| GSWS 391 | Topics in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies (if the topic deals with race, racism and/or anti-racism) | 3 |
| GSWS/DANC 415 | Black Performance Theory | 3 |
| GSWS 450 | Black Feminist Thought | 3 |
| GSWS/ENGL 451 | Narratives of Asian American Sexualities | 3 |
| GSWS 460 | Gender, Sexuality and HIV In African Literature | 3 |
| GSWS 470 | Latine Feminisms | 3 |
| GSWS 491 | Topics in Women's Studies (if the topic deals with race, racism and/or anti-racism) | 3 |
| Art, media, culture and creative expression | ||
| GSWS/ENGL 236 | Women in Literature | 3 |
| GSWS 291 | Topics in Women's Studies (if the course deals with art, media and creative expression) | 3 |
| GSWS 340/HIST 331 | Gender and Sexuality in Europe Since 1700 | 3 |
| GSWS 341/HIST 365 | Gender and Sexuality in America I | 3 |
| GSWS 342/HIST 366 | Gender and Sexuality in America II | 3 |
| GSWS/ENGL 352 | Feminist Literary Theory | 3 |
| GSWS/ENGL 353 | Women's Writing | 3 |
| GSWS/ENGL 354 | Queer Literature: ____ | 3 |
| GSWS 355 | Queer Cinema | 3 |
| GSWS/ENGL 357 | Queer Comics | 3 |
| GSWS 359/ENGL 355 | Black Women Writers | 3 |
| GSWS 360 | Mujerista Ethics | 3 |
| GSWS/RELS 371 | Women and Gender in Islam | 3 |
| GSWS 383 | Beyoncé: Music, Race and Fame | 3 |
| GSWS 384 | Queer Nightlife | 3 |
| GSWS 391 | Topics in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies (when the topic deals with art, media and creative expression) | 3 |
| GSWS/DANC 415 | Black Performance Theory | 3 |
| GSWS 450 | Black Feminist Thought | 3 |
| GSWS/ENGL 451 | Narratives of Asian American Sexualities | 3 |
| GSWS/ENGL/LING 452 | Language and Gender | 3 |
| GSWS 457 | Art and Gender | 3 |
| GSWS 460 | Gender, Sexuality and HIV In African Literature | 3 |
| GSWS 461 | HIV, Memory and Queer Archives | 3 |
| GSWS 470 | Latine Feminisms | 3 |
| GSWS 491 | Topics in Women's Studies (when the topic relates to art, media, culture and creative expression) | 3 |
| Methods of social transformation | ||
| GSWS 202 | Introduction to Trans Studies | 3 |
| GSWS 205 | Introduction to LGBT+ and Queer Studies | 3 |
| GSWS 291 | Topics in Women's Studies (when the topic is focused on methodology, research and/or activism) | 3 |
| GSWS 302 | Trans Theory and Activism | 3 |
| GSWS 356 | Open Minds | 3 |
| GSWS 358 | Sex and Power | 3 |
| GSWS 391 | Topics in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies (when the topic is focused on methodology, research and/or activism) | 3 |
| GSWS 393 | Feminist Research and Methods of Inquiry | 3 |
| GSWS 404 | Activism Practicum Service-learning | 3 |
| GSWS 405 | Activism Practicum in Feminist and Queer Organizing | 3 |
| GSWS 450 | Black Feminist Thought | 3 |
| GSWS 491 | Topics in Women's Studies (when the topic is focused on methodology, research and/or activism) | 3 |
| GSWS 492 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
| GSWS 493 | Internship | 1-3 |
| Systems of power | ||
| GSWS 202 | Introduction to Trans Studies | 3 |
| GSWS 205 | Introduction to LGBT+ and Queer Studies | 3 |
| GSWS 291 | Topics in Women's Studies (when the topic relates to a critique of systems of power) | 3 |
| GSWS/SOCY 304 | Sociology of Families | 3 |
| GSWS/SOCY 305 | Oppression, Resilience and the Black Family | 3 |
| GSWS 309 | Gender and Global Health | 3 |
| GSWS/POLI 316 | Women and the Law | 3 |
| GSWS/POLI 318 | Politics of Race, Class and Gender | 3 |
| or AFAM 318 | Politics of Race, Class and Gender | |
| GSWS/POLI 319 | Women and American Politics | 3 |
| GSWS/SOCY 333 | Gender in Society | 3 |
| GSWS/PSYC 335 | Psychology of Women | 3 |
| GSWS 356 | Open Minds | 3 |
| GSWS/POLI 366 | Women and Global Politics | 3 |
| GSWS/CRJS 382 | Gender, Crime and Justice | 3 |
| GSWS 391 | Topics in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies (when the topic relates to a critique of systems of power) | 3 |
| GSWS 409 | LGBTQ Health and Wellness | 3 |
| GSWS/PSYC 414 | Psychology of Women's Health | 3 |
| GSWS 491 | Topics in Women's Studies (when the topic relates to a critique of systems of power) | 3 |
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| UNIV 101 | Introduction to the University (or open elective) 1 | 1 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education courses | 12 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| GSWS 201 | Introduction to Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| HUMS 203 | Career Compass | 1 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Open electives | 5 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| GSWS 301 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
| GSWS 393 | Feminist Research and Methods of Inquiry | 3 |
| GSWS 420 | Algorithmic Inequalities: Gender, Race and Power in Big Tech | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Foreign language (101 level) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Experiential fine arts 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign language (102 level) | 3 | |
| GSWS art, media, culture and creative expression perspective course (200-400 level) | 3 | |
| GSWS race, racism and anti-racism course (200-400 level) | 3 | |
| Open elective | 2 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| GSWS elective (300-400 level) | 3 | |
| GSWS systems of power perspective course (200-400 level) | 3 | |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| General education course | 3 | |
| GSWS elective (upper level) | 3 | |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| GSWS 401 | Topical Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Open electives | 12 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| GSWS 493 | Internship | 3 |
| GSWS elective (upper-level) | 3 | |
| Open electives | 10 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
Recommended course to apply as open elective; credits currently not included in displayed semester total credit hours. Open elective credits required in later semesters will need to be adjusted accordingly
Courses offered by School of the Arts
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.