Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) is an interdisciplinary program of study that examines the intricate ways in which gender relations shape the world in which we live. Courses in this program analyze how categories such as race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexual identity intersect and inform our social experiences. This program places emphasis on feminist perspectives for achieving social justice and gender equity. The WGSS minor prepares students for types of employment that emphasize or require strong writing skills, analytical and critical thinking, research skills, reading comprehension, and oral communication.

The minor compliments any major degree, preparing students to work in diverse environments where they serve the public. The Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor is particularly useful for those who will major in: Business Management, Criminal Justice, Dental Hygiene, Engineering, Nursing, Professional Communications, Psychology, Sport Management, and Science, Technology, and Society.

Consisting of 15 credits, students enrolled in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in their qualified WGSS courses.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will show how critical analysis of gender and sexuality contributes to an understanding of the historical and contemporary formations of patriarchy, heteronormativity, and gender normativity.
Students will demonstrate familiarity with major concepts and vocabulary in the fields of Gender and Sexuality Studies
Students will demonstrate a knowledge base about women’s and LGBTQ+ people’s role in history — their contributions, oppression, and resistance.
Students will describe the manner in which race, class, gender, and sexuality intersect.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of women’s and LGBTQ+ people’s experience in historical and cultural contexts, both nationally and globally.
Students will define and describe a range of theories that underlie feminist and queer analysis, understanding their similarities and differences.

About Academic Minors

Farmingdale State College students are invited to enhance their studies with an "Academic Minor." A minor is a cluster of thematically related courses drawn from one or more departments. In addition to department based minors (e.g. computer programming & info systems), interdisciplinary minors are also available (e.g. legal studies).

Academic minors are approved by the College-Wide Curriculum Committee and the Provost. Students must make application for an academic minor through the department offering the minor in conjunction with the Registrar's Office Specific course work must be determined in consultation with a faculty member in the department offering the minor. A statement of successful completion of the academic minor will appear on the student's transcript at the time of graduation.

A minor is considered to be an optional supplement to a student's major program of study.
Completion of a minor is not a graduation requirement and is subject to the availability of the courses selected. However, if the requirements for a minor are not completed prior to certification of graduation in the major, it will be assumed that the minor has been dropped. Consequently, the student will only be certified for graduation in their primary major.
Only students in 4 year baccalaureate programs can apply for a minor.
A minor should consist of 15 to 21 credits.
At least 12 credits must be in courses at the 200 level or higher.
At least 9 credits must be residency credits.
Specific requirements for each minor are determined by the department granting the minor.
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in their minor. Some minors may require a higher GPA.
Students are prohibited from declaring a minor in the same discipline as their major (e.g. one cannot combine an applied math minor with an applied math major). Academic minors may not apply to all curricula.
Students are permitted to double-count courses.
Students are only permitted to take more than one minor with appropriate written approval of their department chair or curriculum Dean.

Admission to Farmingdale State College - State University of New York is based on the qualifications of the applicant without regard to age, sex, marital or military status, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.

Sociology and Anthropology | Dr. Jaime Hartless | | 934-794-5199

Fall 2026

Subject to revision

Required: (6 credits)	credits
SOC 200 Introduction to Women’s Studies*	3
SOC 383 Sex, Gender, and Sexuality	3

Three courses from the following:	(9 credits)
ANT/SOC 240 Gender and Social Change	3
SOC 282 Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies	3
SOC 325 Social Inequality	3
SOC 344 Sociology of the Body	3
SOC 361 Gender Theory	3
EGL 222 Women in Literature	3
EGL 225 Images of Women in Drama	3
EGL 316 Women in Modern American Literature	3
ECO 441 Economics of Gender	3
HIS 160 Exploitation and Sexploitation in World History	3
HIS 222 Women in U.S. History	3
HIS 335 Gender and Technology in Historical Perspective	3
MLG 310 Latin American Women Writers	3
POL 360 Women in Comparative Development	3
PSY 230 Gender Psychology	3
PSY 238 Human Sexuality	3
PSY 307 Psychology of Women	3
RAM 303 Research Experience	3

Curriculum Summary

* Students may substitute SOC 200: Introduction to Women's Studies with SOC 282: Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies. This is subject to approval of the department chair. If this substitution is made, this course will not count towards general elective requirements.

Total Credits: 15