Major Requirements | Minor and other Options
REQUIREMENTS FOR A GENDER, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY MAJOR AT PENN
Major in Gender, Culture, and Society (GSOC)
The newly configured major in Gender, Culture, and Society (GSOC), offers exciting opportunities to explore the role of gender in human culture. The new major provides opportunities to focus on women and on feminist theory, gender and sexuality, and gender and health. Students can also take a more international and transnational perspective on contemporary global issues including the possibilities and problems associated with economic and cultural globalization, migration, diaspora, and religious fundamentalism.
For Penn undergraduates, the Women's Studies Program offers several academic options. Students may:
- enroll in individual courses for personal enrichment;
- major in Gender, Culture, and Society;
- minor in Gender, Culture, and Society;
- double major in Gender, Culture, and Society and in another program (i.e., Sociology and Gender, Culture, and Society;
- take dual degrees (i.e., The Wharton School and Gender, Culture, and Society through SAS; Nursing School and Gender, Culture, and Society through SAS).
The Gender, Culture, and Society major includes four concentrations:
- Women's Studies
- Sexuality Studies
- Global Gender Studies
- Gender and Health
Within these concentrations, majors may choose an interdisciplinary theme. For example, in the Women’s Studies concentration, students may choose themes such as "Women and Literature,” "Women’s History,” and "Feminist Theory.”
Requirements for the Major - 13 c.u.’s
1 c.u.- A theory
course
1 c.u.- A methods course
2 c.u.’s for a senior thesis
5 interdisciplinary courses in the student’s field of concentration
3 courses related to gender, all from one academic field
1 free c.u.
Requirements for the Minor
6 c.u.’s, including one introductory course and one theory course in the student’s area of concentration
Examples of courses that would satisfy requirements for the four concentrations (where appropriate, courses can be counted for more than one concentration):
Sexuality Studies
1. GSOC-002 Gender and Society
2. GSOC-096 Theories of Gender and Sexuality
3. GSOC-104 Sociology of Sex: Comparative Approaches
4. GSOC-149 Law and Social Policy on Sexuality and Reproduction
5. GSOC-186 Gender and Sexuality in Japan
6. GSOC-187 Possessing Women
7. GSOC-236 Gender and the Body
8. GSOC-242 Science of Sex and Sexuality
9. GSOC-252 Freud
10. GSOC-270 Folklore and Sexuality
11. GSOC-390 Gender and Sexuality in Literature
12. GSOC-422 History of Sexuality
Gender & Health
1. GSOC-002 Gender and Society
2. GSOC-008 Human Reproduction and Sexual Differences
3. GSOC-108 Women & Health in South Asia
4. GSOC-235 Psychology of Women
5. GSOC-236 Gender and the Body
6. GSOC-252 Freud
7. GSOC-254 Gender and War: Contemporary Fronts
8. GSOC-265 Human Reproduction
9. GSOC-325 Women and Health
10. GSOC-330 Gender and Science
11. GSOC-344 Psychology of Personal Growth
12. GSOC-447 Human Reproductive Ecology
Global Gender Studies
1. GSOC-112 India’s Working Women
2. GSOC-161 Feminism in the Americas
3. GSOC-186 Gender and Sexuality in Japan
4. GSOC-212 Exquisite Encounters: Women, Colonialism
and Exoticism
5. GSOC-222 Gender in Modern South Asia
6. GSOC-254 Gender and War: Contemporary Fronts
7. GSOC-268 Women and Human Rights in Africa
8. GSOC-282 Globalization from a Gender Perspective
9. GSOC-294 Reading Global Feminist Theory
10. GSOC-307 Gender in Latin America
11. GSOC-397 Women in Korea
12. GSOC-418 Iranian Cinema: Gender, Politics and Religion
Women’s Studies
1. GSOC-028 Feminist Philosophy
2. GSOC-090 Topics in Women & Literature
3. GSOC-109 Women and Religion
4. GSOC-110 Writing about Gender
5. GSOC-122 Sociology of Gender
6. GSOC-187 Possessing Women
7. GSOC-228 Women in Film
8. GSOC-279 Women in Theatre
9. GSOC-280 Feminist Political Thought
10. GSOC-320 Contemporary Feminist Thought
11. GSOC-346 Women in American History
12. GSOC-431 Women and Political Activism
Registration for Courses
Undergraduates may register for almost all courses in Gender, Culture, and Society through the standard registration process. Most courses are cross-listed with departments of the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) at Penn.
Undergraduate juniors and seniors who wish to enroll in a graduate level course should contact the specific graduate department or professional school for any restrictions that may pertain. Graduate level courses are generally indicated by a number above 500.
OTHER ACADEMIC OPTIONS IN THE WOMEN'S STUDIES PROGRAM AT PENN
The Minor in Gender, Culture & Society
Candidates for a minor should select six courses from the program's listings. One of these courses must be either GSOC 002 or GSOC 320. The remaining courses should be selected in consultation with the undergraduate chair of Women's Studies, Professor Kurz. Call 8-8740 or email dkurz@sas for an appointment.
Double Major in Gender, Culture & Society
Candidates for a double major should complete the same requirements as those of the majors in Gender, Culture & Society. However, they may double-count selected courses from their other major as part of the Women's Studies requirement. Email an advisor to find out which courses may be double-counted.
Dual Degree with Gender, Culture & Society
Candidates for dual degrees should meet with both a GSOC advisor and a professional school advisor. A core of appropriate courses will be designed jointly to enable the student to earn both a professional degree and a GSOC degree. It is important to note that a student must meet all basic requirements of the School of Arts and Sciences as well as those of the professional school.
Gender, Culture & Society Honors
A student is eligible for the Honors Program if (s)he:
- Has a B+ average.
- Is a senior majoring or double majoring in Gender, Culture & Society.
- Completes a Senior Thesis,
of honors quality, under the supervision of a GSOC advisor.
