2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Gender, Sexuality, and Women Studies Certificate
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Return to: Academic Programs
The undergraduate Certificate in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies is an interdisciplinary academic program providing students with the opportunity to broaden their understanding of the changing role that gender plays, both in the United States and around the world. The GSWS Certificate is housed in the College of General Studies and offered in partnership with the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies program. Participants benefit from the academic instruction of GSWS faculty and the nontraditional student services available through the College of General Studies.
Students who want to explore the intersection of gender with race, class, ethnicity, ability, and sexual orientation will find courses of interest, as will students who want to know more about the role of women in history, literature and the arts, media, and science. Students who are planning careers in medicine, the creative arts, social work, education, counseling, law, therapy, and business often find that a background in women’s studies enhances their professional activities.
The certificate is available as a stand-alone option or can be pursued as part of a degree.
Admission Requirements
Students must meet requirements for admission to the College of General Studies. A certificate application form must be completed and submitted online to the College of General Studies.
Obtaining the Certificate
To receive the certificate, you must fill out an online graduation application through the Pitt Portal prior to completing your last term in the program. Visit Graduation / Diplomas on the Registrar’s website for the instructions and check the Graduating with a CGS degree/ certificate website for the submission deadline. Contact a CGS advisor to confirm that all requirements for the certificate have been met. To avoid a late fee, you should complete this process when registering for the term.
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Certificate Requirements (18 credits)
The gender, sexuality, and women’s studies (GSWS) certificate requires 18 credits, including six credits of core classes, nine elective credits (which must be taken from two academic departments), and one advanced GSWS course.
- Transfer courses will be accepted on a case-by-case basis up to a maximum of two courses.
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher is required in courses being applied to the certificate.
- A minimum of 12 credits must be earned at the University of Pittsburgh.
- The GSWS Certificate may not be pursued concurrently with the B.A. in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies or with the GSWS minor.
- All certificate students are expected to meet at least once per year with the GSWS undergraduate advisor to update their files and discuss what courses are needed to fulfill certificate requirements.
Core Courses (6 credits)
A minimum of two courses (six credits) are required (preferably to be completed early in the student’s academic program).
Electives (9 credits)
Three elective courses must be taken from at least two different academic departments (GSWS can count as one of these 2 departments). Courses must be approved for GSWS credit. Consult the GSWS Program website for current listings. Some approved courses include:
- AFRCNA 0454 - MAN/WOMAN LITERATURE
- AFRCNA 1309 - WOMEN OF AFRICAN AND AFRICAN DIASPORA
- ANTH 0768 - ANTHROPOLOGY OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY
- ANTH 1728 - GENDER AND GLOBALIZATION
- ENGCMP 0203 - SEMINAR IN COMPOSITION: GENDER STUDIES
- ENGLIT 0610 - WOMEN AND LITERATURE
- ENGLIT 0625 - DETECTIVE FICTION
- ENGLIT 0630 - SEXUALITY AND REPRESENTATION
- ENGLIT 0655 - REPRESENTING ADOLESCENCE
- ENGLIT 0670 - QUEER AND TRANSGENDER LITERATURE
- ENGLIT 0715 - AUSTEN AND BRONTE
- FR 0012 - FRENCH KISS: LOVE, SEX, FRANCE
- FR 0070 - KINGS & QUEENS: FROM VIKINGS TO THE GUILLOTINE
- FR 0088 - AILING BODIES: NARRATIVES OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS
- FR 0090 - EURO CHIC: THE INVENTION OF FASHION
- GSWS 0200 - SEX, RACE, AND POPULAR CULTURE
- GSWS 0600 - GLOBAL LGBTQ LITERATURE
- HIST 0707 - SEX AND GENDER: A GLOBAL HISTORY OF THE MODERN WORLD
- HIST 1082 - WOMEN, GENDER AND SPORT
- HIST 1661 - GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN THE US SINCE 1865
- LCJS 0200 - RACE, CLASS, GENDER, & THE LAW
- LCJS 1550 - GENDER, RACE, CLASS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
- LCJS 1583 - SEX, LAW AND MARRIAGE
- PS 1550 - GENDER AND GLOBAL POLITICS
- PSY 0184 - PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER
- PSY 1110 - PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN SEXUALITY
- PSY 1113 - PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN+
- SOC 0446 - SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER
- SOC 1448 - WORKING WOMEN
- Either GSWS 1900 - INTERNSHIP or GSWS 1901 - INDEPENDENT STUDY may be used to meet an elective requirement, but in this case, the two other courses must each be in different departments. Consult with the GSWS advisor. Special permission from the GSWS advisor required.
Interdisciplinary Course (3 credits)
Choose one upper-level advanced GSWS course (three credits); GSWS 0100 and GSWS 0500 (or GSWS 0550 ) are prerequisites for some of these courses. Below is a sample list of approved courses. For all upper-level GSWS courses, see the GSWS Major page.
Notes
Requirements subject to change. Check with an academic advisor before registering.
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