THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Undergraduate Major in Gender and Sexuality Studies
If you are interested in the GNSE major or minor, or just want to talk more about the courses and opportunities, please schedule an appointment here.
The GNSE major is designed with flexibility in mind and is meant to provide students with the opportunity to design a course of study tailored to their particular interests. The major consists of 11-13 courses, depending on your year of matriculation and/or the path you choose. An optional BA thesis carries with it two course enrollments that may replace two GNSE electives.
Major Requirements by Year of Matriculation
Students entering UChicago in 2023, 2024 and 2025 have the option to complete the requirements listed in the Catalog from their year of matriculation or a more recent version. Students should consult with the Bonnie Kanter, Assistant Director for Student Affairs and Curriculum to determine the best option for their course of study.
The major consists of 13 courses, from both Gender and Sexuality Studies as well as from supporting courses in a different discipline that provide training in the methodological, technical, or scholarly skills needed to pursue research in the student's primary field. An optional BA thesis carries with it two course enrollments that may replace two GNSE electives.
Required courses for all students include one Foundations course (GNSE 12000–14999), one Problems course (GNSE 20100–20399), and one Concepts course (GNSE 23101–23399). The Foundations courses are designed to provide an introduction to theories in the field of Gender and Sexuality Studies and are recommended as an entry point for the major. Concepts and Problems courses delve further into a specific subject area and are a way to build upon prior knowledge in the field. Additionally, students must take GNSE 20001 Theories of Sexuality and Gender (or an approved substitute). This course is recommended for third- and fourth-year students following enrollment in other GNSE courses. In addition, students take four additional GNSE courses, three supporting courses (which do not have to be crosslisted with GNSE), and either two additional GNSE courses OR the BA Seminar (GNSE 29800) and BA research project or essay (GNSE 29900) for those completing a thesis.
All Gender and Sexuality Studies majors are advised, but not required, to take GNSE 15002-15003 Gender and Sexuality in World Civilizations I-II to fulfill their general education requirement in civilization studies. If the civilization requirement is fulfilled with another sequence, GNSE 15002-15003 can count as courses in the major.
The major consists of 11 courses. Courses can be from a variety of disciplines, but all must be cross-listed with GNSE. Courses may be double-counted with other majors. Students can petition courses that are not cross-listed if they have significant gender/sexuality content. An optional BA thesis carries with it two course enrollments that may replace two GNSE electives.
Required courses for all students include one Foundations course (GNSE 12000–14999), one Problems course (GNSE 20100–20399), and one Concepts course (GNSE 23101–23399). The Foundations courses are designed to provide an introduction to theories in the field of Gender and Sexuality Studies and are recommended as an entry point for the major. Concepts and Problems courses delve further into a specific subject area and are a way to build upon prior knowledge in the field. Additionally, students must take GNSE 20001 Theories of Sexuality and Gender (or an approved substitute). This course is recommended for third- and fourth-year students following enrollment in other GNSE courses. In addition, students take five additional GNSE courses and either two additional GNSE courses OR the BA Seminar (GNSE 29800) and BA research project or essay (GNSE 29900) for those completing a thesis.
All Gender and Sexuality Studies majors are advised, but not required, to take GNSE 15002-15003 Gender and Sexuality in World Civilizations I-II-III to fulfill their general education requirement in civilization studies. If the civilization requirement is fulfilled with another sequence, GNSE 15002-15003 can count as courses in the major.
The major consists of 11 courses. These may come from a variety of departments, but all must be cross-listed with GNSE. (Students can petition to count courses that are not cross-listed if they have significant gender/sexuality content.) Courses may be double-counted with other majors.
All students in the major are required to take GNSE 19501 Thinking Sex (by the end of third year) and GNSE 29501 Capstone Seminar in Gender and Sexuality Studies (typically third or fourth year, following completion of GNSE 19501). They are also required to fulfill two distribution requirements: one course with a non-Western focus and one course with a historical focus. Approved courses for these distribution requirements will be identified on the CSGS website.
The remainder of the major includes seven additional GNSE courses of the student’s choosing. An optional BA thesis carries with it two course enrollments -- BA Seminar (GNSE 29800) and BA research project or essay (GNSE 29900) -- that may replace two GNSE electives.
All Gender and Sexuality Studies majors are advised, but not required, to take GNSE 15002-15003 Gender and Sexuality in World Civilizations I-II to fulfill their general education requirement in civilization studies. If a student fulfills the civilization requirement with another sequence, GNSE 15002-15003 can count as electives in the major.
Honors and BA Thesis
Students with a 3.25 or higher overall GPA and a 3.5 or higher GPA in the major are eligible for honors. In addition they must complete a BA project or essay and receive an A grade and recommendation for honors from their faculty adviser.
The BA thesis involves a substantial essay or project to be completed in the student's fourth year under the supervision of a faculty adviser who is a member of the Gender and Sexuality Studies Affiliated Faculty in the student's primary field of interest. Majors will attend two workshops during the Spring Quarter of their third year at which point they will create a proposal for their thesis. (If students are studying abroad, they should meet with the BA preceptor individually in the quarter prior to departure.) Students are also required to attend a BA Seminar in Autumn and Winter Quarters of their fourth year. Enrollment in the corresponding course (GNSE 29800 B.A. Paper Seminar) can occur in either Autumn or Winter but attendance is required through both quarters. Registration for GNSE 29900 BA Essay is also required in any quarter during the student’s fourth year. Students must submit the completed thesis by Friday of fifth week of their quarter of graduation.
This program may accept a BA paper or project used to satisfy the same requirement in another major if certain conditions are met and with the consent of the other program chair. Approval from both program chairs is required. Students should consult with the chairs by the earliest BA proposal deadline (or by the end of their third year, when neither program publishes a deadline). A consent form, to be signed by both chairs, is available from the College adviser. It must be completed and returned to the College adviser by the end of Autumn Quarter of the student's year of graduation.
Grading
Students may take one GNSE elective P/F. All other courses must be taken for a quality grade.
Advising
Students are encouraged to meet with Bonnie Kanter, Assistant Director for Student Affairs and Curriculum, frequently to assist with selection of courses and construction of the major.
GNSE Projects
Interested in the research projects of past classes of GNSE students? Please browse these showcases of student works:
Undergraduate Minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies
If you are interested in the GNSE major or minor, or just want to talk more about the courses and opportunities, please schedule an appointment here.
Choosing to pursue a minor allows you to shape a disciplinary or interdisciplinary plan of study that will provide a competence in gender and sexuality studies. Such a minor requires a total of six courses: GNSE 20001 or an approved substitute and five additional courses in Gender and Sexuality Studies.
Summary of Requirements for Minors:
- 1 GNSE 20001 - Theories of Sexuality and Gender - or approved substitute
- 5 Elective courses
Total requirements: 6
Note: It is recommended but not required that GNSE minors complete their civilization requirement by taking GNSE 15002-15003, “Gender and Sexuality in World Civilizations 1 and 2.” Students who take another civilization sequence to fulfill the general education requirement may count GNSE 15002-15003 in the minor.
Students who elect the minor program in Gender and Sexuality Studies should meet with Bonnie Kanter, Assistant Director for Student Affairs and Curriculum (bonniek@uchicago.edu) before the end of Spring Quarter of their third year to declare their intention to complete the minor and discuss planned coursework. Approval for the minor program should be submitted to each student's College adviser by the deadline on a form obtained from the adviser.
Courses in the minor (1) may not be double counted with the student's major(s) or with other minors and (2) may not be counted toward general education requirements. Courses in the minor must be taken for quality grades, and at least four of the requirements for the minor must be met by registering for courses bearing University of Chicago course numbers.