Program Information
Minor
What is the Women's Studies Minor?
Women’s Studies is an interdisciplinary, multicultural undergraduate minor designed to integrate knowledge about women and the contributions they have made and are making to our world into the educational process. Courses in Women’s Studies are devoted to an exploration of how women have been affected by and have confronted the economic, cultural, political, religious, scientific, aesthetic, and social conditions of their times. The minor enables students to perceive how traditional assumptions about women have influenced their lives, thus providing greater understanding of the past and present. Potential directions and challenges for the future are also expected.
What career choices can I expect?
Women and minorities comprise a majority of the new labor force in the United States. Students with multicultural Women’s Studies experience will have an advantage as positions they seek increasing demand knowledge of both gender issues and cultural diversity. Individuals with a Women’s Studies background will be better prepared to work with a wide variety of people and changing needs. Graduates of our Women’s Studies minor find opportunities in business administration and management advertising, health, education, journalism, criminology, social work, counseling, psychology, politics, law, and international affairs.
How can I prepare for the Women's Studies Minor?
Being aware of and exploring the role of women in general or in specific areas of interest are helpful in preparing for this minor.
What is the curriculum?
Completion of the Women’s Studies minor requires a minimum of 18 credits. Students complete two core courses: Introduction to Women’s Studies (WST 100) and Seminar in Women’s Studies (WST 300). The remaining credits may be filled by choosing four approved elective courses. Students who are not able to take the required six courses may opt instead for the 12-credit Women's Studies Certificate.
Who can take the Women's Studies Minor? Anyone committed to equality and advancing the status of women should consider enrolling in the Women’s Studies minor.
Where can I get information?
Certificate
What is the certificate program?
- To complete the certificate in Women's Studies, students must complete 12 hours of Women's Studies coursework: 6 hours are the core courses (WST 100 and WST 300), and the other 6 hours are from other elective courses.
- In this inderdisciplinary certificate program, students should choose the two electives from two different disciplines; at least one elective should be 300 or 400 level.
- Furthermore, students can double-count only one 3-hour elective course toward both their major (or a minor) and the WST certificate program.
- Finally, three of the courses must be taken while the student is in residence at Shippensburg University.
Courses
Completion of both the Women’s Studies minor and the certificate require students to complete two core courses: Introduction to Women’s Studies (WST 100) and Seminar in Women’s Studies (WST 300). The remaining credits (12 for the minor, 6 for the certificate) may be filled by choosing elective courses from the following list.
