Bachelor of Arts Interdisciplinary Studies with a Major in Women's and Gender Studies (BA)
Elizabeth Groeneveld, Chair, Department of Women's and Gender Studies
egroenev@odu.edu
https://ww1.odu.edu/womens-gender-studies.
Women’s and Gender Studies is a multi- and interdisciplinary field of study that examines gender in historical and contemporary contexts with an emphasis on women’s lives and perspectives. This field of study values the complex intersections of gender, race, class, sexuality, ability, nation, and other identities.
The Interdisciplinary Studies program offers both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a major in Women's and Gender Studies. Students in any discipline can also earn a graduate certificate in Women’s Studies. These degrees enhance career opportunities in governmental and non-governmental agencies, law, criminal justice, public relations, journalism, counseling, the health professions, business, social welfare, education, and many other fields. They also provide a strong foundation for students interested in pursuing graduate work.
Advising
To declare a Women's and Gender Studies major or minor, students must see an advisor in the Women's and Gender Studies Department. All Women's and Gender Studies majors are required to have a conference with their advisor before each semester (preferably during preregistration).
Requirements
Lower-Division General Education
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Written Communication | 6 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Language and Culture | 0-6 | |
| Information Literacy and Research | 3 | |
| Human Behavior | 3 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| Interpreting the Past | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Philosophy and Ethics | 3 | |
| The Nature of Science | 8 | |
| Impact of Technology | 3 | |
Written Communication: Grade of C or better required in both ENGL 110C and the second written communication course before declaring a major.
Language and Culture: Proficiency through 102 level-BS only; Proficiency through 202 level-BA only and not met by associate degree.
Impact of Technology requirement may be met in the major by WGS 390T.
WGS 201S cannot be used to satisfy the Human Behavior requirement.
Upper Division General Education
Met in the major.
Requirements for Graduation
Requirements for graduation include the following:
- Minimum of 120 credit hours.
- Minimum of 30 credit hours overall and 12 credit hours of upper-level courses in the major program from Old Dominion University.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward the major.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward a minor.
- Completion of ENGL 110C, ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C, and the writing intensive (W) course in the major with a grade of C or better. The W course must be taken at Old Dominion University.
- Completion of Senior Assessment.
Interdisciplinary Studies Core
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IDS 300W | Interdisciplinary Theory and Concepts * | 3 |
| IDS 301 | Data and Humanities Research ** | 3 |
| IDS 493 | IDS Electronic Portfolio Project ** | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
- *
Offered online only. Grade of C or better required.
- **
Offered online only. Grade of C- or better required.
Women's and Gender Studies Major
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Complete lower-division requirements | 41-47 | |
| Complete upper-division requirements (met in the major) | 0 | |
| Complete foreign language coursework through the 202 level | 0-6 | |
| Interdisciplinary Studies Core | ||
| Complete interdisciplinary studies core | 9 | |
| Women's and Gender Studies Core | 15 | |
| Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Dimensions of Diversity: Intersectionality Among Women | ||
or WGS 301 | Feminist Foundations | |
| Queer Literature | ||
or WGS 405 | Gender and Media | |
| History of U.S. Women's Activism | ||
| Feminist and Queer Theory | ||
| Women's and Gender Studies Electives *** | 12 | |
| English | ||
| Women Writers | ||
| Language, Gender and Power | ||
| History | ||
| Women in U.S. History | ||
| Women's and Gender Studies | ||
| Feminist Foundations | ||
| Dimensions of Diversity: Intersectionality Among Women | ||
| Queer Studies | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in Film | ||
| Queer Literature | ||
| Women, the Environment, and Climate Change | ||
| Internship | ||
| Women, Gender, and Technology Worldwide | ||
| Topics in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Topics in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Women: A Global Perspective | ||
| Feminisms and Sexualities | ||
| Gender and Media | ||
| Gender, Fashion & the Body | ||
| Sexing the Body | ||
| Feminist Research Methods | ||
| Topics in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Topics in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 77-89 | |
- *
Offered online only. Grade of C or better required.
- **
Offered online only. Grade of C- or better required.
- ***
Some courses may have prerequisites.
Electives
Elective courses may be taken for the remainder of the minimum 120 credits required for the degree.
Degree Program Guide
The Degree Program Guide is a suggested curriculum to complete this degree program in four years. It is just one of several plans that will work and is presented only as broad guidance to students. Each student is strongly encouraged to develop a customized plan in consultation with their academic advisor. Additional information can also be found in Degree Works.
Lower Division General Education courses do not have to be taken in the exact order prescribed on the Degree Program Guide. Please consult with your advisor if you need to change the order.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 110C | English Composition (Grade of C or better required) | 3 |
| WGS 201S | Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| Mathematical Skills | 3 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| Language and Culture I (if not waived) or Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C |
Writing, Rhetoric, and Research (Grade of C or better required) or Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics |
3 |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Information Literacy and Research | 3 | |
| Language and Culture II (if not waived) or Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| WGS 301 | Feminist Foundations (or WGS Major Elective) * | 3 |
| Interpreting the Past | 3 | |
| Human Behavior (WGS 201S not permitted to meet this requirement) | 3 | |
| Nature of Science I | 4 | |
| Language and Culture III | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| WGS/QUST 302W | Dimensions of Diversity: Intersectionality Among Women (or WGS Major Elective) * | 3 |
| Philosophy and Ethics | 3 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Nature of Science II | 4 | |
| Language and Culture IV | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| IDS 300W (Grade of C or better required) or WGS Major Elective | 3 | |
| WGS 460W or QUST 460W |
Feminist and Queer Theory or Feminist and Queer Theory |
3 |
| WGS Major Elective | 3 | |
| Elective or Minor Course ** | 3 | |
| Elective or Minor Course ** | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| IDS 300W (Grade of C or better required) or WGS Major Elective | 3 | |
| WGS 400 | History of U.S. Women's Activism | 3 |
| WGS/QUST 305 or WGS 405 |
Queer Literature or Gender and Media |
3 |
| Elective or Minor Course ** | 3 | |
| Elective or Minor Course ** | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| IDS 301 | Data and Humanities Research (Grade of C- or better required) | 3 |
| WGS Major Elective | 3 | |
| Impact of Technology (may be met with WGS Major Elective WGS 390T) or Elective | 3 | |
| Elective or Minor Course ** | 3 | |
| Elective or Minor Course ** | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| IDS 493 | IDS Electronic Portfolio Project (Grade of C- or better required) | 3 |
| Elective or Minor Course ** | 3 | |
| Elective or Minor Course ** | 3 | |
| Elective or Minor Course ** | 3 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- *
Either WGS 301 or WGS 302W/QUST 302W is required for the major.
- **
Please consult with your advisor for minor recommendations. Popular minor pairings include minors in the areas of Art, Communications, English (Journalism), International Business, International Studies, Philosophy, and World Languages and Cultures.
BA or BS to MBA (Master of Business Administration) Dual Dominion Program
The Dual Dominion BA/MBA or BS/MBA program is an early entry to the MBA program of study. The early-entry program is designed for well qualified non-business undergraduate ODU students to start their MBA program prior to completing their undergraduate degree. Well qualified non-business undergraduate students may take MBA-level courses as early as three semesters prior to graduation and count up to 12 graduate credits toward their undergraduate degree. Students participating in the early-entry program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree). Early-entry program students should carefully consider their undergraduate degree program requirements when planning their course of study. Students in the early-entry program work in close consultation with the MBA Program Office and should refer to information in the Strome College of Business section in the graduate catalog to develop an individualized plan of study based on the required coursework.
BA or BS to MPA (Master of Public Administration) Dual Dominion Program
The Dual Dominion BA/MPA or BS/MPA program provides qualified Old Dominion University undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn a master's degree in public administration while taking credits in the MPA program as an undergraduate student. The program is designed for highly motivated students with the desire to immediately continue their education after the bachelor's degree. The program is especially relevant to individuals seeking to work (or currently working) in the public or non-profit sectors, but is suitable for students from any undergraduate major. Graduate courses may be taken during the fall and spring semester of the student's senior undergraduate year. Up to 12 graduate credits can count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree and can meet upper-level General Education requirements. After receiving the undergraduate degree, a student will continue with the MPA program, taking MPA courses until completing the required 39 credit hours. Students in the Dual Dominion program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree).
Requirements for admission to the graduate program can be found in the School of Public Service section of the Graduate Catalog. For additional information, please contact the School of Public Service in the Strome College of Business.