Undergraduate Academics

Women's and Gender Studies degree
Gender and Global Change degree
Women's and Gender Studies minor
International Development Specialization
Women, Gender, and Social Justice Specialization
Gender and Global Change Specialization
GenCen Internships (gender, social justice, and environmental issues)
Advising

Useful Links for Students:

Degrees

Women's and Gender Studies Degree (pdf brochure)

This is a Bachelors of Arts degree which has recently been redesigned through the combined efforts of GenCen and the College of Arts & Letters. This degree is administered through the Center for Gender in Global Context and is offered through the College of Arts & Letters. This degree is ideal for students who wish to study gender and its intersections with aspects within other fields of interest, and is also an excellent choice as a second major for anyone wishing to double-major.

In addition to university requirements for a BA, this degree requires certain core courses such as WS 201, six credits in courses on global perspectives from an approved list, twelve credits in a thematic area from an approved list, and two to four credits in an internship component.

View requirements for this degree (MSU Registrar's Office)

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Gender and Global Change degree (Global Area Studies)

This is a Bachelor's of Arts degree which was formerly a concentration track within the Global Area Studies degree. The GenCen now hosts this degree, which is offered through the College of Social Science. This degree targets students who are interested in the relationship between the changes associated with globalization and gender disparities. Requirements include either foreign language competency or significant international experience. Refer to the catalog description for more details.

View requirements for this degree (MSU Registrar's Office)

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Minors

Women's and Gender Studies Minor

This minor is available to students enrolled in Bachelor's degree programs, other than those enrolled in the BA in Women's and Gender Studies or those completing the specialization in Women, Gender, and Social Justice. This minor is administered through the Center for Gender in Global Context and is offered through the College of Arts & Letters. This interdisciplinary minor provides students with in-depth opportunities to study the intersections of gender with other aspects of identity within their fields of interest, and is an excellent choice for anyone who does not wish to double-major.

This minor requires enrollment in core courses WS 201 and WS 202, and nine credits in courses from one of four thematic areas (Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and History; Sexuality and Conflict/Violence; Gencer and the Arts and Humanities; and Gender Applied: Health, Urban, and Public Policy). Students who wish to pursue the minor must contact the GenCen Advisor to arrange an appropriate course of study and to generate a list of approved courses for their chosen thematic area.

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Specializations

What is a Specialization?

A specialization is a set of interdisciplinary coursework designed to enrich a variety of academic degrees with a topical focus. Students in the College of Social Science (SSC), the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) may give their degree added definition by completing a specialization.

What can I do with a specialization in gender and global change?

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International Development Specialization

International Development, administered by CASID and GDG, is also available as an elective to students who are enrolled in any bachelor's degree program at MSU. The specialization is designed for students who wish to increase their understanding of the processes of continuity and change in various regions of the world, particularly Africa, Asia, Eurasia, and Latin America. Multidisciplinary in theory and practice, the specialization is based on the methodologies, theories, and literatures of the social sciences and liberal arts and involves faculty from the social sciences, arts, languages, and applied professional fields. For advising information, please visit http://casid.msu.edu/academic/undergrad_advising.shtml

View requirements for this specialization (MSU Registrar's Office)

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Women, Gender, and Social Justice Specialization

The Specialization in Women, Gender, and Social Justice (WGSJ) is now available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University. This interdisciplinary and cross-discipline specialization will provide students with an in-depth opportunity to study gender and its intersections with other aspects of identity within their fields of interest.

This specialization can serve to complement students' current majors and areas of study, prepare them for anticipated post-graduate or professional studies, or provide an unrelated cluster of courses to accommodate their interests in gender studies.

The WGSJ specialization consists of eight content areas from which students may choose depending on their academic interests and goals. The areas are:

Gender, Race, and Ethnic Identity
Gender and Sexuality
Gender, History, and Narrative
Gender and Conflict/Violence
Gender and Literary, Performance, and Visual Arts
Gender and Public Policy
Gender and Urban Spaces
Gender and Health

Students will enroll in the specialization and have their program of study approved in advance and in writing. With assistance from the GenCen advisor, students will be expected to enroll in courses that include cross disciplinary perspectives within the content area of their choosing.

View requirements for this specialization (MSU Registrar's Office)

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Gender and Global Change Specialization

The Specialization in Gender and Global Change, which is administered by the College of Social Science, is available as an elective to students enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University other than students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science and/or Bachelor of Arts Degree programs in Global and Area Studies-Social Science. The specialization provides students with an opportunity to study gender relations in the contexts of global political, economic, environmental, and social changes. The specialization is designed for students who wish to increase their understanding of global transformations and their impact on women and gender relations internationally. Students will study diverse issues such as gender and health, human rights and justice, gender and environment, and feminist theory in an international context. This specialization complements students' majors and current areas of interest and prepares them for graduate studies and employment. Students interested in enrolling in the specialization must have their specialization program of study approved by the specialization adviser.

View requirements for this specialization (MSU Registrar's Office)

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GenCen Internships program

The Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen) Internship Program offers internship coordination services and support to MSU undergraduate and graduate students. Students may elect to participate in internships linked to the Gender, Justice, and Environmental Change Internship Program, or to those formerly coordinated by the Women, Gender, and Social Justice Internship Program. Through either of these programs, students will intern with leading organizations working at the local, national, and international levels on gender-related social justice or environmental issues. The internships are open to students from any MSU department or college. Each student intern will work with a supervisor from the host organization and from within his or her department or college, benefiting from the supervisor's experience and expertise in gender, environmental, and/or social justice fields. Please visit the internship information webpage or email the internship coordinator, Marisa Rinkus, at gencenic@msu.edu for more details.

Internship Flyer

Internship Application

List of potentional internship organizations

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Advising through GenCen

GenCen's academic advisor is able to assist students with all undergraduate specializations offered through the center, as well as the undergraduate Womens and Gender Studies degree. Advising for the Gender and Global Change degree is administered through the College of Social Science.

To set up an appointment or to request more information, please contact advisor Kate Patch at gencenad@msu.edu.

Center for Gender in Global Context
206 International Center
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: (517) 353-5040
Fax: (517) 432-4845