The Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies (WGSS) program at UNC Asheville began as a minor in 1991. The major launched in 2005. We offer a boutique-style curriculum with the major requiring just four core courses (WGSS 100, Feminist Theory, Research Methods, and Senior Seminar) and a wide range of choose-your-own-adventure electives taught in various disciplines (5 required, previous courses include “Black Women Leaders,” “Philosophy of Disability,” and “From Gospel to Gaga: The History of Women in Music”). Required core classes provide interdisciplinary perspectives on the interconnectedness of power, oppression, and privilege as well as the best practices for engaging in democratic coalition across differences. Our WGSS program values community engagement, so we encourage students toward internship experiences and support direct service partnerships with local nonprofits and small businesses.

A WGSS major signals to future employers and graduate programs intercultural competency and interpersonal professionalism. The bulk of our graduates go on to graduate studies (library sciences, sociology, social work) or into nonprofit work.