Undergraduate Minor

The Gender Studies Program is an academic program concerned with the contributions and struggles of women. Mississippi State University uses an interdisciplinary approach to enhance students' knowledge of the effect of women in all fields of study. Through the College of Arts and Sciences, MSU offers a Gender Studies minor, consisting of 18 credit hours of course work (described below). The Gender Studies Program is intended to enhance a student's knowledge and understanding of issues related to gender in contemporary societies, with a special focus on American society. Courses, lectures and special events in Gender Studies are open to both men and women, thus encouraging free exchange of ideas about gender and issues related to women in society. To earn an undergraduate minor in Gender Studies, students must complete 18 credit hours, which should be distributed as follows:

One Mandatory Core Course (3 hours)

Undergraduate students wishing to complete a certificate in Gender Studies must complete the following:

  • AN/SO/GS 1173. Introduction to Gender Studies. Three hours lecture. An introduction to theoretical concepts in Gender Studies. This course will examine the influence of the women's movement on the academic development of Gender Studies.

At least two additional Core Courses (6 hours)

Students completing the certificate in Gender Studies should complete at least two of these electives (for 6 hours toward the certificate).

  • COE 4743. Gender Issues in Counseling. Three hours lecture. Overview of gender issues and their relationship to the counseling process.
  • EN 3513. Women and Literature. (Prerequisites: Completion of freshman composition). Three hours lecture. A study of literary works by or about women. Texts are selected according to theme, genre, and/or historical period.
  • HI 4273. Women in American History. (Prerequisite: Completion of any 1000-level history course). Three hours lecture. A study of the economic, political, and social activities of women in American history. Emphasis on Southern women.
  • PHI 4313. Feminist Interpretation of Western Social and Political Philosophy. (Prerequisite: Junior/senior standing or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. A survey of modern and contemporary social and political philosophical texts, which emphasizes recent feminist interpretations, analyses, and criticism of traditional social and political philosophy.
  • PS 3033. Gender and Politics. Three hours lecture. Examines gender differences in law, the courts, voting, political involvement, approaches to political power, and violence.
  • PSY 3203. Psychology of Gender Differences. (Prerequisite: PSY 1013 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Survey of the biological, physiological, and sociocultural factors, which influence the psychological differentiation of the genders.
  • SO 4403. Sociology of Gender. (Prerequisites: SO 1003, or approval of instructor). Three hours lecture. Changing character of gender and significance in various social institutions. Intersection between gender and other forms of inequality.

Two Electives (6 hours)

  • HS 3303. Consumer Economics in Counseling. (Prerequisite: EC 2113 or Junior Standing and consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Economic principles as they apply to consumer situations, and the consumer's relation to the American and world economy.
  • HS 4313. Family Resource Management. Three hours lecture. Decision-making in the family and operation of the household as affected by family values, philosophies, resources, and socio-economic conditions.
  • HI 4283. History of Southern Women. Three hours lecture. The lives and images of women in the South from colonial times to the present. Native-,African-, and European-American woman to be studied.
  • PSY 4983. Psychology of Aging. (Prerequisite: PSY 1013). Three hours lecture. A description and analysis of the development and changes occurring in individuals from early adulthood through late life.
  • SO 1203. Marriage and Family. Three hours lecture. A study of dating, mate selection, marriage and parenthood, with emphasis on the contemporary American family.
  • AN/SO 2203. Cultural and Racial Minorities. (Prerequisite: Three hours in an introductory social science). Three hours lecture. Origins of minority groups and racial attitudes. Biological and cultural concepts of race and minority groups; problems of adjustment in interracial and multiethnic societies. (Same as AN 2203).
  • SW 2303. Social Welfare Policy I. Three hours lecture. In-depth study of the historical and contemporary effects of social welfare policy on client systems.
  • SW 2313. Introduction Social Work and Social Welfare. Three hours lecture. A study of professional social work and the historical and philosophical development of social work and social welfare.

Alternative Electives

If enough electives are not offered, one Alternative Elective may be selected in concert with the student's Gender Studies Advisor.

  • HI 4293. History of Gender and Science. (Prerequisite: Any 1000-level history course).Three hours lecture. Historical survey of scientific research on sex, the role of gender in the culture of science, and the contributions of women to scientific practice.
  • EDF 3333. Social Foundations of Education. Three hours lecture. A study of the sociological, historical, political, legal, and philosophical bases of American education.
  • HS 4403. Introduction to Gerontology. Three hours lecture. An introduction to the dynamics of the aging process and strategies for maximizing life satisfaction during aging.
  • SO 4203. Family in the United States. (Prerequisite: SO 1203). Three hours lecture. A study of the American family as an institution, with emphasis on change and interrelationships with other institutions.
  • 3 hours of Directed Individual Study (from a Gender Studies faculty member)
  • If appropriate, students may petition the Director to count a given class toward the minor. The student must submit this request and an electronic copy of the class syllabus to the Director via email at kkelly@soc.msstate.edu. The decision whether to grant credit towards the minor for such classes is at the sole discretion of the Director.

Students cannot have more than nine (9) hours from any one discipline count toward the certificate.