Choosing Your Path

In the Women’s and Gender Studies interdisciplinary specialization, students analyze the significance of gender in all areas of life, especially in the social formation of human identities, practices, and institutions. Women’s and Gender Studies provides students with an intellectual framework in which the analysis of gender can be creatively and critically applied to their personal, familial, professional, and civic roles.

Women’s Studies, in particular, provides students with knowledge of women’s roles and influence in culture, as well as the impact of social institutions, systems, and philosophies or attitudes toward women. This specialization also requires the completion of an approved minor and participation in the university’s Annual Women’s and Gender Studies Conference.

The combination of the interdisciplinary specialization and a related minor prepares students for pursuing a wide array of careers in teaching, counseling, community relations, law, recreation, social work, and business, with an enhanced understanding of how gender and sexual politics operate in those professional and social environments.

Capstone Experience

During the senior year, the capstone experience includes organizing, participating in, and evaluating the annual Women’s and Gender Studies student conference.  If a student’s schedule does not coincide with the spring conference, then the student will develop a research topic based on the student’s goals and the instructor’s guidance.  The research project will be presented to an interdisciplinary committee.

For complete information about this degree program, we invite you to contact:

June D. Watkins
Assistant Director, Interdisciplinary Studies
Bld 53 Room 221
College of Arts and Sciences
University of West Florida
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL 32514
(850) 474-2918