Bachelor of Arts in Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies (Community Leadership)
The innovative Bachelor of Arts degree in Multicultural Women’s and Gender Studies (MWGS) program prepares students for a wide range of careers, as well as professional and graduate studies. In general, MWGS students gain strong transferable skills in reading, comprehension, speaking, writing, and active listening. Employers call these “soft” skills, and they are in high demand. Students on all three tracks take a common set of courses, which allows students to change tracks or make decisions about which track to pursue later in the program. A capstone class near the end of the program helps students prepare to transition to professional life and graduate or professional studies. More specifically, two of the three tracks in the program prepare students to follow distinctive career paths in community leadership and health education. The third track is more flexible and can be adapted by students in consultation with an advisor to support those interested in careers as doctors; professors; attorneys; human resource specialists; researchers; or diversity, equity, and inclusion consultants.
The community leadership track of the BA in Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies includes a cluster of prescribed elective courses organized under two themes: Community Issues and Community Leadership Practices. A minor in an area that will advance the student’s professional goals is required. Elective courses require advisor approval. Students on this track must complete three hours of approved internships for credit to gain hands-on experience working at research and service organizations that focus on women’s leadership issues.
These courses prepare students for leadership careers or advanced professional training related to women’s issues in law, education, politics, social work, or the arts. The courses offer students the flexibility in pursuing careers in non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations (commonly known as NGOs) or advanced study related to women’s leadership issues in research, education, or policy.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
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Communicate ideas effectively orally and in writing.
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Engage in critical analytical reasoning about social and political problems from an intersectional feminist/womanist perspective.
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Systematically research and evaluate information in a range of disciplines from an intersectional feminist/womanist perspective.
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Develop methods for engagement in political, cultural, and scholarly areas in pursuit of social justice.
All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120
Major: 18 SCH
Program Code: MLCLWMGNST.BA.LEADER CIP Code: 05.0207.00
Texas Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture | 3 | |
| Creative Arts | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| CAO: Women's Studies | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Courses Required for Major
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| WS 2013 | Gender and Social Change: An Introduction to Multicultural-Women's Studies | 3 |
| WS 2033 | Womanist Spiritual Activism: Social Justice Theories for Wellness and Transformation | 3 |
| WS 3023 | U.S. Women of Colors | 3 |
| WS 4023 | Sexualities and Identities: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | 3 |
| WS 4493 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
| WS 4793 | Senior Capstone in Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 18 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| WS 3793 | Feminist Research Methods | 3 |
| WS 4903 | Special Topics (Art, Activism, and Social Justice) | 3 |
| WS 4953 | Internship in Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
| SPCH 1013 | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Community Issues Courses | ||
| Choose 9 SCH from the following | ||
| Gender and Education | ||
| Literature by Women | ||
| Women and Western Religions | ||
| Woman's Roles | ||
| Women, Crime, and Justice | ||
| Psychology of Women | ||
| Multicultural Literature | ||
| Advanced Grammar and Composition | ||
| Advanced Expository Writing | ||
| Digital Rhetoric | ||
| Child in the Family and Community | ||
| Diversity in Contemporary Families: A Global Perspective | ||
| Perspectives on Women's Health | ||
| Community Conversation in Sustainability | ||
| Law, Politics, and Public Policy | ||
| Current Social Problems | ||
| Culture, Inequality, and Self | ||
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | ||
| Topics in Urban Sociology | ||
| Social Inequality | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States | ||
| Internet and Society | ||
| Introduction to Social Welfare Policies and Services | ||
| Family Violence and Sexual Assault | ||
| Community & Leadership Practices Courses | ||
| Choose 9 SCH from the following | 9 | |
| Women in Politics | ||
| Women in the Visual Arts | ||
| Gender, Identity, and the Law | ||
| Women in Music | ||
| Professional Writing | ||
| Social Research | ||
| Social Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Social Welfare Policies and Services | ||
| Children's Rights and Services | ||
| Culturally Competent Practice | ||
| Elementary Spanish I | ||
| Elementary Spanish II | ||
| Latin American Women Writers and Filmmakers | ||
| Gender, Theatre, and Performance | ||
| Total SCHs | 21 | |
Required Minor
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Any 18 hour minor | 18 | |
Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| WS 2013 | Gender and Social Change: An Introduction to Multicultural-Women's Studies | 3 | |
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: the First-Year Seminar | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| Life & Physical Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| WS 2033 | Womanist Spiritual Activism: Social Justice Theories for Wellness and Transformation | 3 | |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| Life & Physical Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| Wellness or Mathematics Core | 2 | ||
| MWGS Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| MWGS Elective | 3 | ||
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core | 3 | ||
| Mathematics Core | 3 | ||
| Community Issues I (select 3 SCH) | 3 | ||
| Gender and Education | |||
| Literature by Women | |||
| Women and Western Religions | |||
| Woman's Roles | |||
| Women, Crime, and Justice | |||
| Psychology of Women | |||
| Current Social Problems | SOCI 1306 | ||
| Culture, Inequality, and Self | |||
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | CRIJ 1301 | ||
| Topics in Urban Sociology | |||
| Social Inequality | |||
| Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States | |||
| Internet and Society | |||
| Perspectives on Women's Health | |||
| Community Conversation in Sustainability | |||
| Child in the Family and Community | TECA 1303 | ||
| Diversity in Contemporary Families: A Global Perspective | |||
| Family Violence and Sexual Assault | |||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| SPCH 1013 | Oral Communication | SPCH 1311 | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| MWGS Elective | 3 | ||
| Social & Behavioral Science Core | 3 | ||
| Community & Leadership Practices I (select 3 SCH) | 3 | ||
| Women in Politics | |||
| Women in the Visual Arts | |||
| Women in Music | |||
| Psychology of Women | |||
| Introduction to Social Welfare Policies and Services | SOCW 2361 | ||
| Children's Rights and Services | |||
| Culturally Competent Practice | |||
| Gender, Theatre, and Performance | |||
| Law, Politics, and Public Policy | |||
| Multicultural Literature | |||
| Advanced Grammar and Composition | |||
| Advanced Expository Writing | |||
| Professional Writing | |||
| Digital Rhetoric | |||
| Elementary Spanish I | SPAN 1411 | ||
| Elementary Spanish II | SPAN 1412 | ||
| Social Research | |||
| Social Statistics | |||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| WS 3023 | U.S. Women of Colors | 3 | |
| Community Issues II (select 6 SCH) | 6 | ||
| Gender and Education | |||
| Psychology of Women | |||
| Social Inequality | |||
| Introduction to Social Welfare Policies and Services | SOCW 2361 | ||
| Culture, Inequality, and Self | |||
| Topics in Urban Sociology | |||
| Internet and Society | |||
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | CRIJ 1301 | ||
| Perspectives on Women's Health | |||
| Community Conversation in Sustainability | |||
| Literature by Women | |||
| Women and Western Religions | |||
| Woman's Roles | |||
| Women, Crime, and Justice | |||
| Child in the Family and Community | TECA 1303 | ||
| Diversity in Contemporary Families: A Global Perspective | |||
| Current Social Problems | SOCI 1306 | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States | |||
| Family Violence and Sexual Assault | |||
| Minor | 3 | ||
| Minor | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| WS 3793 | Feminist Research Methods | 3 | |
| WS 4493 | Feminist Theory | 3 | |
| Community & Leadership Practices II (select 6 SCH) | 6 | ||
| Women in Politics | |||
| Women in the Visual Arts | |||
| Gender, Identity, and the Law | |||
| Women in Music | |||
| Feminist Research Methods | |||
| Introduction to Social Welfare Policies and Services | SOCW 2361 | ||
| Children's Rights and Services | |||
| Culturally Competent Practice | |||
| Multicultural Literature | |||
| Advanced Grammar and Composition | |||
| Advanced Expository Writing | |||
| Professional Writing | |||
| Digital Rhetoric | |||
| Elementary Spanish I | SPAN 1411 | ||
| Elementary Spanish II | SPAN 1412 | ||
| Latin American Women Writers and Filmmakers | |||
| Social Research | |||
| Social Statistics | |||
| Gender, Theatre, and Performance | |||
| Law, Politics, and Public Policy | |||
| Minor | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| WS 4023 | Sexualities and Identities: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | 3 | |
| Minor | 3 | ||
| Minor | 3 | ||
| Minor | 3 | ||
| Internship in MWGS (select 3 SCH - note the SCH for each course) | 3 | ||
| Internship in Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies | |||
| Internship in Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies | |||
| Internship in Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies | |||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| WS 4793 | Senior Capstone in Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies | 3 | |
| MWGS Elective (3000 or 4000 level course) | 6 | ||
| Elective (3000 or 4000 level course) | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 12 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 120 | ||
