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Study Women's and Gender Studies

Push back against the systems and assumptions that govern our society. Major in women’s and gender studies and work toward a more equitable future.

Program Snapshot

Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts

Major

124

4 Years

Salem Campus

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Our Women's and Gender Studies Major & Minor

Explore the intersection of gender, race, sexuality, and economic class. Consider the depictions, roles, and rights of women in today’s world. Explore how to improve these aspects to create a just culture. Our women’s and gender studies major and minor prepare students to engage with an ever-changing world. 

Why choose Women's and Gender Studies at Willamette?

  • Take an interdisciplinary approach. Explore gender through various lenses such as sociology, literature, historypsychology, and popular culture. Embrace a liberal arts education to broaden your knowledge and views.
  • Pursue impactful internships. Our location near the State Capitol offers students the chance to advocate for change and gain hands-on experience. Students can earn credits for internships and build their resume at the same time.
  • Engage in meaningful discourse. Our small class sizes foster a sense of community. Students can engage in in-depth talks about timely topics and learn from discussions with professors and peers. 

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Alumni Stories

Our alumni are making an impact on the lives of people in their community and around the world. They’ve applied their skills and knowledge to a variety of fields. From social work and journalism to advocacy, graduates of our program are building a better future.

  • Risa Cromer '04

    Risa Cromer '04 earned the prestigious Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellowship
    Cromer won the fellowship for her dissertation on ethical dilemmas of frozen embryos. This recognition supports her final year at CUNY with a $25,000 stipend and reflects her dedication to reproductive justice and health care research.

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Women's and Gender Studies Faculty

Our women’s and gender studies professors are preparing the next generation to be activists and thinkers. They are advocates and engage with discourse surrounding issues of gender. Under their mentorship, you will push modern conversations forward through meaningful research and community involvement.

  • Meet Professor Dunlap

    Dr. Leslie Dunlap holds a B.A. in American Studies from Carleton College and a Ph.D. in History from Northwestern University. She teaches courses on U.S. women's and gender history, race and reproductive justice, and biographical approaches to history.

    Headshot of Dr. Leslie Dunlap
  • Meet Professor Parker Brooks

    Dr. Maegan Parker Brooks specializes in public humanities research, focusing on how people communicate about challenging topics. Her commitment to her students is evident in and out of the classroom as she facilitates peer support conversations on campus and in the community.

    Headshot of Dr. Maegan Parker Brooks

Curriculum

Our women and gender studies program relates to a variety of subjects. Examine feminist theory, depictions of women in media, and the effect of gender inequalities on social institutions and private lives. In your women and gender studies courses, you will consider ideas and roles of women from the United States and around the globe.

  • WGS 353W Feminist Theory

    Examine the way gendered discourse shapes social reality. Explore the intersections of gender with other dimensions of social identity and power such as race, class, gender, sexuality, nation, and ethnicity. Learn about issues through a variety of lenses including liberalism, socialism, psychoanalysis, radical feminism, and postmodernism.

  • WGS 245 Feminism, Gender, and Society

    Explore the ways that gender inequality structures aspects of personal lives and social institutions. Examine a variety of feminist perspectives on work, family, sexuality, and culture and consider the role of class, race, and ethnicity in feminist thought.

Program Requirements

Our Women's and Gender Studies major requires 36 semester hours to complete the degree.

Students pursuing a Women's and Gender Studies minor will need to complete 20 semester hours to complete the minor.

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Admissions Information

Our Women's and Gender Studies program is open to first-year students, transfer students and international students. Learn more about Willamette’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.

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Financial Aid and Scholarships

Willamette University is dedicated to supporting Business majors with generous merit scholarships and financial aid. No additional application is required for consideration. All admitted undergraduate applicants are automatically evaluated for merit-based scholarships, starting at $26,000 per year. These scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, considering cumulative GPA and SAT or ACT scores, if available.

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FAQs

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Women’s and Gender Studies