Why Study Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at SBU?
Mission Statement
The Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department prepares students to become future professionals, scholars, activists, and artists who engage critically with gender and sexuality issues in multicultural and transnational contexts.
Our departmental mission is:
1) To familiarize students with the histories of feminist thought and social movements.
2) To teach them how to apply feminist, queer, and transgender theories in their writing and research.
3) To train them in developing interdisciplinary problem-based methods applicable within and beyond scholarly settings.
Our Programs
Our Department offers the following programs
B.A. in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
M.A. in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Ph.D. in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Undergraduate Minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Graduate Certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Course Focus
At the heart of all programs is a profound commitment to:
The critical study of gender and sexuality as an intellectual project indebted to past and present activist movements and committed to future social change.
Core beliefs and visions
We believe in the transformative potential of feminist, queer, and trans studies. Our innovative approaches to research, teaching, and mentoring aim to enact positive effects in the world.
Learning Environment
At the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department, you’re never just a number. Our seminar-style courses foster thoughtful dialogue, allowing students to build lasting relationships with both peers and mentors. These small, engaging classes create a supportive environment where challenging topics are explored in respectful, solution-oriented ways.
What You'll Learn
WGSS courses equip students with powerful analytical tools that enable them to critically examine gender and sexuality norms, explore the intersections of race, class, ability, nation, and health, and approach complex social issues through interdisciplinary frameworks.
Interdisciplinary Research and Faculty Expertise
Our faculty:
Core faculty all hold graduate degrees or certificates in women’s, gender, or feminist studies.
Approximately 50 affiliated faculty work across a variety of fields, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, and health sciences.
Specializations in the department:
Study of bodies, disability, and the politics of health.
Analysis of racialized and sexualized representations in media, literature, and social sciences.
Critical examination of global economic processes and transnational social movements.
Collaboration and Knowledge Production:
The department fosters collaboration and collective knowledge production by actively forging alliances with feminist scholars, programs, and initiatives across campus. We aim to enhance gender and sexual diversity at Stony Brook University, throughout New York State, and beyond.