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Gender and Health Major

  2. Majors and Minors
  3. Departments and Units
  4. Courses
  5. LSA Degrees
  6. LSA Requirements
  7. LSA Academic Policies
  8. Dates and Deadlines
  9. Academic Integrity
  10. Engaged Learning
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  12. What Will You Do with an LSA Degree?
Advising
Department Website

Effective Winter 2023

Exclusions:

Gender and Health majors may not major in Women’s and Gender Studies or minor in Gender and Health.

Advising

Advising appointments are made online. To make an advising appointment, please see the bottom left hand corner of the Women’s and Gender Studies website main page: www.lsa.umich.edu/women.

Students wishing to pursue a minor in Women's and Gender Studies must develop a specific plan for its completion in consultation with the department's designated advisor. Advising appointments are made online. To make an advising appointment, please see the bottom left-hand corner of the Women's and Gender Studies website main page: www.lsa.umich.edu/women.

Grade Policies

To complete the major, students must receive a grade of C- or above in all required courses.

Prerequisites

WGS / NURS 220 (WOMENSTD / NURS 220). Perspectives in Women's Health

Requirements

Minimum Credits: 33
  1. Core:
    1. Feminist Theory Seminar. One of the following:
      • WGS 330 (WOMENSTD 330): Feminist Thought
      • WGS 331 (WOMENSTD 331): Feminist Theoretical Perspectives in Gender and Health
    2. The Practicum course requirement is intended to ensure that majors gain exposure to and participate in hands-on research or community service internships in which critical feminist approaches to gender and health are materially relevant. By approval of both the relevant instructor and the Women's and Gender Studies undergraduate office, students may satisfy this requirement with courses that allow them an immersive experience with gender and health-related research, service learning, or mentorships focused on gender and health issues.
      Some courses that will satisfy the practicum requirement are:
      • WGS 310: Health, Gender, and Performance (only if elected FA23 or later)
      • WGS 350 (WOMENSTD 350): Nonprofit Management, Community Engagement, and Feminist Practice
      • WGS 351 (WOMENSTD 351): Leading Feminism (W17)
      • WGS 353: Helping Hands: The Science of Doulas
      • WGS 384 (WOMENSTD 384): Independent Research (by department advisor approval)  Students obtain approval from the instructor and the department advisor to do so via their participation in appropriately focused research or an apprentice-based research project that focuses on gender and health issues.
      • WOMENSTD / HS 404: Gender Based Violence: From Theory to Action.
      • SOC 225: Project Community: various specifically approved topics - see department advisor
    3. Thematic Area Requirements. Complete at least one courses in each of four thematic areas. A course cannot be double counted to meet more than one thematic area requirement.
      1. LGBTQ and Sexuality Studies in Health. These courses focus on sexual minority health and the contributions of feminist scholarship and queer theory as applied to the development of sexual identities, understandings of sexual health, and the experiences of LGBTQ people with healthcare delivery, health related policies, and social justice movements, as well as the history of sexuality more generally.
        • WGS 239 (WOMENSTD 239) / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
        • WGS 305 (WOMENSTD 305) / ALA 306: Interdisciplinary & Intersectional LGBTQ Health
        • WGS 314 (WOMENSTD 314) / ENGLISH 314: Gender and Sexuality Studies in Literature, section titled “The Culture of AIDS”
        • WGS 348 (WOMENSTD 348) / SOC 345: Sociology of Sexualities 
        • WGS 352 (WOMENSTD 352) / ASIAN 352: Gender, Sex & Power in Pre-Modern China (F19)
        • WGS 394 (WOMENSTD 394) / PSYCH 394: Sex, Sexuality, and Public Policy
        • WGS 407 (WOMENSTD 407): Intersexualities
        • WGS 415: LGBTQ Reproduction (only if elected FA23 or later)
        • WGS 432 (WOMENSTD 432): Advanced Topics in Gender & Health, sections titled “Diagnosis, Sex & Society” (only if taken Winter 2019 or later) or "LGBTQ Reproductive Health" (only if taken Fall 2020 or later)
        • WGS 449 (WOMENSTD 449) / SOC 445: Diagnosis, Sex & Society
        • WGS 452 (WOMENSTD 452) / PSYCH 414: Sexuality and Science
        • WGS 494 (WOMENSTD 494) / PSYCH 494: Adolescent Sexuality
        • SOC 495: Topics in Sociology, section titled “Diagnosis, Sex & Society”
      2. Critical Race and Ethnic Studies in Gender and Health. These courses will rely on a feminist perspective to examine how the intersections of gender, race, and ethnicity (and other salient categories of identity) impact health-related issues (e.g., conceptualizations of disease and well-being, social disparities in health and healthcare seeking, relations between healthcare providers and patients) with a primary focus on the United States.
        • WGS 222/ENGLISH 212: Narratives of Girlhood
        • WGS 233 (WOMENSTD 233) / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
        • WGS 239 (WOMENSTD 239) / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
        • WGS 291 (WOMENSTD 291) / PSYCH 291: Introduction to Psychology of Women and Gender
        • WGS 305 (WOMENSTD 305) / ALA 306: Interdisciplinary & Intersectional LGBTQ Health
        • WGS 341: Topics in LGBTQ Studies, section titled "Black Queer Histories"
        • WGS 343 (WOMENSTD 343): Special Topics in Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in the U.S. (certain topics)
        • WGS 356 (WOMENSTD 356) / AMCULT 331 / HISTORY 356: Health in America: Patterns, Experiences, and Inequalities
        • WGS 365 (WOMENSTD 365) / HISTORY 365 / AMCULT 331: Critical Race & Ethnic Studies in Health (W19)
        • WGS 392/ AAS 392 / AMCULT 392: Mental Health in U.S 
        • WGS 443 (WOMENSTD 443) / AAS 443: Pedagogy of Empowerment: Activism in Race, Gender, and Health
      3. Gender and Health in Bioscience. These courses present students with knowledge about basic biological processes, pertaining to healthy developmental periods, life transitions, or particular illnesses, in combination with critical feminist examinations about the process of conducting research in the biological sciences and the applications and societal impact of such work.
        • WGS 233 (WOMENSTD 233) / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
        • WGS 296 (WOMENSTD 296) / HISTORY / PSYCH 296: Gender, Sex Differences, and Addiction: Girls Gone Wild
        • WGS 300 (WOMENSTD 300): Men’s Health
        • WGS 333: Biomedical Knowledge, Science, and Power (only if elected SP23 or later)
        • WGS 342 (WOMENSTD 342): Special Topics in Gender and Health, section titled "Biomedical Knowledge: Behavior, Science and Gender" (only if elected WN20 or later)
        • WGS 400 (WOMENSTD 400): Women’s Reproductive Health
        • WGS 407 (WOMENSTD 407): Intersexualities
        • WGS 432 (WOMENSTD 432): Advanced Topics in Gender and Health, section titled "Gender and Contested Illness" (only if elected WN20 or later)
        • WGS 452 (WOMENSTD 452) / PSYCH 414: Sexuality and Science
      4. Gender and Health in Global, Transnational, or Historical Perspectives. In this thematic area, one set of courses offers a comparative cross-cultural perspective on health-related phenomena by relying upon feminist theories and global feminisms to place topics of study in a global, transnational context. Another set of courses provides students with the comparative vision promoted through in-depth understanding of the rich and complex historical background of many current health-related issues.
        • WGS 212 (WOMENSTD 212) / NURS 225: Global Perspectives on the HIV and AIDS Epidemic
        • WGS 213: Topics in Gender and the Humanities, sections titled "War, Gender, Masculinity, Violence"
        • WGS 233 (WOMENSTD 233) / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
        • WGS 239 (WOMENSTD 239) / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
        • WGS 242 (WOMENSTD 242) / AMCULT 242: Gender and Violence in a Global Context
        • WGS 296 (WOMENSTD 296) / HISTORY / PSYCH 296: Gender, Sex Differences, and Addiction: Girls Gone Wild
        • WGS 306: Maternal and Infant Health in Latin American History
        • WGS 307 (WOMENSTD 307) / ANTHRCUL / RCSSCI 327: Critical Theory in Medicine and Healing
        • WGS 312: Queering U.S. Immigration History
        • WGS 324 (WOMENSTD 324) / ANTHRCUL 325: Childbirth & Culture
        • WGS 328 (WOMENSTD 328) / AAS 328: Women, Agency and Sexual Safety
        • WGS 333: Biomedical Knowledge, Science, and Power (only if elected SP23 or later)
        • WGS 342 (WOMENSTD 342): Topics in Gender & Health, section titled "Histories of Women, Medicine and Reproduction" (F17) or "Biomedical Knowledge: Behavior, Science and Gender" 
        • WGS 345 (WOMENSTD 345): Topics in Gender in a Global Context, section titled "Sexual Violence and the State" (F17)
        • WGS 352 (WOMENSTD 352) / ASIAN 352: Gender, Sex & Power in Pre-Modern China (F19)
        • WGS 356 (WOMENSTD 356) / AMCULT 331 / HISTORY 356: Health in America: Patterns, Experiences, and Inequalities
        • WGS 365 (WOMENSTD 365) / AAS 365: Global Perspectives on Gender, Health, and Reproduction
        • WGS 377: Topics in Gender, section titled "In Sickness and in Health: Medical Anthropologies of Kinship, Relatedness, and the Human"
        • WGS 408:  Gender and Health in East Asia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
        • WGS 432 (WOMENSTD 432): Advanced Topics in Gender and Health, sections titled “Introduction to Global Health" or "Gender and Mental Health in the 19th Century" (F16) or "Women, Gender and Health in E Asia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives" (only if elected WN20 or later)
        • WOMENSTD 438: Gender, Health, and Well-being in Africa
        • NURS 420: Introduction to Global Health: Issues and Challenges
  2. Gender and Health Electives. Electives must bring the total number of credits in the major up to 27 (excluding cognates). Select at least three courses.
    • Any of the courses in “thematic areas” section
    • WGS 225 (WOMENSTD 225)  / PSYCH 225: Psychology of Human Sexuality
    • WGS 252: Special Topics Mini-course (specific topics) 
    • WGS 291 (WOMENSTD 291) / PSYCH 291: Introduction to the Psychology of Women and Gender
    • WGS 313 (WOMENSTD 313): Special Topics in Gender and the Humanities, sections titled “Gender, Autobiography and the Medical Body”, “Disability Culture” or "Women and Well-Being in Literature" (only if elected WN 20 or later)
    • WGS 342 (WOMENSTD 342): Special Topics in Gender and Health
    • WGS 402 (WOMENSTD 402): Gender and Health Policy
    • WGS 410 (WOMENSTD 410): Reproductive Justice: Legal and Ethical Issues
    • WGS 421 (WOMENSTD 421) / SM 421: Gender and Sport
    • WGS 432 (WOMENSTD 432): Advanced Topics in Gender and Health, sections titled “Movements for Sexual and Reproductive Justice”, “Introduction to Global Health”
    • WGS 484: Science and Gender (only if elected FA23 or later)
    • ENGLISH 313: Topics in Literary Studies, section titled “Gender, Autobiography and the Medical Body”
    • ENGLISH 317: Literature and Culture, section titled “Disability Culture”
    • POLSCI 495: Undergraduate Seminar in Political Theory, section titled "Disability: A Democratic Dilemma"   
  3. Gender, Culture and Representation Requirement. One of the four thematic area courses or one of the elective courses must be a course that addresses “gender, culture and representation” on a health-related topic.
    • ENGLISH 317: Literature and Culture, section titled “Disability Culture”
    • WGS 213: Topics in Gender and the Humanities, sections titled "War, Gender, Masculinity, Violence"
    • WGS 222/ENGLISH 212: Narratives of Girlhood
    • WGS 233 (WOMENSTD 233) / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
    • WGS 239 (WOMENSTD 239) / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
    • WGS 296 (WOMENSTD 296) / HISTORY / PSYCH 296: Gender, Sex Differences, and Addiction: Girls Gone Wild
    • WGS 310: Health, Gender, and Performance (only if elected in FA23 or later) 
    • WGS 313 (WOMENSTD 313): Special Topics in Gender and the Humanities, sections titled “Gender, Autobiography and the Medical Body”, “Disability Culture”, "Gender and Health in Literature" (W19), or "Women and Well-Being in Literature" (only if elected WN 20 or later)
    • WGS 314 (WOMENSTD 314) / ENGLISH 314: Gender and Sexuality Studies in Literature, section titled “The Culture of AIDS”
    • WGS 342 (WOMENSTD 342): Topics in Gender & Health, section titled "Histories of Women, Medicine and Reproduction" (F17)
    • WGS 352 (WOMENSTD 352) / ASIAN 352: Gender, Sex & Power in Pre-Modern China (F19)
    • WGS 392/ AAS 392 / AMCULT 392: Mental Health in U.S
    • WGS 408: Gender and Health in East Asia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
    • WGS 432 (WOMENSTD 432): Advanced Topics in Gender & Health, section titled "Race, Gender, and Mental Health in the 19th Century" (F16); "Women, Gender and Health in E Asia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives" (only if elected WN20 or later); or " LGBTQ Reproductive Health" (only if elected FA20 or later)
    • WGS 484: Science and Gender (only if elected FA23 or later)
  4.  Cognate Requirement. Two courses (for a total of six credits), neither in WGS (or WOMENSTD), nor cross-listed, are required. In order to compliment the interdisciplinary major in Gender and Health with training in a single discipline, students should take six cognate credits within the same discipline. Cognate courses should not be courses on gender and health but should provide supporting skills or contexts for the study of gender and health. Cognates are by Women’s and Gender Studies advisor approval. A preliminary list of suggested cognate courses follows:
    • AMCULT 284 / HISTORY 284: Sickness and Health in Society: 1492 to the Present
    • AMCULT 365: AIDS and America
    • ANATOMY / PHYSIOL 541 / PSYCH 532: Mammalian Reproductive Physiology
    • ANTHRBIO / ANTHRCUL 342: Nature/Culture Now!
    • ANTHRCUL / ANTHRBIO 342: Nature/Culture Now!
    • ANTHRCUL / HISTART 354: Art, Science, and Technology
    • ANTHRCUL 437: The Anthropology of Death, Dying and the Afterlife
    • ANTHRCUL 447: Culture, Racism, and Human Nature
    • CHEM 210: Structure and Reactivity I
    • CHEM 215: Structure and Reactivity II
    • HISTART / ANTHRCUL 354: Art, Science, and Technology
    • HISTORY 234: History of Medicine in the Western World from the 18th Century to the Present
    • HISTORY / AMCULT 284: Sickness and Health in Society: 1492 to the Present
    • HISTORY 285 / RCSSCI 275: Science, Technology, Medicine, and Society
    • HMP / PUBHLTH 200 / PUBPOL 210: Health and Society: Introduction to Public Health
    • PHYSIOL / ANATOMY 541 / PSYCH 532: Mammalian Reproductive Physiology
    • PSYCH 337: Hormones and Behavior
    • PSYCH 532 / PHYSIOL / ANATOMY 541: Mammalian Reproductive Physiology
    • PUBHLTH / HMP 200 / PUBPOL 210: Health and Society: Introduction to Public Health
    • PUBHLTH 305: The Environment and Human Health
    • PUBHLTH 350: Global Public Health: Challenges and Transformations
    • PUBPOL 210/ PUBHLTH / HMP 200: Health and Society: Introduction to Public Health
    • RCSSCI 275 / HISTORY 285: Science, Technology, Medicine, and Society

Constraints

A maximum of six credits of WGS (or WOMENSTD) independent study may be taken towards the major – excluding independent study credits that meet the practicum requirement.

Residency

For completion of the major, 14 credits of gender and health courses must be taken in residence on the Ann Arbor campus, including WGS 440 (WOMENSTD 440): Senior Capstone and not including cognates.  "In-residence" means courses elected on the Ann Arbor campus or at off-campus sites directed by Ann Arbor faculty. This includes STDABRD, Camp Davis, Biological Station, Michigan-in-Washington.

Distribution Policy

No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the WGS or WOMENSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.

Honors

Gender and Health majors who maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.4 through the first term of their junior year and a 3.5 in their Gender and Health courses will be eligible to complete their degree with a Gender and Health Honors designation. Most importantly, Gender and Health majors who wish to pursue an Honors Thesis will have an opportunity to complete a comprehensive, original independent project under the guidance of a Women’s and Gender Studies faculty member with expertise in topics related to gender and health.

Student elect:

  • WGS 389 (WOMENSTD 389): Junior Honors Seminar (may also count as an elective)

and the following additional courses:

  • WGS 441 (WOMENSTD 441): Senior Honors Seminar 1
  • WGS 442 (WOMENSTD 442): Senior Honors Seminar 2
  • WGS 490 (WOMENSTD 490): Honors Thesis
  • WGS 491 (WOMENSTD 491): Honors Thesis

 

Gender and Health (Major) (Winter 2019 - Fall 2022)

Effective Winter 2019

Exclusions:

Gender and Health majors may not major in Women’s and Gender Studies or minor in Gender and Health.

Advising

Advising appointments are made online. To make an advising appointment, please see the bottom left hand corner of the Women’s and Gender Studies website main page: www.lsa.umich.edu/women.

Students wishing to pursue a minor in Women's and Gender Studies must develop a specific plan for its completion in consultation with the department's designated advisor. Advising appointments are made online. To make an advising appointment, please see the bottom left-hand corner of the Women's and Gender Studies website main page: www.lsa.umich.edu/women.

Grade Policies

To complete the major, students must receive a grade of C- or above in all required courses.

Prerequisites

WGS / NURS 220 (WOMENSTD / NURS 220). Perspectives in Women's Health

Requirements

Minimum Credits: 33
  1. Core:
    1. Feminist Theory Seminar. One of the following:
      • WGS 330 (WOMENSTD 330): Feminist Thought
      • WGS 331 (WOMENSTD 331): Feminist Theoretical Perspectives in Gender and Health
    2. The Practicum course requirement is intended to ensure that majors gain exposure to and participate in hands-on research or community service internships in which critical feminist approaches to gender and health are materially relevant. By approval of both the relevant instructor and the Women's and Gender Studies undergraduate office, students may satisfy this requirement with courses that allow them an immersive experience with gender and health-related research, service learning, or mentorships focused on gender and health issues.
      Some courses that will satisfy the practicum requirement are:
      • WGS 350 (WOMENSTD 350): Nonprofit Management, Community Engagement, and Feminist Practice
      • WGS 351 (WOMENSTD 351): Leading Feminism (W17)
      • WGS 384 (WOMENSTD 384): Independent Research (by department advisor approval)  Students obtain approval from the instructor and the department advisor to do so via their participation in appropriately focused research or an apprentice-based research project that focuses on gender and health issues.
      • WOMENSTD / HS 404: Gender Based Violence: From Theory to Action.
      • SOC 225: Project Community: various specifically approved topics - see department advisor
    3. Thematic Area Requirements. Complete at least one courses in each of four thematic areas. A course cannot be double counted to meet more than one thematic area requirement.
      1. LGBTQ and Sexuality Studies in Health. These courses focus on sexual minority health and the contributions of feminist scholarship and queer theory as applied to the development of sexual identities, understandings of sexual health, and the experiences of LGBTQ people with healthcare delivery, health related policies, and social justice movements, as well as the history of sexuality more generally.
        • WGS 239 (WOMENSTD 239) / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
        • WGS 305 (WOMENSTD 305) / ALA 306: Interdisciplinary & Intersectional LGBTQ Health
        • WGS 314 (WOMENSTD 314) / ENGLISH 314: Gender and Sexuality Studies in Literature, section titled “The Culture of AIDS”
        • WGS 348 (WOMENSTD 348) / SOC 345: Sociology of Sexualities 
        • WGS 352 (WOMENSTD 352) / ASIAN 352: Gender, Sex & Power in Pre-Modern China (F19)
        • WGS 394 (WOMENSTD 394) / PSYCH 394: Sex, Sexuality, and Public Policy
        • WGS 407 (WOMENSTD 407): Intersexualities
        • WGS 432 (WOMENSTD 432): Advanced Topics in Gender & Health, sections titled “Diagnosis, Sex & Society” (only if taken Winter 2019 or later) or "LGBTQ Reproductive Health" (only if taken Fall 2020 or later)
        • WGS 449 (WOMENSTD 449) / SOC 445: Diagnosis, Sex & Society
        • WGS 452 (WOMENSTD 452) / PSYCH 414: Sexuality and Science
        • WGS 494 (WOMENSTD 494) / PSYCH 494: Adolescent Sexuality
        • SOC 495: Topics in Sociology, section titled “Diagnosis, Sex & Society”
      2. Critical Race and Ethnic Studies in Gender and Health. These courses will rely on a feminist perspective to examine how the intersections of gender, race, and ethnicity (and other salient categories of identity) impact health-related issues (e.g., conceptualizations of disease and well-being, social disparities in health and healthcare seeking, relations between healthcare providers and patients) with a primary focus on the United States.
        • WGS 233 (WOMENSTD 233) / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
        • WGS 239 (WOMENSTD 239) / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
        • WGS 291 (WOMENSTD 291) / PSYCH 291: Introduction to Psychology of Women and Gender
        • WGS 305 (WOMENSTD 305) / ALA 306: Interdisciplinary & Intersectional LGBTQ Health
        • WGS 341: Topics in LGBTQ Studies, section titled "Black Queer Histories"
        • WGS 343 (WOMENSTD 343): Special Topics in Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in the U.S. (certain topics)
        • WGS 356 (WOMENSTD 356) / AMCULT 331 / HISTORY 356: Health in America: Patterns, Experiences, and Inequalities
        • WGS 365 (WOMENSTD 365) / HISTORY 365 / AMCULT 331: Critical Race & Ethnic Studies in Health (W19)
        • WGS 392/ AAS 392 / AMCULT 392: Mental Health in U.S 
        • WGS 443 (WOMENSTD 443) / AAS 443: Pedagogy of Empowerment: Activism in Race, Gender, and Health
      3. Gender and Health in Bioscience. These courses present students with knowledge about basic biological processes, pertaining to healthy developmental periods, life transitions, or particular illnesses, in combination with critical feminist examinations about the process of conducting research in the biological sciences and the applications and societal impact of such work.
        • WGS 233 (WOMENSTD 233) / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
        • WGS 296 (WOMENSTD 296) / HISTORY / PSYCH 296: Gender, Sex Differences, and Addiction: Girls Gone Wild
        • WGS 300 (WOMENSTD 300): Men’s Health
        • WGS 342 (WOMENSTD 342): Special Topics in Gender and Health, section titled "Biomedical Knowledge: Behavior, Science and Gender" (only if elected WN20 or later)
        • WGS 400 (WOMENSTD 400): Women’s Reproductive Health
        • WGS 407 (WOMENSTD 407): Intersexualities
        • WGS 432 (WOMENSTD 432): Advanced Topics in Gender and Health, section titled "Gender and Contested Illness" (only if elected WN20 or later)
        • WGS 452 (WOMENSTD 452) / PSYCH 414: Sexuality and Science
      4. Gender and Health in Global, Transnational, or Historical Perspectives. In this thematic area, one set of courses offers a comparative cross-cultural perspective on health-related phenomena by relying upon feminist theories and global feminisms to place topics of study in a global, transnational context. Another set of courses provides students with the comparative vision promoted through in-depth understanding of the rich and complex historical background of many current health-related issues.
        • WGS 212 (WOMENSTD 212) / NURS 225: Global Perspectives on the HIV and AIDS Epidemic
        • WGS 233 (WOMENSTD 233) / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
        • WGS 239 (WOMENSTD 239) / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
        • WGS 242 (WOMENSTD 242) / AMCULT 242: Gender and Violence in a Global Context
        • WGS 296 (WOMENSTD 296) / HISTORY / PSYCH 296: Gender, Sex Differences, and Addiction: Girls Gone Wild
        • WGS 307 (WOMENSTD 307) / ANTHRCUL / RCSSCI 327: Critical Theory in Medicine and Healing
        • WGS 312: Queering U.S. Immigration History
        • WGS 324 (WOMENSTD 324) / ANTHRCUL 325: Childbirth & Culture
        • WGS 328 (WOMENSTD 328) / AAS 328: Women, Agency and Sexual Safety
        • WGS 342 (WOMENSTD 342): Topics in Gender & Health, section titled "Histories of Women, Medicine and Reproduction" (F17) or "Biomedical Knowledge: Behavior, Science and Gender" 
        • WGS 345 (WOMENSTD 345): Topics in Gender in a Global Context, section titled "Sexual Violence and the State" (F17)
        • WGS 352 (WOMENSTD 352) / ASIAN 352: Gender, Sex & Power in Pre-Modern China (F19)
        • WGS 356 (WOMENSTD 356) / AMCULT 331 / HISTORY 356: Health in America: Patterns, Experiences, and Inequalities
        • WGS 365 (WOMENSTD 365) / AAS 365: Global Perspectives on Gender, Health, and Reproduction
        • WGS 377: Topics in Gender, section titled "In Sickness and in Health: Medical Anthropologies of Kinship, Relatedness, and the Human"
        • WGS 408
        • WGS 432 (WOMENSTD 432): Advanced Topics in Gender and Health, sections titled “Introduction to Global Health" or "Gender and Mental Health in the 19th Century" (F16) or "Women, Gender and Health in E Asia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives" (only if elected WN20 or later)
        • WOMENSTD 438: Gender, Health, and Well-being in Africa
        • NURS 420: Introduction to Global Health: Issues and Challenges
  2. Gender and Health Electives. Electives must bring the total number of credits in the major up to 27 (excluding cognates). Select at least three courses.
    • Any of the courses in “thematic areas” section
    • WGS 225 (WOMENSTD 225)  / PSYCH 225: Psychology of Human Sexuality
    • WGS 291 (WOMENSTD 291) / PSYCH 291: Introduction to the Psychology of Women and Gender
    • WGS 313 (WOMENSTD 313): Special Topics in Gender and the Humanities, sections titled “Gender, Autobiography and the Medical Body”, “Disability Culture” or "Women and Well-Being in Literature" (only if elected WN 20 or later)
    • WGS 342 (WOMENSTD 342): Special Topics in Gender and Health
    • WGS 402 (WOMENSTD 402): Gender and Health Policy
    • WGS 410 (WOMENSTD 410): Reproductive Justice: Legal and Ethical Issues
    • WGS 421 (WOMENSTD 421) / SM 421: Gender and Sport
    • WGS 432 (WOMENSTD 432): Advanced Topics in Gender and Health, sections titled “Movements for Sexual and Reproductive Justice”, “Introduction to Global Health”
    • ENGLISH 313: Topics in Literary Studies, section titled “Gender, Autobiography and the Medical Body”
    • ENGLISH 317: Literature and Culture, section titled “Disability Culture”
  3. Gender, Culture and Representation Requirement. One of the four thematic area courses or one of the elective courses must be a course that addresses “gender, culture and representation” on a health-related topic.
    • ENGLISH 317: Literature and Culture, section titled “Disability Culture”
    • WGS 233 (WOMENSTD 233) / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
    • WGS 239 (WOMENSTD 239) / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
    • WGS 296 (WOMENSTD 296) / HISTORY / PSYCH 296: Gender, Sex Differences, and Addiction: Girls Gone Wild
    • WGS 313 (WOMENSTD 313): Special Topics in Gender and the Humanities, sections titled “Gender, Autobiography and the Medical Body”, “Disability Culture”, "Gender and Health in Literature" (W19), or "Women and Well-Being in Literature" (only if elected WN 20 or later)
    • WGS 314 (WOMENSTD 314) / ENGLISH 314: Gender and Sexuality Studies in Literature, section titled “The Culture of AIDS”
    • WGS 342 (WOMENSTD 342): Topics in Gender & Health, section titled "Histories of Women, Medicine and Reproduction" (F17)
    • WGS 352 (WOMENSTD 352) / ASIAN 352: Gender, Sex & Power in Pre-Modern China (F19)
    • WGS 392/ AAS 392 / AMCULT 392: Mental Health in U.S
    • WGS 408
    • WGS 432 (WOMENSTD 432): Advanced Topics in Gender & Health, section titled "Race, Gender, and Mental Health in the 19th Century" (F16); "Women, Gender and Health in E Asia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives" (only if elected WN20 or later); or " LGBTQ Reproductive Health" (only if elected FA20 or later)
  4.  Cognate Requirement. Two courses (for a total of six credits), neither in WGS (or WOMENSTD), nor cross-listed, are required. In order to compliment the interdisciplinary major in Gender and Health with training in a single discipline, students should take six cognate credits within the same discipline. Cognate courses should not be courses on gender and health but should provide supporting skills or contexts for the study of gender and health. Cognates are by Women’s and Gender Studies advisor approval. A preliminary list of suggested cognate courses follows:
    • AMCULT 284 / HISTORY 284: Sickness and Health in Society: 1492 to the Present
    • AMCULT 365: AIDS and America
    • ANATOMY / PHYSIOL 541 / PSYCH 532: Mammalian Reproductive Physiology
    • ANTHRBIO / ANTHRCUL 342: Nature/Culture Now!
    • ANTHRCUL / ANTHRBIO 342: Nature/Culture Now!
    • ANTHRCUL / HISTART 354: Art, Science, and Technology
    • ANTHRCUL 437: The Anthropology of Death, Dying and the Afterlife
    • ANTHRCUL 447: Culture, Racism, and Human Nature
    • CHEM 210: Structure and Reactivity I
    • CHEM 215: Structure and Reactivity II
    • HISTART / ANTHRCUL 354: Art, Science, and Technology
    • HISTORY 234: History of Medicine in the Western World from the 18th Century to the Present
    • HISTORY / AMCULT 284: Sickness and Health in Society: 1492 to the Present
    • HISTORY 285 / RCSSCI 275: Science, Technology, Medicine, and Society
    • HMP / PUBHLTH 200 / PUBPOL 210: Health and Society: Introduction to Public Health
    • PHYSIOL / ANATOMY 541 / PSYCH 532: Mammalian Reproductive Physiology
    • PSYCH 337: Hormones and Behavior
    • PSYCH 532 / PHYSIOL / ANATOMY 541: Mammalian Reproductive Physiology
    • PUBHLTH / HMP 200 / PUBPOL 210: Health and Society: Introduction to Public Health
    • PUBHLTH 305: The Environment and Human Health
    • PUBHLTH 350: Global Public Health: Challenges and Transformations
    • PUBPOL 210/ PUBHLTH / HMP 200: Health and Society: Introduction to Public Health
    • RCSSCI 275 / HISTORY 285: Science, Technology, Medicine, and Society

Constraints

A maximum of six credits of WGS (or WOMENSTD) independent study may be taken towards the major – excluding independent study credits that meet the practicum requirement.

Residency

For completion of the major, 14 credits of gender and health courses must be taken in residence on the Ann Arbor campus, including WGS 440 (WOMENSTD 440): Senior Capstone and not including cognates.  "In-residence" means courses elected on the Ann Arbor campus or at off-campus sites directed by Ann Arbor faculty. This includes STDABRD, Camp Davis, Biological Station, Michigan-in-Washington.

Distribution Policy

No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the WGS or WOMENSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.

Honors

Gender and Health majors who maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.4 through the first term of their junior year and a 3.5 in their Gender and Health courses will be eligible to complete their degree with a Gender and Health Honors designation. Most importantly, Gender and Health majors who wish to pursue an Honors Thesis will have an opportunity to complete a comprehensive, original independent project under the guidance of a Women’s and Gender Studies faculty member with expertise in topics related to gender and health.

Student elect:

  • WGS 389 (WOMENSTD 389): Junior Honors Seminar (may also count as an elective)

and the following additional courses:

  • WGS 441 (WOMENSTD 441): Senior Honors Seminar 1
  • WGS 442 (WOMENSTD 442): Senior Honors Seminar 2
  • WGS 490 (WOMENSTD 490): Honors Thesis
  • WGS 491 (WOMENSTD 491): Honors Thesis

 

Gender and Health (Major) (Fall 2016 - Fall 2018)

Effective Fall 2016

Exclusions:

Gender and Health majors may not major in Women’s Studies or minor in Gender and Health.

Advising

Advising appointments are made online. To make an advising appointment, please see the bottom left hand corner of the Women’s Studies website main page: www.lsa.umich.edu/women.

Students wishing to pursue a minor in Women's Studies must develop a specific plan for its completion in consultation with the department's designated advisor. Advising appointments are made online. To make an advising appointment, please see the bottom left-hand corner of the Women's Studies website main page: www.lsa.umich.edu/women.

Grade Policies

To complete the major, students must receive a grade of C- or above in all required courses including the prerequisite.

Prerequisites

WOMENSTD 220 / NURS 220. Perspectives in Women's Health

Requirements

Minimum Credits: 33
  1. Core:
    1. Feminist Theory Seminar. One of the following:
      • WOMENSTD 330: Feminist Thought
      • WOMENSTD 331: Feminist Theoretical Perspectives in Gender and Health
    2. The Practicum course requirement is intended to ensure that majors gain exposure to and participate in hands-on research or community service internships in which critical feminist approaches to gender and health are materially relevant. By approval of both the relevant instructor and the WOMENSTD undergraduate office, students may satisfy this requirement with courses that allow them an immersive experience with gender and health-related research, service learning, or mentorships focused on gender and health issues.
      Courses that will satisfy the practicum requirement are:
      • WOMENSTD 350: Nonprofit Management, Community Engagement, and Feminist Practice
      • WOMENSTD 351: Leading Feminism (W17)
      • WOMENSTD 384: Independent Research (by department advisor approval)  Students obtain approval from the instructor and the department advisor to do so via their participation in appropriately focused research or an apprentice-based research project that focuses on gender and health issues.
      • WOMENSTD 404 / HS 404: Gender Based Violence: From Theory to Action.
      • SOC 225: Project Community (only if taken Fall 2019 or later and only sections titled "Jail Creative Writing", "Jail Art Workshop", and "Unified HIV Health and Beyond")
    3. Thematic Area Requirements. Complete at least one courses in each of four thematic areas. A course cannot be double counted to meet more than one thematic area requirement.
      1. LGBTQ and Sexuality Studies in Health. These courses focus on sexual minority health and the contributions of feminist scholarship and queer theory as applied to the development of sexual identities, understandings of sexual health, and the experiences of LGBTQ people with healthcare delivery, health related policies, and social justice movements, as well as the history of sexuality more generally.
        • WOMENSTD 239 / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
        • WOMENSTD 305 / ALA 306: Interdisciplinary & Intersectional LGBTQ Health (SU19)
        • WOMENSTD 314 / ENGLISH 314: Gender and Sexuality Studies in Literature, section titled “The Culture of AIDS”
        • WOMENSTD 348 / SOC 345: Sociology of Sexualities (only if elected WN20 or later)
        • WOMENSTD 394 / PSYCH 394: Sex, Sexuality, and Public Policy
        • WOMENSTD 407: Intersexualities
        • WOMENSTD 432: Advanced Topics in Gender & Health, section titled “Diagnosis, Sex & Society” (only if taken Winter 2019 or later), or "LGBTQ Reproductive Health" (only if taken Fall 2020 or later)
        • WOMENSTD 449 / SOC 445: Diagnosis, Sex & Society
        • WOMENSTD 452 / PSYCH 414: Sexuality and Science
        • WOMENSTD 494 / PSYCH 494: Adolescent Sexuality
        • SOC 495: Topics in Sociology, section titled “Diagnosis, Sex & Society”
      2. Critical Race and Ethnic Studies in Gender and Health. These courses will rely on a feminist perspective to examine how the intersections of gender, race, and ethnicity (and other salient categories of identity) impact health-related issues (e.g., conceptualizations of disease and well-being, social disparities in health and healthcare seeking, relations between healthcare providers and patients) with a primary focus on the United States.
        • WOMENSTD 233 / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
        • WOMENSTD 239 / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
        • WOMENSTD 291 / PSYCH 291: Introduction to Psychology of Women and Gender
        • OMENSTD 305 / ALA 306: Interdisciplinary & Intersectional LGBTQ Health (SU19)
        • WOMENSTD 322: Black Feminist Approaches to Health (F18)
        • WOMENSTD 343: Special Topics in Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in the U.S. (certain topics)
        • WOMENSTD 356 / AMCULT 331 / HISTORY 356: Health in America: Patterns, Experiences, and Inequalities
        • WOMENSTD / HISTORY 365: Critical Race & Ethnic Studies in Health (W19)
        • WOMENSTD 374: Gender, Race and Incarderation (SP19)
        • WOMENSTD 410: Reproductive Justice (W19)
        • WOMENSTD 417: Race, Gender & Mental Health in the 19th Century (F18)
        • WOMENSTD 443 / AAS 443: Pedagogy of Empowerment: Activism in Race, Gender, and Health
      3. Gender and Health in Bioscience. These courses present students with knowledge about basic biological processes, pertaining to healthy developmental periods, life transitions, or particular illnesses, in combination with critical feminist examinations about the process of conducting research in the biological sciences and the applications and societal impact of such work.
        • WOMENSTD 233 / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
        • WOMENSTD 296 / HISTORY 296 / PSYCH 296: Gender, Sex Differences, and Addiction: Girls Gone Wild
        • WOMENSTD 300: Men’s Health
        • WOMENSTD 342: Special Topics in Gender and Health, section titled "Biomedical Knowledge: Behavior, Science and Gender" (only if elected WN20 or later)
        • WOMENSTD 400: Women’s Reproductive Health
        • WOMENSTD 407: Intersexualities
        • WOMENSTD 432: Advanced Topics in Gender and Health, section titled "Gender and Contested Illness" (only if elected WN20 or later)
        • WOMENSTD 452 / PSYCH 414: Sexuality and Science
      4. Gender and Health in Global, Transnational, or Historical Perspectives. In this thematic area, one set of courses offers a comparative cross-cultural perspective on health-related phenomena by relying upon feminist theories and global feminisms to place topics of study in a global, transnational context. Another set of courses provides students with the comparative vision promoted through in-depth understanding of the rich and complex historical background of many current health-related issues.
        • WOMENSTD 212 / ANTHRCUL 212 / NURS 225: The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
        • WOMENSTD 233 / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
        • WOMENSTD 239 / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
        • WOMENSTD 242 / AMCULT 242: Gender and Violence in a Global Context
        • WOMENSTD 296 / HISTORY 296 / PSYCH 296: Gender, Sex Differences, and Addiction: Girls Gone Wild
        • WOMENSTD 307 / ANTHRCUL 327 / RCSSCI 327: Critical Theory in Medicine and Healing
        • WOMENSTD 322: Black Feminist Approaches to Health (F18)
        • WOMENSTD 324 / ANTHRCUL 325: Childbirth & Culture
        • WOMENSTD 328 / AAS 328: Women, Agency and Sexual Safety
        • WOMENSTD 342: Topics in Gender & Health, section titled "Histories of Women, Medicine and Reproduction" (F17) or "Biomedical Knowledge: Behavior, Science and Gender" (only if elected WN20 or later)
        • WOMENSTD 345: Topics in Gender in a Global Context, section titled "Sexual Violence and the State" (F17)
        • WOMENSTD 356 / AMCULT 331 / HISTORY 356: Health in America: Patterns, Experiences, and Inequalities
        • WOMENSTD 365 / AAS 365: Global Perspectives on Gender, Health, and Reproduction
        • WOMENSTD 417: Race, Gender & Mental Health in the 19th Century (F18)
        • WOMENSTD 432: Advanced Topics in Gender and Health, sections titled “Introduction to Global Health" or "Gender and Mental Health in the 19th Century" (F16) or "Women, Gender and Health in E Asia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives" (only if elected WN20 or later)
        • WOMENSTD 438: Gender, Health, and Well-being in Africa
        • NURS 420: Introduction to Global Health: Issues and Challenges
    4. Senior Capstone. WOMENSTD 440 (must be taken in residence). Normally elected the last winter term the student is in residence.
  2. Gender and Health Electives. Electives must bring the total number of credits in the major up to 27 (excluding cognates). Select at least two courses.
    • Any of the courses in “thematic areas” section
    • WOMEN 225 / PSYCH 225: Psychology of Human Sexuality
    • WOMENSTD 291 / PSYCH 291: Introduction to the Psychology of Women and Gender
    • WOMENSTD 313: Special Topics in Gender and the Humanities, sections titled “Gender, Autobiography and the Medical Body”, “Disability Culture”, "Gender and Health in Literature" (only if elected Winter 2019 or later) or "Women and Well-Being in Literature" (only if elected WN 20 or later)
    • WOMENSTD 342: Special Topics in Gender and Health
    • WOMENSTD 402: Gender and Health Policy
    • WOMENSTD 410: Reproductive Justice (through F18)
    • WOMENSTD 421 / SM 421: Gender and Sport
    • WOMENSTD 432: Advanced Topics in Gender and Health, sections titled “Movements for Sexual and Reproductive Justice”, “Introduction to Global Health”
    • ENGLISH 313: Topics in Literary Studies, section titled “Gender, Autobiography and the Medical Body”
    • ENGLISH 317: Literature and Culture, section titled “Disability Culture”
  3. Gender, Culture and Representation Requirement. One of the four thematic area courses or one of the elective courses must be a course that addresses “gender, culture and representation” on a health-related topic.
    • ENGLISH 317: Literature and Culture, section titled “Disability Culture”
    • WOMENSTD 233 / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
    • WOMENSTD 233 / AMCULT 233: Genes and Society: Comparative and International Perspectives
    • WOMENSTD 239 / AMCULT 239: Gender, Sexuality, and Health in America
    • WOMENSTD 296 / HISTORY 296 / PSYCH 296: Gender, Sex Differences, and Addiction: Girls Gone Wild
    • WOMENSTD 313: Special Topics in Gender and the Humanities, sections titled “Gender, Autobiography and the Medical Body”, “Disability Culture”, "Gender and Health in Literature" (only if elected Winter 2019 or later), or "Women and Well-Being in Literature" (only if elected WN 20 or later)
    • WOMENSTD 314 / ENGLISH 314: Gender and Sexuality Studies in Literature, section titled “The Culture of AIDS”
    • WOMENSTD 322: Black Feminist Approaches to Health (F18)
    • WOMENSTD 342: Topics in Gender & Health, section titled "Histories of Women, Medicine and Reproduction" (F17)
    • WOMENSTD 374: Gender, Race and Incarderation (SP19)
    • WOMENSTD 417: Race, Gender, & Mental Health in the 19th Century (F18)
    • WOMENSTD 432: Advanced Topics in Gender & Health, section titled "Race, Gender, and Mental Health in the 19th Century" (F16); "Women, Gender and Health in E Asia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives" (only if elected WN20 or later); or " LGBTQ Reproductive Health" (only if elected FA20 or later)
  4.  Cognate Requirement. Two courses (for a total of six credits), neither in WOMENSTD nor cross-listed, are required. In order to compliment the interdisciplinary major in Gender and Health with training in a single discipline, students should take six cognate credits within the same discipline. Cognate courses should not be courses on gender and health but should provide supporting skills or contexts for the study of gender and health. Cognates are by Women’s Studies advisor approval. A preliminary list of suggested cognate courses follows:
    • AMCULT 284 / HISTORY 284: Sickness and Health in Society: 1492 to the Present
    • AMCULT 365: AIDS and America
    • ANATOMY 541 / PHYSIOL 541 / PSYCH 532: Mammalian Reproductive Physiology
    • ANTHRBIO 342 / ANTHRCUL 342: Nature/Culture Now!
    • ANTHRCUL 342 / ANTHRBIO 342: Nature/Culture Now!
    • ANTHRCUL 354 / HISTART 354: Art, Science, and Technology
    • ANTHRCUL 437: The Anthropology of Death, Dying and the Afterlife
    • ANTHRCUL 447: Culture, Racism, and Human Nature
    • CHEM 210: Structure and Reactivity I
    • CHEM 215: Structure and Reactivity II
    • HISTART 354 / ANTHRCUL 354: Art, Science, and Technology
    • HISTORY 234: History of Medicine in the Western World from the 18th Century to the Present
    • HISTORY 284 / AMCULT 284: Sickness and Health in Society: 1492 to the Present
    • HISTORY 285 / RCSSCI 275: Science, Technology, Medicine, and Society
    • HMP 200 / PUBHLTH 200 / PUBPOL 210: Health and Society: Introduction to Public Health
    • PHYSIOL 541 / ANATOMY 541 / PSYCH 532: Mammalian Reproductive Physiology
    • PSYCH 337: Hormones and Behavior
    • PSYCH 532 / PHYSIOL 541 / ANATOMY 541: Mammalian Reproductive Physiology
    • PUBHLTH 200 / HMP 200 / PUBPOL 210: Health and Society: Introduction to Public Health
    • PUBHLTH 305: The Environment and Human Health
    • PUBHLTH 350: Global Public Health: Challenges and Transformations
    • PUBPOL 210/ PUBHLTH 200 / HMP 200: Health and Society: Introduction to Public Health
    • RCSSCI 275 / HISTORY 285: Science, Technology, Medicine, and Society

Constraints

A maximum of six credits of WOMENSTD independent study may be taken towards the major – excluding independent study credits that meet the practicum requirement.

Residency

For completion of the major, 14 credits of gender and health courses must be taken in residence on the Ann Arbor campus, including WOMENSTD 440: Senior Capstone and not including cognates.  "In-residence" means courses elected on the Ann Arbor campus or at off-campus sites directed by Ann Arbor faculty. This includes STDABRD, Camp Davis, Biological Station, Michigan-in-Washington.

Distribution Policy

No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the WOMENSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.

Honors

Gender and Health majors who maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.4 through the first term of their junior year and a 3.5 in their Gender and Health courses will be eligible to complete their degree with a Gender and Health Honors designation. Most importantly, Gender and Health majors who wish to pursue an Honors Thesis will have an opportunity to complete a comprehensive, original independent project under the guidance of a Women’s Studies faculty member with expertise in topics related to gender and health.

Student elect:

  • WOMENSTD 389: Junior Honors Seminar (may also count as an elective)

and the following additional courses:

  • WOMENSTD 441: Senior Honors Seminar 1
  • WOMENSTD 442: Senior Honors Seminar 2
  • WOMENSTD 490: Honors Thesis
  • WOMENSTD 491: Honors Thesis

 

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