Gender and Women's Studies, B.A. at University of Wisconsin Madison

University of Wisconsin Madison

United States of America, Madison

University Rank:#110

The Gender and Women's Studies, B.A. at University of Wisconsin Madison is a Full Time Bachelor program offered at the university's main campus in Madison , United States of America. The program is delivered on campus in English and can be completed in 4 years. Students develop academic knowledge and practical skills that prepare them for future careers in this field. The next available intake starts on September 7, 2027.

About Gender and Women's Studies, B.A.

The Gender and Womens Studies (GWS) curriculum provides a platform for students to study how equity and social justice are connected to gender, sexuality, and identity. Gender and Women's Studies students explore the field through traditional disciplines, such as literature, history, anthropology, sociology, public health, education, law, biology, psychology, political science, and the visual arts. Students in our courses develop strong analytical and communication skills through classroom discussion, writing, and independent projects. Undergraduates in our programs can pursue research skills through thesis writing, as well as professional development opportunities through career workshops with alumni and in our internship program. As a result, graduates from our programs apply a critical lens in fields like health and public policy, social justice and advocacy, reproductive justice, non-profit administration, clinical medicine, software development, communications, and media production.

At the undergraduate level, the Department of Gender and Womens Studies offers a variety of programs. Students can declare the Gender and Womens Studies major and/or certificates, or minors, in Gender and Womens Studies or LGBTQ+ Studies. The Gender and Womens Studies certificate and the LGBTQ+ Studies certificate are both 5-course, 15-credit programs.

For more information about the department, including course listings, undergraduate advising, sample syllabi, and faculty bios, students can visit the GWS website.

The Department of Gender and Women's Studies developed the following learning outcomes for undergraduate students:

Knowledge of core concepts of gender and women’s studies, including: gender, intersectionality, feminist theory, epistemology, class, race/ethnicity, global processes, sexuality, disability & embodiment, health and science, and contemporary and historical issues.
Intellectual and practical skills relating to gender and women’s studies, including: problem solving, research and inquiry, interdisciplinarity, critical thinking, writing, oral communication, collaboration, creativity, and career skills.
Personal and social responsibility anchored through active involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges. This category may include things like developing critical self and social awareness, applying ethical frameworks, learning through engaged practices.
Integrative learning demonstrated through the application of knowledge, skills and responsibilities to new settings and complex problems. This category may be acquired through advanced accomplishment and/or the application beyond the Gender & Women’s Studies classroom to, for example, one’s life, to activist project, and/or to non-Gender & Women’s Studies academic coursework.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Gender and Women's Studies, B.A. at University of Wisconsin Madison

Entry Requirements

All undergraduate students at UW–Madison must complete the university-wide General Education Requirements, which are designed to convey the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. These requirements provide for breadth across the humanities and arts, social studies, and natural sciences; competence in communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills necessary for success in college and beyond; and investigation of the issues raised by living in a culturally diverse society. This core is intended to provide students with intellectual and practical skills, basic knowledge of human cultures and the physical world, strategies for understanding these topics, and tools intended to contribute to their sense of personal and social responsibility. General Education complements the work students do in their majors and degrees. Together, these requirements help students learn what they need to know not just for making a living, but also for making a life.

Completing the General Education Requirements is an important part of achieving these competencies, and to do so, students choose from many courses in communication, ethnic studies, quantitative reasoning, and breadth of study across disciplines in the natural sciences, humanities, literature, and arts, and social and behavioral sciences.

Each school and college may choose to allow General Education courses to count toward other degree and/or major requirements. Students should always check with their advisors to discuss any additional degree requirements and determine if students are required to take specific General Education courses or to complete the requirements in a particular order. Students should review their Degree Audit (DARS) report to see how they are progressing toward fulfilling the General Education requirements. Please refer to.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 80

English Program Requirements

Freshman applicants educated in non-English speaking countries must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) score, unless English was the primary language of instruction in all four years of secondary school.

All English proficiency exams should be sent electronically, directly from the testing service.

We do not superscore any English Proficiency exam and score reports cannot be older than two years from the time you apply.

How to Send Official Test Scores

Duolingo English Test (DET)

Minimum accepted score: 105+
When submitting your score(s): Search category should be “Undergraduate,” then select “University of Wisconsin–Madison”
Please do not send to offices listed under “Other,” as we are unable to retrieve those scores
The DET should be sent with sub-scores

IELTS

Minimum accepted score: 6.5+
When submitting your score(s): IELTS does not require a code, so please select our account name, “University of Wisconsin, Madison Undergraduate”
Please do not send paper copies of your IELTS scores
We do accept the IELTS Indicator

TOEFL iBT:

Minimum accepted score: 80+
When submitting your score(s): TOEFL test code is 1846
We do not accept “MyBest” score from TOEFL nor any English Proficiency exam
For each TOEFL you submit, we will require the full score report
We do not accept the TOEFL iTP Plus for China, but we will accept the iBT Special Home Edition

If you feel that you qualify for an English Proficiency Exam waiver based upon the requirements above, please submit all required transcripts to our office. Other test scores such as ACT, SAT, or AP (Advanced Placement) scores do not meet the requirements for a waiver. Once your transcripts are received in our office (are no longer displayed on your to-do list in your Student Center), we will determine your waiver eligibility. Waivers will not be processed prior to receipt of both the admissions application and transcripts.

Career Opportunities after Completing Gender and Women's Studies, B.A.

Advising and Careers

Advising in Gender and Women's Studies and LGBTQ+ Studies

Working with your advisor helps you create a meaningful course plan as you complete your degree, major and/or certificate requirements. The undergraduate advisor is available to consult on a variety of topics including: declaring the major and/or certificate, course selection and building a four-year plan, study abroad, volunteer and internship opportunities on campus and in the community, applying to graduate programs, and preparing for the job market after graduation.

Internship Program in Gender and Women's Studies

Applied learning through professional experiences in gender and women's studies provides an opportunity for students to connect academic knowledge with community-based practice. Recognizing the power and importance of experiential and community-based learning, the Department of Gender and Women's Studies proudly offers local and global internship opportunities. In the internship program, students work with organizations to apply their coursework in gender and women's studies to specific issues in the community. The accompanying 3-credit internship seminar offers a venue for students to engage deeply in feminist-based work and reflection while thinking critically about how to participate as feminists in activism and professional settings.

Career Development in Gender and Women's Studies

The Department of Gender and Women's Studies is committed to helping our students articulate how skills and concepts learned in the classroom can be cultivated in professional settings. As reflected in our Learning Outcomes, students in gender and women's studies develop important transferable skills in written and oral communication, critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration, as well as critical self and social awareness. The department continues to expand career development opportunities for our students as we work with our alumni to offer workshops, panels, and networking opportunities. Contact the undergraduate advisor to learn more about career development opportunities in Gender & Women's Studies.

L&S career resources

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students leverage the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and liberal arts degree; explore and try out different career paths; participate in internships; prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications; and network with professionals in the field (alumni and employers). In short, SuccessWorks helps students in the College of Letters & Science discover themselves, find opportunities, and develop the skills they need for success after graduation.

SuccessWorks can also assist students in career advising, résumé and cover letter writing, networking opportunities, and interview skills, as well as course offerings for undergraduates to begin their career exploration early in their undergraduate career.

Students should set up their profiles in Handshake to take care of everything they need to explore career events, manage their campus interviews, and apply to jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers around the country.

SuccessWorks
Set up a career advising appointment
INTER-LS 210 L&S Career Development: Taking Initiative (1 credit, targeted to first- and second-year students)—for more information, see Inter-LS 210: Career Development, Taking Initiative
INTER-LS 215 Communicating About Careers (3 credits, fulfills Com B General Education Requirement)
Handshake
Learn how we’re transforming career preparation: L&S Career Initiative

Tuition and Fee Information for Gender and Women's Studies, B.A. at University of Wisconsin Madison

Application Fee 60

How to Apply for Gender and Women's Studies, B.A. at University of Wisconsin Madison

Every year, we are fortunate to receive thousands of applications from a diverse range of students who are incredibly bright, engaged, and passionate. They have challenged themselves and those around them to make a difference in the world. They know that the University of Wisconsin–Madison is their next step toward something extraordinary—a place where they can lead, make discoveries, tackle key issues, gain knowledge, and establish lifelong friendships.

Starting on August 1 every year, you can begin applying to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The following deadlines pertain to both domestic and international applicants.

Applications and all required application materials must arrive in our office by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on the noted deadline dates.

We cannot begin to review your application until all required materials are received.

We strongly recommend that you apply with an email that is not affiliated with your high school and that you check often. This will ensure that you have continued access to your email account after graduation from high school.

You can apply using either the Common Application or the UW System Application.

Gender and Women's Studies, B.A. at University of Wisconsin Madison

University of Wisconsin Madison

United States of America, Madison