Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research

Undergraduate FAQs

Below are some commonly asked questions about the Women's Studies major. If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact Prof. Kendal Broad, the Acting Undergraduate Coordinator, at klbroad@ufl.edu.

I'd like to change my major to WST or add WST as a second major-- how do I do that?
You'll need to go to the AAC first. You can check their website to see how to add/change a major and/or how to add a minor or a second major. They'll give you the forms, go over how the add/change will affect your overall progress to degree, and then, if they think it looks do-able, they'll send you to WST to discuss specifics and get the UGC signature.

If WST is my 2nd major or my minor, how many courses can "double-count"-- that is, count towards both my WST major/minor and my (other) major?
Nine credits of your WST minor can also count towards your major in another department, and fifteen credits of your WST major can count towards another major-- provided, of course, that you still fill all the relevant distribution requirements for WST core and elective courses. So if you're an English major, and you take 10 English classes to meet the English requirements, and 3 of those classes (for instance, Women and Literature, Black Female Film, and Queer Theory) also fill WST requirements, you only need to take 3 other 3-credit WST classes to have a minor-- but one of those three classes has to be WST3015.

I’m trying to figure out how to meet all the requirements for the degree, but I’m confused. How can I tell if I’m on track?
Unlike many majors that have a restricted curriculum that forces you to take certain classes at certain times in order to stay on track, WST is very open. This means that students can be intellectually adventurous, but also requires that they plan carefully. When you enter the major (or at any time when you’re feeling lost), you can plot out your course of study using the Progress to Degree Worksheet that is appropriate for your track (General, Sexualities, or Int'l Perspectives). Links to the worksheets can be found under the track descriptions on the "BA" page of the CWSGR website. Completing the worksheet will show you what you have done for the major so far, and also help you figure out what you still need to do.

The CWSGR website says I need to take “WST-approved elective classes” to fulfill the degree requirements—what does that mean? Every semester the CWSGR offers some classes taught by its core and affiliate faculty. These classes appear in ISIS with the prefix “WST”; they are listed on the CWSGR “courses” page under the heading “Courses Offered in the Center.” But there are other courses offered all around the university that address issues of gender, sexuality, etc. and are “approved” for credit in the major even thought they do not have a “WST” before them. They are listed on the CWSGR “Courses” page under the heading “Outside Classes Approved for WST Credit.” Classes from both lists will fill requirements for the major and minor.

I’m in the General Concentration and I need 9 Humanities and 9 Social Science electives to graduate. How can I tell if a WST-approved class I’ve taken counts as Humanities (H) or Social Science (SS)?
Humanities classes usually focus on interpreting texts; humanities classes are usually offered in English, Philosophy, Languages, Art History, etc. Social Science classes usually focus on interpreting people and society; they include Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, etc. Some subjects, like Anthropology and History, can count as either a humanities or a social science class. Courses offered in WST are designated H or SS in parentheses after the description on the CWSGR “Courses” page. For courses taken in earlier semesters, check the Women's Studies "Outside Class Master List" to see how the course is designated. If you have taken a class that you think should count for WST, but it's not listed in either place, contact the UGC and inquire specifically.

I'm in the General Concentration and I need 3 Gender and Science credits to graduate-- what is that and how do I sign up for it? For budgetary reasons, we cannot offer many Gender and Science classes. Each semester, you will see one or two designated "G&S" on the “Courses” page. Students are strongly advised to do an Internship instead of a G&S class.

I’m in the International Perspectives on Gender/Theory and Politics of Sexuality Concentration—how do I tell which courses count towards the major for me?
Courses offered in WST and Outside Classes approved for WST Credit include an IPG or TPS designator in the listings that appear on the CWSGR “Courses” page. If you think you have taken classes prior to this that should count towards either of these concentrations, contact the UGC.

I’ve heard that I can petition to get a non-approved WST course count towards the major or the minor—how do I do that?
Not every class that addresses questions of gender and/or sexuality has a title that reflects that fact. If you find yourself enrolled in a class (or you remember being enrolled in a class) that didn’t advertise itself as being about gender, but talks a lot about it, you may be able to petition to count it towards the major—but a class must have at least 50% of its content devoted to gender in order for you to receive credit. If you want to petition to have a class count towards the major—before you enroll, while you are enrolled, or retroactively—fill out the Petition to Receive Credit for a Non-WST-Approved Class Form and submit it to the UGC with the Supporting Documents requested on the form. Petitions without supporting documents will not be reviewed.

9. I am a WST major, and I need to register for a WST core class, but it is full. How can I get in?

If you are a major, it is possible that the Office Manager or the UGC can override the ISIS system and enroll you in a class that is technically "closed." However, you should request this only as a last resort. As a major, you have priority for enrolling in WST classes. It is your responsibility to know what classes you need to take in order to be on track for the degree, and to enroll in them during your registration window.

10. I want to register for a WST-approved class, but it is full. How can I get in?
The CWSGR cannot magically enroll you in a class offered by another unit (a class without the WST prefix). Classes with the prefixes of other majors are offered in that major, and their students take priority. There is usually significant “churn” at the beginning of every semester, during which time space may become available. Any time you want to get into a class that is full, attend on the first day, inform the instructor of your interest, and ask if s/he maintains a waiting list. If you continue to come to class prepared and engaged, it is possible that even if no official room opens up, the professor may allow you to enroll through her/his unit. There are no guarantees, however, so you should also enroll in and attend another class that will help you progress towards your degree.

11. I’ve received an email from ACC saying I haven’t taken enough credits in the major to graduate, but I know I have—what’s going on?
ISIS is programmed to count certain classes offered in each program/department towards the WST major, but it can't recognize them all. When you take a class that ISIS can't recognize, a human must go into the system and tell the computer to count your individual “random” classes towards the major requirements. This usually happens once per semester, when majors/minors are "certified," but sometimes there can be oversight or error. Contact the UGC if you believe that you are facing this situation.

12. I want to study abroad; will the courses I take count towards the major?
The classes you take abroad will count towards the major if they devote at least 50% of their content to gender/sexuality. In a perfect world, the university you are attending abroad would provide you with thorough information about course content in advance, so you would know exactly where the classes you take there would fit into your degree plan. In reality, course descriptions may be sketchy or misleading, or you may switch classes once you get overseas. If that is the case, you will need to petition to have the courses count once you return to UF, using the Petition for Credit form/process described above.

13. I’d like to graduate with Honors—how do I do that?
To graduate with Honors you must have a GPA of 3.5 in all upper-division coursework and complete an Honors Thesis while enrolled in WST4931. You enroll in WST4931 just as you would for any other class. What constitutes an Honors Thesis, the timeline for completion and submission, and the criteria for the different levels of honors (magna cum laude, summa cum laude) is spelled out in the “Guidelines for Graduating with Honors in Women’s Studies.” The second page of the Guidelines is the “Application to Graduate with Honors,” which must be completed by the student and signed by the Thesis Advisor and the Thesis Second Reader and submitted to the UGC by the third week of the term in which you are registered for WST4931. Students seeking to graduate with Honors are responsible for conforming to the University-wide requirements, which are spelled out on the Honors Program website.

14. I volunteer at a local agency that deals with gender issues. Can I get internship credit for that?
It is possible. If the agency has not offered internships before, you will need to have your supervises complete the Prospective Internship Provider Questionnaire. This asks the organization for some basic information about their internship position, and gives them some University guidelines to follow. In addition to having them complete that form, you will need to complete the CWSGR Application for Internship, and get appropriate signatures. Look at the forms and contact the UGC if you have further questions.


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	Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research 200 Ustler Hall PO Box 117352 Gainesville FL 32611 Phone: (352) 392-3365 Fax: (352) 392-4873	Undergraduate FAQs Below are some commonly asked questions about the Women's Studies major. If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact Prof. Kendal Broad, the Acting Undergraduate Coordinator, at klbroad@ufl.edu. I'd like to change my major to WST or add WST as a second major-- how do I do that? You'll need to go to the AAC first. You can check their website to see how to add/change a major and/or how to add a minor or a second major. They'll give you the forms, go over how the add/change will affect your overall progress to degree, and then, if they think it looks do-able, they'll send you to WST to discuss specifics and get the UGC signature. If WST is my 2nd major or my minor, how many courses can "double-count"-- that is, count towards both my WST major/minor and my (other) major? Nine credits of your WST minor can also count towards your major in another department, and fifteen credits of your WST major can count towards another major-- provided, of course, that you still fill all the relevant distribution requirements for WST core and elective courses. So if you're an English major, and you take 10 English classes to meet the English requirements, and 3 of those classes (for instance, Women and Literature, Black Female Film, and Queer Theory) also fill WST requirements, you only need to take 3 other 3-credit WST classes to have a minor-- but one of those three classes has to be WST3015. I’m trying to figure out how to meet all the requirements for the degree, but I’m confused. How can I tell if I’m on track? Unlike many majors that have a restricted curriculum that forces you to take certain classes at certain times in order to stay on track, WST is very open. This means that students can be intellectually adventurous, but also requires that they plan carefully. When you enter the major (or at any time when you’re feeling lost), you can plot out your course of study using the Progress to Degree Worksheet that is appropriate for your track (General, Sexualities, or Int'l Perspectives). Links to the worksheets can be found under the track descriptions on the "BA" page of the CWSGR website. Completing the worksheet will show you what you have done for the major so far, and also help you figure out what you still need to do. The CWSGR website says I need to take “WST-approved elective classes” to fulfill the degree requirements—what does that mean? Every semester the CWSGR offers some classes taught by its core and affiliate faculty. These classes appear in ISIS with the prefix “WST”; they are listed on the CWSGR “courses” page under the heading “Courses Offered in the Center.” But there are other courses offered all around the university that address issues of gender, sexuality, etc. and are “approved” for credit in the major even thought they do not have a “WST” before them. They are listed on the CWSGR “Courses” page under the heading “Outside Classes Approved for WST Credit.” Classes from both lists will fill requirements for the major and minor. I’m in the General Concentration and I need 9 Humanities and 9 Social Science electives to graduate. How can I tell if a WST-approved class I’ve taken counts as Humanities (H) or Social Science (SS)? Humanities classes usually focus on interpreting texts; humanities classes are usually offered in English, Philosophy, Languages, Art History, etc. Social Science classes usually focus on interpreting people and society; they include Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, etc. Some subjects, like Anthropology and History, can count as either a humanities or a social science class. Courses offered in WST are designated H or SS in parentheses after the description on the CWSGR “Courses” page. For courses taken in earlier semesters, check the Women's Studies "Outside Class Master List" to see how the course is designated. If you have taken a class that you think should count for WST, but it's not listed in either place, contact the UGC and inquire specifically. I'm in the General Concentration and I need 3 Gender and Science credits to graduate-- what is that and how do I sign up for it? For budgetary reasons, we cannot offer many Gender and Science classes. Each semester, you will see one or two designated "G&S" on the “Courses” page. Students are strongly advised to do an Internship instead of a G&S class. I’m in the International Perspectives on Gender/Theory and Politics of Sexuality Concentration—how do I tell which courses count towards the major for me? Courses offered in WST and Outside Classes approved for WST Credit include an IPG or TPS designator in the listings that appear on the CWSGR “Courses” page. If you think you have taken classes prior to this that should count towards either of these concentrations, contact the UGC. I’ve heard that I can petition to get a non-approved WST course count towards the major or the minor—how do I do that? Not every class that addresses questions of gender and/or sexuality has a title that reflects that fact. If you find yourself enrolled in a class (or you remember being enrolled in a class) that didn’t advertise itself as being about gender, but talks a lot about it, you may be able to petition to count it towards the major—but a class must have at least 50% of its content devoted to gender in order for you to receive credit. If you want to petition to have a class count towards the major—before you enroll, while you are enrolled, or retroactively—fill out the Petition to Receive Credit for a Non-WST-Approved Class Form and submit it to the UGC with the Supporting Documents requested on the form. Petitions without supporting documents will not be reviewed. 9. I am a WST major, and I need to register for a WST core class, but it is full. How can I get in? If you are a major, it is possible that the Office Manager or the UGC can override the ISIS system and enroll you in a class that is technically "closed." However, you should request this only as a last resort. As a major, you have priority for enrolling in WST classes. It is your responsibility to know what classes you need to take in order to be on track for the degree, and to enroll in them during your registration window. 10. I want to register for a WST-approved class, but it is full. How can I get in? The CWSGR cannot magically enroll you in a class offered by another unit (a class without the WST prefix). Classes with the prefixes of other majors are offered in that major, and their students take priority. There is usually significant “churn” at the beginning of every semester, during which time space may become available. Any time you want to get into a class that is full, attend on the first day, inform the instructor of your interest, and ask if s/he maintains a waiting list. If you continue to come to class prepared and engaged, it is possible that even if no official room opens up, the professor may allow you to enroll through her/his unit. There are no guarantees, however, so you should also enroll in and attend another class that will help you progress towards your degree. 11. I’ve received an email from ACC saying I haven’t taken enough credits in the major to graduate, but I know I have—what’s going on? ISIS is programmed to count certain classes offered in each program/department towards the WST major, but it can't recognize them all. When you take a class that ISIS can't recognize, a human must go into the system and tell the computer to count your individual “random” classes towards the major requirements. This usually happens once per semester, when majors/minors are "certified," but sometimes there can be oversight or error. Contact the UGC if you believe that you are facing this situation. 12. I want to study abroad; will the courses I take count towards the major? The classes you take abroad will count towards the major if they devote at least 50% of their content to gender/sexuality. In a perfect world, the university you are attending abroad would provide you with thorough information about course content in advance, so you would know exactly where the classes you take there would fit into your degree plan. In reality, course descriptions may be sketchy or misleading, or you may switch classes once you get overseas. If that is the case, you will need to petition to have the courses count once you return to UF, using the Petition for Credit form/process described above. 13. I’d like to graduate with Honors—how do I do that? To graduate with Honors you must have a GPA of 3.5 in all upper-division coursework and complete an Honors Thesis while enrolled in WST4931. You enroll in WST4931 just as you would for any other class. What constitutes an Honors Thesis, the timeline for completion and submission, and the criteria for the different levels of honors (magna cum laude, summa cum laude) is spelled out in the “Guidelines for Graduating with Honors in Women’s Studies.” The second page of the Guidelines is the “Application to Graduate with Honors,” which must be completed by the student and signed by the Thesis Advisor and the Thesis Second Reader and submitted to the UGC by the third week of the term in which you are registered for WST4931. Students seeking to graduate with Honors are responsible for conforming to the University-wide requirements, which are spelled out on the Honors Program website. 14. I volunteer at a local agency that deals with gender issues. Can I get internship credit for that? It is possible. If the agency has not offered internships before, you will need to have your supervises complete the Prospective Internship Provider Questionnaire. This asks the organization for some basic information about their internship position, and gives them some University guidelines to follow. In addition to having them complete that form, you will need to complete the CWSGR Application for Internship, and get appropriate signatures. Look at the forms and contact the UGC if you have further questions.


		Have a Question? Contact us. Last Updated 05/22/2008