Queer Studies Minor Overview

Queer Studies is an interdisciplinary minor that focuses on non-normative sexuality as a primary category of analysis. Queer Studies starts from the assumption that sexuality is central to human social organization; is always experienced in continually shifting contexts; and lived in relation to race, religion, class, nation, and gender. Its methods and premises grow out of scholarship on gender and thus is housed in the Women鈥檚, Gender, and Sexuality Department.

A minimum of 15 units chosen from the following list of courses, chosen in consultation with the WGSS/Queer Studies Advisor, Dr. Lori Baralt. WGSS majors may 鈥渄ouble-count鈥 only one course at the maximum for both their WGSS major and Queer Studies minor.

WGSS 205. Introduction to Queer Studies (3 Units) Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of queer studies. Focus is on the relationship between gender and sexualities. Prepares students for further study in gender and sexuality studies.

WGSS 416. Queering Gender (3 Units) Prerequisite: Upper division standing.
Explores intellectual debates in the emergent field of queer theory, particularly as it connects to women鈥檚 experiences and the politics of gender. Focuses on the intervention that queer theory seeks to make into heteronormative culture on all levels of social life.

ASAM 370. Gender and Sexuality in Asian America (3 Units) Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements and upper-division standing.
Explores the diverse historical and contemporary experiences of Asian Americans with respect to gender roles and relationships, family, expressions of desire, as well as the relationships among gender, sexuality, and racial/ethnic identity.

AIS/WGSS 313. American Indian Genders and Sexualities (3 Units) Analysis of popular, feminist, queer and tribally specific theories and representations of American Indian genders and sexualities with a focus on literatures by American Indian women, men and two-spirit peoples. Both grading options. Same course as . Not open for credit to students with credit in .

ENGL 316/WGSS 316. Queer Literature and Queer Reading (3 Units) Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): GE foundations and completion of at least 60 units.
Study of queer and trans literature and reading practices, with an emphasis on questions surrounding language, gender, sexuality, and identity.
Both grading options. Same course as WGSS 366. Not repeatable for credit. Not open for credit to students with credit in WGSS 366.

HIST 395. Gender, Sexuality, and Desire in World History (3 Units) Prerequisite: Upper-division status
An introductory survey of the colonial and post-colonial world history regarding human gender, sexuality and desire. It examines the European colonial era and the twentieth century constructions of sexual identities in conjunction with class, race, ethnicity, colonialism, and nationalism.

POSC/WGSS 317. Queer Law (3 Units) Study of the intersection of law and the state regulation of gender identities and sexualities. Topics include the criminalization of sexuality, same-sex marriage, discrimination, and trans rights. same course as POSC 317.

R/ST/WGSS 305. Queer Spirit (3 Units) Queer written analysis of the integrated spiritual, psychological, social and physiological aspects of Abrahamic, Eastern, Indigenous, Neo-pagan, secular, and race/class/gender/nation/ sexuality-defined spiritual and religious traditions. Same Course as R/ST 303, Not open for credit to students with credit in R/ST 303.

WGSS 320/ENGL 415. Latina/x/e Feminisms (3 Units) Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor.
Examines cultural, political, economic, and sexual forces that mold Latina women. Focus on cultural stereotypes, class, gender identity, sexuality, and politics of race. Both grading options. Same course as . Not open for credit to students with credit in .

WGSS 356. Lesbian Histories and Cultures (3 Units) Examination of lesbianism from psychological and historical perspectives; includes discussions of lesbianism in literature, representations of lesbianism in various media; the place of lesbianism in the politics of the women鈥檚 movement and in gay liberation, and the development of 鈥渜ueer theory.鈥

WGSS 370. Masculinities (3 Units) Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; Completion of .
This course focuses on understanding contemporary social and political issues in relation to masculinity. Thematic areas include: the social construction of masculinity, militarism, men and violence, sexuality, sports, work, media and masculinity, men and feminism, and possibilities for change. Writing intensive.

WGSS 375. Reproductive Justice (3 Units) Explores how race, class and sexuality intersect with political and socio-economic forces in shaping women鈥檚 reproductive lives. Highlights how women have contested these forces to control their own reproductive lives.

WGSS 386/CHLS 386. Joteria Studies: Queer Gender and Sexuality in the Am茅ricas (3 Unit) Explores the emergent and dynamic field of 鈥淛oteria Studies鈥 which is dedicated to queer and trans 鈥渂rown鈥 or Latine/x/a/o sexualities and genders. Considers joteria pasts, presents, and futures through an intersectional lens and prioritize the fabulous, fabled, and fierce forms of queer and trans cultural expressions, intellectual contributions, and political activisms.