About Us
Home to the nation’s first endowed chair in race, class, gender and sexuality and Kentucky’s first LGBTQ minor, WGST has led interdisciplinary inquiry at UofL since the 1970s.
Explore Comprehensive Programs
Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies offers programs at every level – a BA or BS (fully online if you need it), a 3+3 track to law, four minors, the LGBTQ Applied Health certificate, an MA with thesis, project and exam tracks, a dual MA/MSSW and a graduate certificate. Every path is interdisciplinary, community-engaged and built around the skills employers want: analysis, research and communication.
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History & Mission
Beginning in the 1970s, universities nationwide developed Women’s Studies courses in response to student interest and faculty advocacy. At the University of Louisville, the first women’s studies course – Women and Literature – was taught in the 1970s by Dr. Lucy Friebert, a Sister of Charity of Nazareth in the Department of English. An undergraduate minor followed in the mid-1980s, a graduate certificate in the early 1990s and the BA in Women’s Studies in 1995.
The department hired its first official faculty member in 2000 and expanded quickly: the MA and the MA/MSSW dual degree arrived in 2004 alongside a Race/Gender minor; in 2007 the department created the Audre Lorde Endowed Chair of Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality – the first of its kind in the nation; in 2009 it launched the first LGBTQ minor in Kentucky; and in 2020 the LGBTQ Applied Health Studies certificate became the first undergraduate certificate of its kind in the country.
Reflecting the evolving scope of its curriculum, the department became Women’s and Gender Studies in the early 2000s and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies in 2018 – each change a renewed commitment to inclusivity, interdisciplinary scholarship and the interests of its students.
Who We Serve
WGST serves majors and minors who want to understand how gender, sexuality, race and other social identities shape society; who are drawn to interdisciplinary research that combines sociology, history, literature, political science, psychology and cultural studies; and who are considering careers in education, public policy, advocacy, nonprofit work, healthcare, media or the arts. Many pair WGST with a second degree in History, Political Science, Philosophy, English, Sociology, Pan-African Studies or Criminal Justice.
Our graduate students seek advanced training to influence policy, education, research or advocacy – including professionals in law, healthcare, social work, media and nonprofits who want to deepen their expertise in equity and inclusion – and gain practical experience through community engagement, leadership and applied research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because WGST is interdisciplinary, our alumni work everywhere – human resources and social services, social work and law, nonprofits, business and government. Our focus on critical thinking, communication and public policy makes WGST graduates assets in a wide range of fields.
Every major completes a 70-hour service-learning project focused on some aspect of gender or sexuality, putting scholarship into action with community partners. Past students have served with the Center for Women and Families, Granny’s Birth Initiative, Louisville Metro Government, Sweet Evening Breeze and the League of Women Voters.
The department awards prizes for the top undergraduate and top graduate student each year, and WGST students are eligible for scholarships listed on the A&S website. External organizations that support WGST scholarship, such as the Mary Craik Scholarship, may offer additional assistance.
Yes – many of our students do. Biology, History, Psychology, English, Social Work, Sociology, Philosophy, Political Science and Pan-African Studies all pair well with a WGST major or minor. We also offer four minors, including Women in Entrepreneurship with the College of Business, and the LGBTQ Applied Health certificate.
Absolutely. Complete the requisite hours and courses for both and you can add certificates to your major. Some courses are offered only every year or every other year, so plan proactively.
Yes. The Soaring Scholars program offers an accelerated path to the master’s, and the 3+3 program provides an accelerated track to law school. Graduate students can also complete a dual MA/MSSW with the Kent School of Social Work.
Yes. WGST offers a fully online BA for in-state and out-of-state students. We encourage engagement with the campus and community, but we understand the obstacles and built the online option for you.
Health professions students find WGST coursework directly useful, and our LGBTQ Applied Health certificate is built for them; popular classes include Women and Health and LGBTQ Applied Health. Education and history majors gravitate to our online History of American Childhood course. Whatever your major, WGST trains you to notice how gender and sexuality shape experience – in your profession and the world.
Turn Social Understanding Into Career Leadership
With the historic Audre Lorde Chair and groundbreaking certificate programs, your interdisciplinary foundation opens doors to transformative careers. Explore Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Louisville — where rigorous interdisciplinary training, a 3+3 accelerated law track, and direct connections to advocacy, healthcare, education, and policy careers prepare graduates to lead in every field that matters.