Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Smiling students seated at a long classroom table
Professor Harleen Singh and two students in a classroom
Student with headphones around neck talking with others in a class
Students with computers seated in a classroom
Jill Greenlee speaking to a class

The Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGS) is a community of undergraduate, graduate students, faculty, staff and board members from a range of disciplines and backgrounds. Together, we ask questions about the intersectional aspects of women, gender and sexuality in classes, lectures and a range of public events.

We offer an undergraduate major and minor in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies and help to support the undergraduate minor in Sexuality and Queer Studies (SQS). We also offer a stand-alone master's degree in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies and 10 joint master's programs in which graduate students focus on WGS and another discipline. We collaborate with a range of organizations on campus and are generously supported by our National Board.
Two students seated in a lecture hall smiling at computers

Undergraduate Programs

We offer a major in the dynamic field of WGS studies as well as two minors in Sexuality and Queer Studies (SQS) and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGS). These programs draw enthusiastic and diverse students who seek intellectual challenges and are committed to social justice.

ChaeRan Freeze talking with students on the grass

Graduate Programs

Brandeis alumni and faculty are at the forefront of feminist scholarship worldwide. WGS provides a strong grounding in discipline-specific studies along with an interdisciplinary education in the theories, methods, and scholarship of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. By introducing current research in a range of fields, the MA degrees create cross-disciplinary dialogue that prepares students for intellectual leadership in a variety of careers, as well as their pursuits in continuing their education.

The WGS Department offers currently offers several joint MA programs. The joint degree option may be pursued independently or in conjunction with a PhD in one of several fields.