Texas Tech University

What is Women's and Gender Studies?

About

The Women's and Gender Studies program at Texas Tech University is an interdisciplinary academic program supporting transformational undergraduate- and graduate-level scholarship and teaching that explores how gender intersects with other social identities like race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, and disability. Through engaging feminist coursework, research, and practicum opportunities, we examine systems of power, privilege, and inequality. Women's and Gender Studies fosters creative, collaborative, and sustaining social justice approaches and feminist scholarship that advance understanding, equity, and compassion. 

History: The Program

There are * 652 Women's and Gender Studies programs at community colleges, colleges, and universities in the U.S.

In 1981, the Women's Studies Program was approved by ASCAP as an interdisciplinary program. Three students decided to pursue the minor that year. As of today, the program has grown to include curriculum for credit toward the Core Curriculum in the area of the Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Additionally, since 2006 the Women's Studies Program participates in the Graduate Certificate Program (GCP), offering a specialist inter-disciplinary sub-field in women's, gender, and identity studies for doctoral and master's degree candidates. The GCP also functions as a stand-alone credential useful for professionals.

If you are interested in adding to your critical thinking skills and focusing on a career that intersects multiple perspectives of diversity, our program will be a good addition to your academic plan. For more information see the following:

* Source: “Mapping Women's and Gender Studies: A National Census of Women's and Gender Studies Programs in U.S. Institutions of Higher Education”, NORC Project 6433.01.62, Dec. 2007, The National Women's Studies Association

Evolution of Women's & Gender Studies

The first accredited Women's Studies course was held in 1969 at Cornell University. The first two Women's & Gender Studies programs in the United States were established in 1970 at San Diego State College (now San Diego State University) and SUNY-Buffalo. The SDSU program was initiated after a year of intense organizing of women's consciousness raising groups, rallies, petition circulating, and operating unofficial or experimental classes and presentations before seven committees and assemblies

The evolution of the discipline, and its status in academe today, are the subjects of the essays in The Evolution of American Women's Studies: Reflections on Triumphs, Controversies and Change (Palgrave Macmillan). Alice E. Ginsberg, an education consultant who edited the volume, responded to questions about its themes, citing the authors of essays in the collection.

Read more: Interview of Alice E. Ginsberg by Scott Jaschik, Editor, one of the three founders of Inside Higher Ed.,  Inside Higher Ed (2009)

What are students saying about Women's  and Gender Studies at Texas Tech?

Students Speak Out

Staff

Currently the program consist of a Director, Program Manager, Lecturer, and Visiting Assistant Professor.

Boards and Councils

Our Women's and Gender Studies Advisory Council consist of faculty, staff and students of the University. The purpose of the Women's and Gender Studies Council is to advise the Director of the program and enable all members of the University community to participate in and be informed about the Women's and Gender Studies Program.

The Director also serves, ad hoc, with the Gender Equity Council (Office of the President)

Organizational Design

Resources

Miscellaneous Career Information

Recommended Reading


Historical Resources

career guide
Career Guide

Links of interest

WGS Advisory Board/Council

The purpose of the WGS Council is to advise the Director of the program and enable all members of the University community to participate in and be informed about the Women's Studies Program.