Gender Studies explores a core aspect of our identities – our gender. Gender is always considered intersectional, meaning sexuality, race, class, ethnicity, religion, and other cultural categories shape how we are gendered and how we express it. Gender Studies is a unique interdisciplinary major, teaching students how to analyze complex information from many different perspectives. It prepares students to succeed by focusing on the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and by fostering a deep appreciation and respect for the diversities of human identities.
Major Requirements
Gender Studies Courses That Meet General Education Requirements
Major Advising in Fall/Spring
Gender Studies major advising is being done remotely in Fall 2023.
Gender Studies majors with questions during the Fall 2023 semester can reach out to Professor Olivera Jokic (ojokic@jjay.cuny.edu).
Major Advising in Summer/Winter
Gender Studies majors with questions during summer session 2023 can reach out to Professor Olivera Jokic (ojokic@jjay.cuny.edu ).
Registration and Major Holds
Sophomores with 45-59 credits may have a major hold placed on their registration. The hold will be removed when they have a major advising appointment with the major director. Students should use AdvisorTrac to schedule that appointment. This meeting will encourage wise planning and allow students to ask any questions they may have about the major. How do you know if you have a major hold? Go to CUNYfirst and complete the following steps:
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Check the Holds box of your CUNYfirst Student Center. If "Advisement Required" appears, click on “details.”
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Click on “Advisement Required.”
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See which type of advisement you need. If you must see a major advisor, then make a major advising appointment following the steps preferred by this department.
Avoid Course Planning Mistakes!
Our core courses build your analytic skills. This means they are meant to be taken in a particular sequence, and some are prerequisites for others. It is important to be aware of this and plan accordingly. Keep the following tips in mind:
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Some courses are only offered during the fall or spring semester. Do not let yourself get stuck trying to take a course during the spring when you did not take the prerequisite in the fall. Mistakes like this can cause you to stay an extra semester or an entire year. Talk with the Gender Studies program director to make sure you're planning ahead wisely!
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Please use our Gender Studies Major Checklist (coming soon) to schedule courses in sequence and avoid adding extra semesters to your degree.
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Remember that you will need at least a 2.0 GPA in the major and at least a 2.0 overall GPA to graduate.
Monitor Your Progress in the Major (Major Checklist, Sample 4 yr Plan)
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DegreeWorks degree audit - Use this online planning tool to track your overall progress toward graduation. You will see which of your general education and major requirements are completed, in progress, or still needed. Refer to the DegreeWorks FAQs to better understand how to use this helpful tool. Note: be sure to confirm the accuracy of your degree audit with a general advisor and the Gender Studies Program Director.
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Gender Studies Major Checklist - Fill out this printable worksheet to keep track of which major requirements you have completed and which ones you still need.
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Sample Four Year Plan - See an example of how you could complete all your degree requirements (major, general education, electives) and graduate in four years! Remember that this sample plan shows just one possible way to combine your requirements.
Meet with a General Academic Advisor
A General Academic Advisor will confirm what general academic requirements you still need, make suggestions about smart course planning that will help you graduate without delays, discuss your interest in adding a minor or second major, inform you about opportunities such as study abroad, discuss general questions and concerns, and make helpful referrals. Visit the Academic Advisement Center's webpage for more information.
Why Gender Studies?
“The Gender Studies program. . . teaches us to be better human beings. The knowledge that we gain from the course work can be applied to life right the moment we step outside of the classroom.” - Dominique Mendez-Rose, GS Major
“Gender 101, in my view, opened my eyes to reality. All this time, I was sleeping and not understanding society around me. This class enabled me to question my own society, my own gender and sex. . . There is so much that I have learned from this class that literally made me think outside the box.” - Sheikh Aktaruzzaman, Forensic Psychology major