Looking to be part of a department that will give you a broad base of academic experiences? Want to be prepared for graduate studies in English, history, law and more? Interested in being part of a growing field of academic research and publication? Then you need to take a look at UW-La Crosse’s Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
Whether you’re looking to change majors, add a minor or just pick up an extra class, the DWGSS is a growing department with a lot to offer UW-L students. With a small core faculty, the department has branched out to include professors in 12 other departments. Professors can earn “co-faculty” status by teaching a class within their discipline that also meets the requirements of the women’s studies program.
So far, the response from other faculty members has been tremendous. “We have lots of faculty that love to teach course in women’s and gender studies,” said Deb Hoskins, co-chair of the department. “We’re paying attention to who’s new and working in those areas and reach out to them.”
The result is an interdisciplinary program that provides students a lot of opportunities to explore how women’s studies fits in science, art and the humanities. Hoskins said of their partnership with other departments on campus, “It’s nice to have the perspective of, here’s how you’re perceived outside your program.”
The department has also grown to include more students, particularly with the recent addition of the women’s, gender and sexuality studies major. “If you have a degree in women’s studies we pay very close attention to the skills that you have,” said Hoskins. With today’s society and workplace becoming more globalized, it is increasingly important to have the ability to work with a variety of individuals. It is those skills that the women’s studies department to develop and instill in their students.
“You’re much more capable of working in any workplace that has a diverse labor force,” said Hoskins of program graduates, noting that students in the women, gender and sexuality studies department have gone on to do a variety of work from advocacy to law school to healthcare. Research within the field is also expanding, particularly in the area of sexuality studies. This provides students with a variety of opportunities to pursue areas of interest outside the classroom.
For students looking to become familiar with women’s issues advocacy or the department of women’s studies, the best way may be to take a class and get your feet wet. Both male and female students participate in the department, gaining insight and perspective on each other’s views of themselves, society and their gender.
No time to fit another class into your schedule? The department also has student organizations on campus with which to get involved. The Women’s Studies Student Association and Students for Choice, as well as local area advocacy groups all provide opportunities for students to become involved with local community issues and projects.
Though widely unknown and explored by students, the DWGSS may just be UW-L’s best kept secret. With a committed faculty offering students a variety of opportunities in a host of different disciplines, students within the program enjoy a true liberal arts education preparing them for a wide array of potential careers. For more information about the program and how to become involved, check out the department website at http://www.uwlax.edu/wgss/index.htm.
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