Gender & Cultural Studies

Allison Egnew Smith, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for the School of Arts & Humanities

W.W. Slider Humanities Center, Room 305

(270) 384-8158           smitha@lindsey.edu

Rachel Carr, Ph.D., Program Coordinator

W.W. Slider Humanities Center, Room 301

(270) 384-8083           carrr@lindsey.edu

Full-time program faculty: Rachel Carr, Ph.D.; Casey Hardy McGowan, J.D.; Eric Carter, Ph.D.; William Kendall Sewell, M.A. T.; Allison Egnew Smith, Ph.D.

Mission Statement

The gender & cultural studies program at Lindsey Wilson University is an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes the vital connections between education, personal empowerment, and social transformation.  The curriculum engages students in a variety of experiential learning opportunities, including the planning and execution of the Dr. Kara Mollis Conference on Gender Studies, preparing them to analyze gender as a cultural phenomenon and to apply that analysis through research, professional communication, and leadership.  Students develop skills to apply critical frameworks across disciplines, equipping them for success in diverse professional and global contexts.  In doing so, the program fosters career readiness, intellectual growth, and engaged citizenship. 

To prepare students for success in both academic and professional settings, the curriculum is intentionally scaffolded to integrate theoretical knowledge with applied skills.  At the 1000-level, students are introduced to gender and cultural studies as a field, developing foundational approaches to critical inquiry alongside an understanding of how identity and culture operate across global contexts.  At the 2000-level, students build on this foundation by using gender and culture as analytical lenses to evaluate social issues, institutions, and cultural texts, strengthening their ability to connect theory to contemporary debates and real-world contexts.  At the 3000-level, students deepen their engagement with theoretical frameworks while advancing their research, writing, and analytical skills through sustained projects that emphasize application, including advocacy, media analysis, and community-based work.  At the 4000-level, students synthesize their learning through advanced study of critical issues relevant to their academic and professional interests, culminating in an individualized capstone project that integrates research, professional communication, and applied experiences.

Graduation Requirements

Some courses taken for the major will simultaneously fulfill general education requirements.  Please see the Graduation Requirements (bachelor’s degrees) section of this catalog for information on the general education program.

Students should note that the major provides fewer than the required 39 hours of 3000-4000 level coursework; therefore, students will need to complete additional 3000-4000 level coursework to meet this requirement.

Entrance Criteria

Students must complete GCS 1003 or GCS 1013, and file a Declaration of Major form with the Registrar’s Office.

Program Requirements: 36 hours

Along with the general education program, students must complete the major’s prerequisites and core requirements and select program electives as indicated.

Students should note that some courses have prerequisites.  Some prerequisites may satisfy General Education requirements.  Please consult the course descriptions section of this catalog.  In addition, the NURS elective courses require admission to the nursing program.

A.  Core Requirements: 27 hours

•  Introduction to Gender & Cultural Studies (GCS 1003) – 3 hours
• Global Perspectives on Gender & Culture (GCS 1013) – 3 hours
• Gender & Popular Culture (GCS 2203) – 3 hours
• Gender & Politics (GCS 2213) – 3 hours
• Feminist Theory & Practice (GCS 3203) – 3 hours
• Victim’s Advocacy (GCS 3213) – 3 hours
• Gender & Sexuality in Cinema (GCS 3313) – 3 hours
• Critical Issues in Gender & Cultural Studies (GCS 4103) – 3 hours
• Gender & Cultural Studies Capstone (WS GCS 4903) – 3 hours

B.  Program Electives (select from the following): 9 hours

• Communication in Social & Critical Contexts (COMM 3713) – 3 hours
• Women Writers (ENGL 3163) – 3 hours
• Special Topics (GCS 3803) – 3 hours
• Women in the American Experience (HIST 3143) – 3 hours
• Women in World History (HIST 3633) – 3 hours
• Marriage & Family (HS 2203) – 3 hours
• Gender Studies (HS 4013) – 3 hours
• Maternal/Newborn/Family-Centered Nursing (NURS 3305) – 5 credit hours
• Community Health Nursing (NURS 4154) – 4 credit hours
• Women in Religion (RELI 3273) – 3 hours

Note:        The program coordinator typically approves and distributes information about additional electives in various disciplines each semester.