Women's and Gender Studies

WGS Major
WGS Minor
WGS Certificate
WGS Resources at Polk Library
Current Course Offerings

LGBTQ Studies Certificate

The LGBTQ Studies certificate is intended to prepare students for the diverse world of the 21st century by concentrating on the study of queer sexualities, gender identities, and gender expressions as well as the critique of heteronormativity: concerns that are frequently left out of or briefly covered in traditional fields of study. The certificate is available to students majoring in any field who wish to complement their work with a concentration in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer studies.

The Certificate is designed to teach students to think informatively and critically about the lives and contributions of LGBTQ people, to respect the dignity of LGBTQ people, and to understand and interact with a culture that contributes to the diversity of our world. Additionally, students will explore various historic and cultural approaches to sexuality and gender as well as challenge cultural assumptions that privilege heterosexual and cisgender identities. The interdisciplinary approach of this certificate will allow students to study the broad spectrum of diversity through seeing how sexual orientation and gender expression play out in the lives of people from various races, ethnicities, religions, classes, and cultures.

12 credits are required for the LGBTQ Studies Certificate. To complete the LGBTQ Studies Certificate, students must earn a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all courses applied to their LGBTQ Studies Certificate.

Questions? Email us!
Dr. Kathryn Klein, LGBTQ Studies Certificate Coordinator, kleink@uwosh.edu OR
Dr. Ula Klein, Director of Women’s & Gender Studies, kleinu@uwosh.edu

LGBTQ Studies Certificate Planning Sheet

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with an LGBTQ Studies Certificate should demonstrate knowledge of the following concepts and issues:

  1. The socio-cultural and historical construction of gender and sexual identities.
  2. Intersectionality of gender and sexuality with race/ethnicity, religion, class, and nationality.
  3. How education and activism can challenge bigotry, inequality, and systems of oppression based on gender and sexuality.
  4. Major issues pertaining to the lives of LGBTQ people, historically and in contemporary societies, e.g. representations of LGBTQ individuals; violence; relationships between LGBTQ individuals/communities and institutions such as the medical and mental health professions, the law, religion, the media, education, and the military; family, and the LGBTQ Community and work.
  5. The creation of queer culture, including literature, art, theatre, film, and the impact of queer culture on the dominant culture.