Gender Studies in Higher Education

Gender studies programs in higher education provide students with an interdisciplinary approach to the study of gender. As a relatively new field of study, these programs focus largely on advocacy, activism, and representation, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of women. Typical coursework found in gender studies range from introductory methods and theories to the psychological and biological determinants of gender development and expression. This entry briefly introduces the history of gender studies programs in U.S. universities, common curriculum within these programs, the application of feminist theory, major goals of gender studies, and finally the impact that these programs have on students.