This interdisciplinary course approaches the study of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, and queer rights from a humanistic social science perspective. Topics include U.S. cultural politics and LGBTQ+ social movements; visual culture, social action, and social change; the politics of queer identity; law and public policy of concern to diverse LGBTQ+ communities; and LGBTQ+ rights from international and global perspectives.
An interdisciplinary research seminar required of all seniors majoring in women's and gender studies. Students engage in research on a topic of interest, culminating in a substantial thesis. The thesis must advance a lucid research question and interrogate a range of sources that bridge disciplinary boundaries and reflect feminist theory and/or methodology. Students take this course in the fall of the senior year. The course serves as the writing intensive credit within the major as well as providing the basis for an oral presentation and defense in the spring of the senior year.