Gender Studies Courses in USA Universities

I'm thinking about gender studies as a possible major in college. What are some recommended universities in the USA that have strong gender studies programs? I'd love to hear about the experiences of current or past students in this field.

You're considering a vibrant academic field of study with lots of potential options, and it's great that you want to find a school with a strong Gender Studies program that fits your academic goals. Universities in the USA have some of the most diverse, in-depth, and comprehensive Gender Studies curricula and will offer you a variety of perspectives on gender identities, cultural practices, and social norms from different eras and regions.

Let's start with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). UCLA has a robust Department of Gender Studies that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. Courses cover a broad range of issues encompassing gender and sexuality and offer you the ability to work closely with faculty who come from different academic backgrounds. It provides a rich, interdisciplinary approach to the study of gender and sexuality.

On the East Coast, you have the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). The Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies program at UPenn offers wide-ranging curricula, covering numerous disciplines. They even have a program that focuses on issues related to gender, health, and sexuality which can be pursued as a minor.

Another university to keep on your radar is Rutgers University in New Jersey, home to one of the oldest Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies departments in the US, which pioneered doctoral programs in this field. They focus heavily on interdisciplinary studies and global perspectives on gender and sexuality, often placing these topics within the context of other categories such as race, disability, and nationality.

If you're considering the Midwest, the University of Chicago (UChicago) has a Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality that approaches these subjects from a social sciences and humanities perspective, offering a lot of interdisciplinary opportunities for students.

Keep in mind that your college decision should not solely rely on the Gender Studies program. You also need to consider factors such as location, campus culture, financial aid, and other academic departments you might be interested in. Remember that these are not the only universities that offer strong Gender Studies programs, but they provide a snapshot to get your search started.