Undergraduate Certificate in Gender and Sexuality Studies (WEST)

Coordinator: Kimberly A. Holcomb, MA, ACAD 411
Email: kholcomb@uccs.edu
Ph: (719) 255-4117

Gender and Sexualities Studies seeks to understand sexuality as a social phenomenon, social construct, and identity. Following various threads of both the feminist as well as the LGBTQ rights movements, the burgeoning academic field of Gender and Sexualities Studies has witnessed the development of academic associations and journals, as well as courses and programs at universities across the nation and the globe. As an academic field, Gender and Sexualities Studies adheres to a multi- and inter-disciplinary approach that views sexualities and gender as social identities shaped by oppression and privilege.

The certificate in Gender and Sexualities Studies gives students the intellectual and methodological tools to enable them to play a leadership role in gender and sexuality research, policy, and practice at a broad range of public and private organizations.

General Requirements

To enroll in the certificate program, get the application as a PDF from the WEST website (http://www.uccs.edu/~west/), from the coordinator, or from the WEST office: ACAD 406. Ph: (719) 255-4553. Meet with the coordinator to turn in the completed application as soon as possible after completing the certificate prerequisite.

• Independent studies may not be used to earn this certificate.
• All courses be WEST courses or cross-listed with WEST courses.
• A minimum grade of 2.0 (C) is required for each course applied to the certificate
• Courses counted toward this certificate may not count toward other WEST certificates.
• In order to complete the certificate program, students are required to submit to the coordinator a transcript and a five-page, typewritten self-reflective statement evaluating her/his perceptions regarding the knowledge gained in the concentration and implications for future scholarly and professional work. The certificate will be mailed to recipients upon completion of a certificate audit by the coordinator, and graduation.