Gender Studies at North Park

Gender issues are central to contemporary culture, impacting topics like same-sex marriage, pay equity, and human rights. A minor in gender studies at North Park enhances any major, including communication, history, sociology, business, and more.

This program prepares students to address gender-related challenges through required courses focusing on gender identities, feminism, intersectionality, media, politics, and health. It also emphasizes multicultural perspectives through elective theology, psychology, and literature courses.

Students engage with the community through research, event planning, discussions, and service-learning projects with local organizations. The curriculum promotes justice for all genders via activism and career-oriented volunteer opportunities. Additionally, classes explore gender issues in various religious contexts, including Biblical interpretations and gender violence.

Featured courses

GNDR 2010: The Gender Matrix
This course introduces students to gender studies by exploring gender diversity at the intersections of race, class, and other isms. It focuses on structures and systems that sustain inequalities and examines strategies for social justice and positive change.

GNDR 2210: Gender Communication
This course explores human communication among multiple gender identities by adopting critical perspectives that can facilitate the exploration of gender construction in our society. It examines the concepts of sex, gender, and sexuality, and how those concepts affect communication in families, schools, relationships, workplaces, and the media.

Minor requirements

• Paired with a major to meet graduation requirements
• 20 credit hours of coursework in gender studies:
  • Required core courses (12 credit hours)
    • GNDR 2010
    • GNDR 2110
    • GNDR 2210
  • Electives (eight semester hours)—choose from:
    • BTS 3410
    • ENG 3270
    • ENG 3280
    • GNDR 2250
    • GNDR 3910
    • GNDR 4910
    • PSYC 3250
• A portfolio, submitted to the program chair, that includes a self-assessment, reflection on their educational experiences, and samples of work from each completed course.