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 2110 – Gender History
Gender history focuses on the history and development of feminist thought and activism. This course explores Indigenous, Black, and post-colonial gender and feminisms beyond Western feminist history.

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 – The Gender Matrix
    • GNDR 2110 – Gender History
    • GNDR 2210 – Gender Communication
  • Electives (eight credit hours)—choose from:
    • BTS 3410 – Women, the Bible, and the Church
    • ENG 3270 – Gender and Literature
    • ENG 3280 – Race and Literature
    • GNDR 2250 – Gender Issues (cross-listed with SOC 2150)
    • GNDR 3910 – Topics in Gender Studies
    • GNDR 4910 – Independent Study in Gender Studies
    • PSYC 3250 – Psychology of Gender and Sexuality
• 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.