Honors in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Women's, gender, and sexuality studies majors may petition to obtain honors if they have an overall cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better and a 3.4 average or better in women's, gender, and sexuality studies courses at the end of their junior year.
Candidates are required to write an honors thesis of 75-100 pages on a topic related to women's, gender, and sexuality studies; participate in a 6-credit yearlong honors research seminar (01:988:497,498); and orally present the completed thesis to the Rutgers community at the end of the year.
Thesis
The thesis, though grounded in a discussion of what other scholars have written about the topic in question, should be based on the student's original research. Each student will work with at least two faculty advisers in developing his or her project: a primary adviser with expertise in the student's particular field of research and the instructor of the honors research seminar, who will serve as a second adviser.
Seminar
The purpose of the honors research seminar is to establish a feminist learning community that will support each student's project. In seminar meetings, students will explore issues in the production of feminist knowledge production as well as read and critique each others' work. In addition to the seminar, we strongly suggest you take Critical Feminist Investigation (01:988:370), but this is not required.
Presentation
Students will give an oral presentation of their honors thesis before students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and other invited guests in mid- to late April.
National Honor Society - IOTA IOTA IOTA
In April 2018, the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies was recognized as the Epsilon Beta Chapter of the National Women's and Gender Studies Honor Society Iota, Iota, Iota.
Iota Iota Iota (Triota) is a National Women's Studies Honor Society with over 50 chapters nationwide. The Greek letter, iota, was selected for the name to represent the three goddesses Inanna, Ishtar, and Isis. Iota Iota Iota strives to maintain the feminist values central to women's studies and encourage diversity, egalitarianism, and a supportive academic environment for all students.
The purpose of Triota is to promote interest in women's studies and research in social problems affecting all women. This society also encourages volunteerism, advocacy, and activism within the community as important methods for promoting and maintaining the feminist values central to women's studies.
Requirements:
- Second-semester sophomore, junior, or senior
- Have taken five women's, gender, and sexuality studies courses (including cross-listed courses),
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or above and minimum GPA of 3.3 in women's, gender, and sexuality studies courses
If you meet these requirements, please complete the application. You can find it here:
https://womens-studies.rutgers.edu/images/Forms/Rutgers_WGS_IOTA_Membership_Form__4bf37.pdf.
Return the completed form to undergraduate director Kyla Schuller at upd@womenstudies.rutgers.edu.
