Certificate in LGBT Studies

Requirements for the Certificate in LGBT Studies (Updated: February 21, 2005)

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The LGBT Studies certificate requires a minimum of 15 credits, distributed as follows:

I. Introduction to LGBT Studies:

Complete the 3-credit course: Sociology/Women's Studies/Inter-LS 200: Introduction to LGBT Studies.

II. Distributed content in LGBT Studies:

Complete 9 additional credits from the following list of approved 3-credit courses:

Art History 425: Alternative Interpretations: Issues of Gender and Race in Italian Renaissance and Baroque Art
Classics/Women's Studies 351: Gender and Sexuality in the Classical World
Educational Policy Studies/Women's Studies 560: Gender and Education
English 171: Gender and Sexuality in Literature
English/Women's Studies 341: Gender and Language
History 275: Topics in LGBT Histories *
History/Women's Studies 354: Women and Gender in the US since 1870
History/Women's Studies 519: Sexuality, Modernity, and Social Change
Medical History/Women's Studies 524: Medical History of Sex and Sexuality
Women's Studies 101: The Meanings of Women in Western Culture
Women's Studies 102: Women, Social Institutions and Social Change
Women's Studies 103: Women and Their Bodies in Health and Disease
Women's Studies 340: Special Topics in LGBTQ Studies *
Women's Studies 442: Lesbian Cultures
Women's Studies 532: A History of the (American) Body

Notes:
1. History 275 and Women's Studies 340 may be taught with a number of different LGBT topics and therefore may be taken more than once.

2. Some of the courses above were taught under special topics numbers before becoming permanent courses; these will count toward the certificate. For example, A History of the (American) Body was taught under the number Women's Studies 533: Special Topics in Women and Health.

3. There are a number of courses that are appropriate for the LGBT certificate that are taught under general special topics numbers, so they only count when a particular topic is taught. For example, in Spring, 2004 and 2006, English 630: Theme in 20th Century American Literature, Lecture 1 (Bow): Race and Sexuality counted toward the certificate. Other examples are Art History 600: Theory as Visual Practice, as taught by Casid in Spring, 2004; History 500 (sem 2): Women's Activism in the US, taught by Enke in Spring 2005; Women's Studies 533: Women and Sexuality, as taught by Pastor in Fall and Spring, 2004-05, and as LGBTI Health taught by Whatley in Fall, 2005.

If you have any questions about whether a course should count or have any suggestions for ones that should be added to the list, please contact the certificate advisor.

III. Capstone:

Complete the 3-credit LGBT Capstone Seminar.

You must have already completed at least 9 credits in the certificate before taking the capstone course. In Spring 2005, Women's Studies 340 may be taken as the capstone course; you need to let the professor for the course know that you are taking it as the capstone.

Notes:
There is not yet a course specifically labeled as the capstone. In certain semesters, it will be possible to use Women's Studies 340 as the capstone course. Also, as a substitution for the Capstone Seminar, it is possible to complete a 3-credit "Directed Studies" (699) course with a faculty member willing to direct the course within the guidelines of the LGBT Certificate Program. These guidelines include: (i) addressing LGBT issues, (ii) adopting a critical perspective on sex/gender categories and norms, (iii) taking a multi-cultural approach to the diverse ways in which sexualities are named and played out, (iv) addressing dynamics of power, oppression, and marginalized (as well as privileged) statuses linked with sex/gender categories. The substitution of the 3-credit "Directed Studies" (699) course for the Capstone Seminar must be approved by the LGBT certificate advisor.

IV. Limitations:

1. Not more that 3 credits of work for the LGBT certificate may be in independent studies.

2. Not more than 9 credits can be used to count for both the LGBT certificate and either the Women's Studies major or the Women's Studies Certificate.

Supplementary Information for Certificate in LGBT Studies

1. Students wishing to earn the LGBT certificate should meet with the LGBT certificate advisor to declare their candidacy for the certificate. The advisor is Nina Valeo, 608-263-1785; afvaleo@wisc.edu. Spring 2005-06 walk-in office hours are Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 in room 110 Ingraham. However, if the scheduled office hours do not work for you, email is the best way to schedule an appointment.

2. Students wishing to complete a 3-credit "Directed Study" (699) course as a substitute for the Capstone Seminar should request from the LGBT certificate advisor a list of faculty members who have agreed to supervise such "Directed Study" courses within the guidelines of the LGBT Certificate Program. The student must get approval from the professor willing to supervise and get prior approval from the certificate advisor for the proposed substitute 699, and then, after registering for the "Directed Study" course with a faculty member on the list, must inform the advisor that this "Directed Study" course with a specific faculty member in a specific semester is being taken as a substitute for the Capstone Seminar.

3. Seniors with a GPA of at least 3.5 can count graduate courses toward the LGBT certificate if they have the approval of the instructor, and if the course is approved by the LGBT certificate advisor. According to L&S rules, no more than one such course can be taken a semester toward the L&S degree.

4. Student who do not complete the LGBT certificate requirements by the time of graduation may earn the certificate after graduation by subsequently completing the certificate requirements.

5. Special students can earn the LGBT certificate.

6. Students and faculty are requested to inform the LGBT certificate advisor of current or past courses that might qualify for LGBT certificate credit. Students and faculty are also requested to provide as detailed information as possible regarding those courses. Those courses could include special topics courses taught by certain faculty members in specific semesters. The LGBT certificate advisor, in consultation with the LGBT certificate committee, will determine which past or present courses qualify for LGBT certificate credit.

7. Students who have declared the certificate can check on their progress through their DARS reports. However, all certificate students must notify the LGBT certificate advisor either during or after the semester they are completing the certificate in order to get approval of completion. The certificate is not awarded automatically based on DARS. If there are any questions about a DARS report, please contact the certificate advisor, Nina Valeo, 608-263-1785; afvaleo@wisc.edu.

Page Updated:

30-Jan-2008