Multicultural and Gender Studies BA Online
Total Units Required: 120
The Bachelor of Arts in Multicultural and Gender Studies Online Degree Completion program offers an interdisciplinary approach to cultural analysis and activism within and across ethnic groups in the US, studying intersectionalism with gender, sexuality, socioeconomic class, and other issues of identity.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Course Requirements for the Major: 60 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | ||
| AAST/BLMC 330 | Introduction to Critical HMoob Studies | 3 |
| AFAM 320 | Hip Hop Culture | 3 |
| AIST 365 | American Indian Storytelling/Oral Narrative | 3 |
| CHLX 420 | Latina & Chicana Power | 3 |
| MCGS 155 | Introduction to Intersectional Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| MCGS/SOCI 240 | Food Justice | 3 |
| MCGS 350 | Issues in Racial and Ethnic Equity | 3 |
| MCGS 380W | Gender, Race, Sexuality, Science, and Society (W) | 3 |
| MCGS/CHLX/WMST 458 | Leading Social Change | 3 |
| WMST 170 | Introduction to Women's Studies | 3 |
| WMST 233 | Women Internationally | 3 |
| WMST 300W | Feminist Theory (W) | 3 |
| Select three units from the following: | 3 | |
Students are encouraged to select the course that best supports their chosen Area of Specialization. | ||
| Introduction to the Asian American Experience | ||
| Introduction to Black/African American Studies | ||
| Introduction to American Indian/US Native American Studies | ||
| Introduction to Latinx | ||
| Upper Division GE: | ||
| Students must complete nine units of upper division GE: three units in each area, Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (UD-B), Humanities and Fine Arts (UD-C), and Social Sciences (UD-D). MCGS 350, listed above, meets UD-D requirements. Students wishing to pursue other courses to complete their GE requirement will work with an MCGS advisor. | ||
| MCGS/NURS 326W | Gender and Sexuality Perspectives on Disease (W) | 3 |
| QTST 310 | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Issues and Identities | 3 |
| or QTST 310W | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Issues and Identities (W) | |
| Major Culminating Experience: | ||
| MCGS 389 | Informed Activism and Internship 1 | 3 |
| MCGS 495W | Senior Seminar in Multicultural and Gender Studies (W) | 3 |
| Area of Specialization: | 9 | |
| Students are strongly encouraged to complete one of the following Areas of Specialization. Students wishing to pursue other elective options should work with an MCGS advisor. | ||
| American Indian Studies Specialization | ||
| Visual Sovereignty: American Indian Film | ||
| American Indian Literature | ||
| American Indian Sovereignty and U.S. Federal Law | ||
| African American Studies Specialization | ||
| The Sociology of African Americans | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Black/African American Studies | ||
| Prison Industrial Complex | ||
| Intersectional Chicanx/Latinx Studies Specialization | ||
| Latinx Film: Representation, Resistance, and Disruption | ||
| Mexican American History | ||
| Latinx in the Labor Market | ||
| Women's Studies Specialization | ||
| Cultural Images of Women | ||
| Current Issues and Theories in Women's Studies | ||
| Sex Work, Queer Desire, and Transfeminism | ||
| Queer and Trans Studies Specialization | ||
| Latinx Gender and Sexualities | ||
| Queer and Trans California | ||
| Coloring Queer: Imagining Communities | ||
| Total Units | 60 | |
- 1
Must be taken for three units. This is a letter graded internship.
Electives Requirement
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires six units of honors coursework completed over two semesters.
The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.
Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:
- You must take six units of Honors in the Major coursework. All six units are honors courses (marked by a suffix of H), and at least three of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each course with a minimum grade of B.
- You must have completed 9 units of upper-division coursework or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
- Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
- Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
- Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the six units of coursework over the two semesters of their senior year.
- Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.
Honors in the Major is not part of the Honors Program. Each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 48 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings.
Transfer students accepted into this degree completion program generally will have completed all lower-division General Education Requirements.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Transfer students may have completed their Diversity Requirements prior to transfer, but this program includes courses that satisfy this requirement.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
WMST 300W Feminist Theory (W)
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.
This degree completion program is designed for students who have at least 60 units of lower division credit completed and are looking to finish their college requirements and bachelor's degree. Our 60-unit program is offered entirely online and can be completed in four semesters (for students who have completed lower division GE and American Ideals/Institutions). Students entering with more than 60 units of applicable transferrable credit may complete sooner. Students will be part of an annual cohort and take many of their courses together, as well as having unique program-specific opportunities and events, thus creating and maintaining a distinct community. However, in most cases the multicultural and gender studies online degree completion program cohort will be taking courses alongside on-campus multicultural and gender studies majors and minors, experiencing an even richer diversity of peers. Course offerings vary by semester, so you will work with our program advisors around class scheduling. The 60-unit BA in multicultural and gender studies will also offer you nine units of upper-division General Education and a recommended Area of Specialization. See a multicultural and gender studies advisor to determine if transfer coursework in related areas of study might count toward degree requirements.