Last week the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education approved a new undergraduate major in Women’s and Gender Studies at the College of Charleston.

The College joins only one other institution in the state, the University of South Carolina-Columbia, in offering the degree in women’s and gender studies.

“The new WGS major responds to strong student demand for the opportunity to specialize in this subject,” said Alison Piepmeier, director of Women’s and Gender Studies.  “We expect the program will grow rapidly.”

With its home in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at the College of Charleston has existed since 1984.  WGS has 40 affiliated faculty, representing a diversity of academic interests and viewpoints.  The program serves students in all six of the academic schools.

The undergraduate minor in WGS currently is one of the largest interdisciplinary programs at the College.  An expanded commitment to interdisciplinary studies is one of the priorities.

“I congratulate the many people who developed this innovative degree proposal,” said Cynthia Lowenthal, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“I am particularly pleased for Alison Piepmeier, a brilliant scholar whose talent and energy have brought life-changing educational opportunities to College of Charleston students,” Lowenthal said.  “We will strive to build on her good work in the coming months, while Professor Piepmeier is on leave.”

The new WGS major will be available beginning in the 2010 fall semester.

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education has approved a new undergraduate major in Women’s and Gender Studies at the College of Charleston.

The College joins only one other institution in the state, the University of South Carolina-Columbia, in offering the degree in women’s and gender studies.

“The new WGS major responds to strong student demand for the opportunity to specialize in this subject,” said Alison Piepmeier, Director of Women’s and Gender Studies. “We expect the program will grow rapidly.”

With its home in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at the College of Charleston has existed since 1984. WGS has 40 affiliated faculty, representing a diversity of academic interests and viewpoints. The program serves students in all six of the academic schools.

The undergraduate minor in WGS currently is one of the largest interdisciplinary programs at the College. An expanded commitment to interdisciplinary studies is one of the priorities

“I congratulate the many people who developed this innovative degree proposal,” said Cynthia Lowenthal, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“I am particularly pleased for Alison Piepmeier, a brilliant scholar whose talent and energy have brought life-changing educational opportunities to College of Charleston students,” said Lowenthal. “We will strive to build on her good work in the coming months, while Professor Piepmeier is on leave.”

The new WGS major will be available beginning in the 2010 Fall Semester. For additional information, please contact Cara Delay, Interim Director of Women’s and Gender Studies.

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences is the largest of the academic schools at the College of Charleston, with eight academic departments and seven interdisciplinary programs. HSS sponsors six master’s programs and is responsible for six of the ten largest undergraduate majors at the College. More information about the School of Humanities and Social Sciences is available at shss.cofc.edu.