Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Pre-Gender Studies, A.A. (General Transfer)


Academic Program Code: 526

The purpose of studying gender at Grand Rapids Community College is to challenge students to consider how a variety of areas of study are shaped by gender and how gender impacts people’s understanding of all elements of systems and cultures. The interdisciplinary coursework in Gender Studies focuses on gender formation and history, communications, sociology, linguistics, literature, gender empowerment, the humanities and social sciences, and social justice and politics, among other topics. The courses also consider how gender intersects with culture, race, class, ethnicity, society, law and sexuality. The curriculum will encourage the development of critical thinking skills to assess scholarly work done in the discipline and to use that assessment to challenge and expand upon current knowledge. An understanding of gendered group dynamics will help students to become effective leaders. Gender Studies courses will provide students the opportunity to practice listening to and engaging with others’ points of view. The courses will also prepare students to appropriately challenge gender-based inequities and consider how they can be involved in their communities. Students will gain an appreciation for a variety of perspectives and they will understand the impact of diversity on their lives and on society.

This program is designed to offer a clear pathway for students wanting to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program in gender studies at a senior institution. Some of the jobs students with degrees in gender studies pursue include: human services and human relations, advocacy for domestic violence, human rights, women’s health, social services, rape crisis, and social justice issues, community health care, and academic research. By declaring this Pre-Major, students are on track to graduate with an Associate of Arts degree from GRCC and transfer to a 4-year college or university to major in gender studies.
 

General Education Courses


Select a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work from the General Education course list. Course work must be selected as directed in the areas below.

English Composition and Communications


Humanities


Select two (2) of the following courses.  Humanities General Education Electives must be selected from two (2) different subject areas.

Social Sciences


Select two (2) Social Sciences General Education Electives from two (2) different subject areas.

Natural Sciences and Mathematics


Natural Sciences


Select two (2) Natural Sciences General Education courses from two (2) different subject areas; one (1) must be a lab.

Mathematics


Select one (1) Mathematics General Education Elective.

General Education Total Credit Hours


30 (minimum)

Program Courses


Program Elective Courses


Select two (2) courses from the list below. Courses should be selected based on your identified program or major at the 4-year transfer institution that you plan to attend. For assistance, please see a GRCC advisor or faculty member, in addition to viewing the “Transfer Notes” section below.

Note: Some courses on the list below have required prerequisites. Please click on a course to view any prerequisites, and the course descriptions.

Open Elective Courses


In addition to the above coursework, you will need to take other GRCC courses to complete your degree. For maximum transferability, all courses should be selected based on your identified program or major at the 4-year transfer institution that you plan to attend. The number of elective credit hours that you will need to complete this Pre-Major will depend on the number of credit hours that remain in order for you to reach the 60 credits needed to graduate. For assistance in developing an academic plan, please see a GRCC advisor or faculty member.

Total Credit Hours


60

Transfer Notes


Be aware that many 4-year institutions limit the number of credits that you can transfer from GRCC, and have final determination regarding the transferability and applicability of GRCC courses. Contact the 4-year institution to which you intend to transfer for assistance with course selections and verification of the transferability and applicability of courses/credits. It is recommended that you meet with an advisor to review the requirements for this program and have any questions about transfer answered prior to completing this degree program at GRCC.

Correction


GST 200  moved to the Social Science General Education Option.  Corrected 2.1.2021