Gender Studies Certificate

Overview of the Gender Studies Certificate

The Gender Studies Certificate is an interdisciplinary program designed to help students investigate gender issues in a variety of contexts.

Goals and Focus of the Program

One of the primary goals of the program is to strengthen critical thinking skills through the study of global sociopolitical gender concerns, biblical and historical approaches to femininity and masculinity, relationships between men and women, and the complex cultural processes involved in gender construction. The interdisciplinary focus of the program prepares students to become proactive participants in the world by exposing them to economic, political, and cultural realities at home and around the world. Responsible Christian inquiry coupled with increasing cultural sensitivity can help create effective ambassadors for Christ in our rapidly changing world.

Christian Inquiry and Sociocultural Foundations

The program’s academic home is the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, providing a foundational understanding of sociocultural factors related to gender. The program assumes that solid Christian inquiry is foundational to productive scholarship and problem solving regarding issues that face our world today. As such, we strive to provide students with resources from our Christian heritage that will equip them for local and global leadership in all areas that pertain to human diversity.

Eligibility and Core Curriculum

Students from any major are eligible for the 24-hour gender studies certificate. Students will complete a ten-hour core of courses that investigate sociological and theological approaches to gender issues, and end their study with a capstone course designed to integrate approaches from several key disciplines.

Program Requirements and Course Structure

In addition, students will select 14 hours of classes from a variety of offerings from different departments. These classes will be distributed among three main areas: theology and theory; social and historical context; and cultural considerations of everyday life.

Requirements

View the requirements for a Gender Studies Certificate and courses offered in the College Catalog.

Core Teaching Faculty

Amy Reynolds, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Sociology

Faculty Teaching Elective Courses

Amy Black, Ph.D.

Professor of Political Science

Sarah Borden (Sharkey), Ph.D.

Professor of Philosophy

Susan Dunn-Hensley, Ph.D.

Associate Lecturer of English

Melissa Franklin-Harkrider, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of History

Brian Howell, Ph.D.

Professor of Anthropology, Department Chair

Tiffany Eberle Kriner, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of English

Christina Bieber Lake, Ph.D.

Professor of English Emerita

Emily Langan, Ph.D.

Department Chair, Associate Professor of Communication

Dyanne Martin, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of English and Education

Emily H. McGowin, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Theology

L. Kristen Page, Ph.D.

Ruth Kraft Strohschein Distinguished Chair & Professor of Biology

Rev. Amy Peeler, Ph.D.

Kenneth T. Wessner Professor of New Testament

Greg Halvorsen Schreck, M.A.

Associate Professor of Art

Wheaton Network Initiative on Gender, Development and Christianity

Christians are active in the relief, development, justice, and advocacy realms. Yet women are underrepresented in leadership across these different sectors, despite being highly engaged in nonprofit work. In light of the challenges facing women in leadership, we have launched an initiative to foster greater gender equality within the development sector, from programming on the field to conversations in the boardroom.

Learn More

Gender Equity Vision Statement

Wheaton College's Gender Equity Vision Statement emphasizes the equal dignity and collaborative roles of men and women as God's image-bearers, advocating for joint worship, service, and stewardship. The College commits to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment by addressing and removing barriers that hinder women's full participation, ensuring equal access to opportunities, and regularly assessing progress to uphold these commitments.