Disciplines and areas of study
Gender, sexuality, and diversity studies
Program Coordinator: Dr. Carolyn D’Cruz
Gender, sexuality and diversity studies (GSD) is an interdisciplinary area of critical inquiry focussing on how our bodies and identities are categorised and lived out in social, political and ethical relations. More specifically, GSD examines the complex interrelationships existing between such diverse markers of identity as sex, gender, femininity, masculinity, sexuality, ethnicity, nationality, class, and age. Primarily based on the themes, concerns and perspectives emerging from feminist scholarship, post-colonial studies, and queer theory, GSD gives students the opportunity to hone skills in critical thinking, effective writing, media and textual analysis, historical and sociological investigations and legal interpretations. In drawing on a wide variety of disciplines in one area study, GSD is unique, offering students more scope and flexibility when constructing their degrees. The interdisciplinary focus additionally provides students with a breadth of knowledge and range of skills applicable to all professional, public, and personal life choices one makes after university study. Students may enrol in a major, double major or single subjects of GSD studies.
Programs of study
Gender, Sexuality and Diversity Studies (GSD) Major
To complete a major in GSD students must complete:
- a GSD core subject at each year level of their degree.
- 30 credit points at first year level,
- 40 credit points at second-year level and
- at least 60 credit points at third year level of GSD subjects from the list below.
Double Majors
Given the pertinence of gender, sexuality and diversity issues in the workplace, media, government policy and legislative change, GSD offers a perfect double major with other areas of study. Other studies might include sociology and politics, media studies, history and legal studies. This expands the opportunities for both interdisciplinary and interdisciplinary post-graduate research. At the same time, a double major adds to qualifications for employment opportunities.
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| First year core subjects (15 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Sex, Gender and Identity | GSD1SGI |
| OR | ||
| TE-SEM-2 | Sex, Gender and Diversity | GSD1SGD |
| Second year core subject (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Gender and Sexuality: contemporary debates | GSD2GES |
| Third year core subject (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | To be advised | |
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| First year subjects (15 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Sex, Gender and Identity | GSD1SGI |
| TE-SEM-2 | Sex, Gender and Diversity | GSD1SGD |
| Second or third year subjects (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Gender and Sexuality: contemporary debates | GSD2GES/GSD3GES |
| TE-SEM-1 | Reading Course A | GSD3RCA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Contemporary Feminist Thought | GSD2CFT/GSD3CFT |
| TE-SEM-2 | Gender and Development | GSD2GAD |
| TE-SEM-2 | Reading Course B | GSD3RCB |
Other subjects available for a GSD major
Most subjects accredited as part of GSD studies may be taken without the usual disciplinary prerequisite. However, students wishing to do so are advised to seek approval from the subject coordinator.
Important notice: Not all of the subjects listed below will be available every year. See the subject lists for the specific disciplines, where subjects unavailable in 2010 will be noted.
| Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|
| Second or third year subjects (20 credit points) | |
| Antiquity, Gender and Religion | HIS2AGR/HIS3AGR |
| Australians at War: gendered perspectives | HIS2AAW/HIS2AAW |
| Childhood, Youth and Culture | ANT2CAC/ANT3CAC |
| Cinema and Sexuality | CST2CAS/CST3CAS |
| Crime, Law and Culture | LST2CLC/LST3CLC |
| Crises in South Asia: weapons, women, well-being | POL2CSA/POL3CSA |
| Intercultural Communication | LIN2CCC/LIN3CCC |
| Deviance, Criminality and Social Control | SOC2DCS/SOC3DCS |
| Discourse, Body, Knowledge | PHI2DBK/PHI3DBK |
| Discrimination and the Law | LST2DAL/LST3DAL |
| Ethnicity and Identity: social and political approaches | SOC2EAI/SOC3EAI |
| Families and Change | SOC2FAC/SOC3FAC |
| Food, Drink and World History: ancient world to modern Australia | HIS2FDA/HIS3FDA |
| Genocides and the Holocaust: Europe, Asia, Africa | HIS2GAH/HIS3GAH |
| Human Rights: fundamental issues | PHI2HUR/PHI3HUR |
| Kinship, Gender and Marriage | ANT2KAM/ANT3KAM |
| Living with Colonialism: resistance and accommodation | HIS2LWC/HIS3LWC |
| Love, Desire and the Master-Slave Dialectic | PHI2LDM/PHI3LDM |
| Migration, Transnationalism and Diaspora | SOC2TDM/SOC3TDM |
| Modern Drama and Acting Identity | DRA2MOA/DRA3MOA |
| Plato and the Meaning of Being | PHI2PAM/PHI3PAM |
| Punishment in Context | LST2PIC/LST3PIC |
| Re-situating Modernism: decolonising contexts | ENG2REM/ENG3REM |
| Sex, Gender and Work | SOC2SGW/SOC3SGW |
| Women Writing A | ENG2WWA/ENG3WWA |
| Women Writing B | ENG2WWB/ENG3WWB |
Honours
Qualified students may enrol in the fourth year honours program in gender, sexuality, and diversity studies. Students may enrol in honours solely in GSD studies, or combine it with honours in another discipline. To qualify for admission to honours, students must normally have completed the pass degree with a major in GSD studies and have obtained an average grade of B in relevant subjects. Students who do not have a B average should consult the Honours Coordinator and may be considered for admission. Enquiries about the honours program should be directed to the GSD Studies Honours Coordinator.
Students undertaking honours are required to complete two coursework subjects (20% each) and a 15,000-word thesis (50%). Attendance at a fortnightly honours seminar is compulsory. A 3000-word essay will be submitted as a part of this seminar. This is worth 10% of the final result.