maria's students outside listening in class

Academics

Explore our undergraduate and graduate options as stepping stones into your future career.

Garner the knowledge to be a changemaker of your generation

As a student in the Social Transformation Studies department, you will utilize and learn many skills and competencies to serve various populations in different career paths:

  • The ability to work effectively with increasingly diverse populations
  • The capacity to analyze racial impacts of law, politics, culture, and public policy
  • Strong written and oral communication
  • Critical thinking and analysis
  • Knowledge about diverse human behavior and communities
  • Awareness of social justice struggles
  • The development of cultural competency, central to living in and understanding the surrounding world

Areas of study

Social Transformation Studies

Drawing on the interdisciplinary scholarly and pedagogical traditions of the fields of ethnic studies and gender, women, and sexuality studies, the Social Transformation Studies major offers students a base of knowledge and skills that will enable them to launch and sustain careers devoted to tackling some of the most pressing social issues facing Kansans, and Americans more broadly, including health disparities, food insecurity, gender violence, and racial and economic inequalities.

Bachelor's degree

American Ethnic Studies

In American Ethnic Studies, students learn how race and ethnic understandings have been shaped across history. We explore Native American, African American, Mexican/Latina/o American, and Asian American historical and cultural dynamics and prepare students to function productively in today's multicultural society.

Minor

Intercultural competence certificate

Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies

Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies faculty and students analyze personal experience and social institutions as they shape and are shaped by gender, sex, sexuality, race/ethnicity, class, (dis)-ability and global location. This analysis enables both an understanding of oppression as well as a vision of social equity and justice.

Minor

Graduate certificate

Queer Studies

The Queer Studies Minor helps students analyze Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, and Two-Spirit subjects and objects. Importantly, the minor also provides them with the tools to understand Queer Studies theories and methods.

Minor