Student FAQs
If you have questions that are not addressed below, please contact Prof. Rushaan Kumar, Department Chair, or Whitney Hampson, Academic Administrative Assistant.
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STUDENT LIFE
What is Iota Iota Iota (Triota)?
In 2011, Feminist & Gender Studies developed the Student Advisory Council, which provided majors and minors with myriad leadership opportunities. In August 2016, the Council became an official chapter (Delta Mu) of Iota Iota Iota (Triota), a National Women's Studies Honor Society with over 140 chapters nationwide. Triota strives to maintain the feminist values and encourage diversity, egalitarianism, and a supportive academic environment for all students, while encouraging volunteerism, advocacy, and activism within the community as important methods for promoting and maintaining feminist values.
You can find more information on our Triota webpage.
What is The Rag?
The Rag (f.k.a. The Monthly Rag) is a student publication that publishes feminist analysis, art, and ideas by members of the Colorado College community (not necessarily Feminist & Gender Studies majors or minors). You can find more information about The Rag, including current calls for submissions, by clicking here.
How can I earn the Shannon McGee Prize?
This prize is awarded to juniors or seniors who have demonstrated a real and abiding interest in Feminist and Gender Studies. Feminist & Gender Studies faculty decide who will receive the reward, which is presented at Honors Convocation in recognition of the student's active engagement, activism, or leadership. Click here to see full information in the prize.
Can I work in the Interdisciplinary Studies (ID) House?
Paid positions for ID House Student Workers are advertised on Handshake, typically during the spring semester. However, please note these employees are hired to serve not just the Feminist & Gender Studies Department, but also the Asian Studies Program and the Race, Ethnicity, & Migration Studies Department. For more information about working at the ID House, contact the department's academic administrative assistant, Whitney Hampson.
Can I request funding from the department for events I'm organizing?
Feminist and Gender Studies has a limited amount of money reserved for funding student activities that advance our mission and vision. On that note, our priorities for funding students are as follows, listed in order of descending importance: requests from declared majors, requests from declared minors, and requests from students who are not declared majors or minors.
Can the department help me find jobs, internships, and graduate programs?
We recommend you contact the Career Center for more assistance along these lines.
I have exciting news I'd like to share, but I don't want to seem like I'm bragging—what should I do?
Sharing great news isn't bragging! We are always excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our community. Please click here to share your news with us!
COURSES AND RESEARCH
How can I graduate with distinction?
Students graduating with distinction have maintained a 3.7 GPA in their Feminist & Gender Studies courses and earned an A- or A in FG404 and FG405.
What are the differences between core and other courses?
We use the phrase "core courses" to refer to non-electives required for the major or minor, including, but certainly not limited to, FG110 Introduction to Feminist & Gender Studies, FG211 Critical Feminist Methodologies, and FG416 Senior Seminar. Other courses in the department taught by our faculty are considered elective courses.
Click here to see more information on FGS courses, including our current course grid.
Are there opportunities to study off-campus or abroad in the department?
Prof. Heidi R. Lewis has taught her course FG214 Hidden Spaces, Hidden Narratives: Intersectionality Studies in Berlin, Germany each summer since 2014 (except 2020 due to COVID-19). For more information about this course, contact Prof. Lewis, and stay tuned for other upcoming opportunities for engaging in off-campus study.
Additionally, the Feminist and Gender Studies Department allows majors to earn up to two (2) credits, and minors one (1) credit, from off-campus study programs outside of CC to count towards the degree, typically in the form of one of the electives. You may submit course approval requests through Summit to initiate the review process with the department; however, the second step required for any course taken in an off-campus study program to count towards your FGS major or minor is to submit a written rationale via e-mail to your academic advisor and the department chair in the FGS department. This rationale (150 to 200 words) should explain how you are proposing to count this specific course towards your FGS major or minor. While Summit is the first step, this rationale is the second important step that must be completed and approved for any approvals in Summit to count to your specific degree progress. Check with your FGS advisor or the Office of International Programs if you have any questions about these two steps. (Click here for more information.)
Does the department offer summer courses?
Typically, yes. See Banner for our current summer course offerings.
Are there opportunities to conduct research with professors in the department?
Professors Lewis, Guessous, Kumar, and Chavez typically contact prospective students about research opportunities directly. However, interested students may also contact the professors for more information.
Can I request funding from the department to attend an academic conference?
Feminist and Gender Studies has a limited amount of money reserved for funding student activities that advance our mission and vision. On that note, our priorities for funding students are as follows, listed in order of descending importance: requests from declared majors, requests from declared minors, and requests from students who are not declared majors or minors.
THE MAJOR
How do I declare a major in Feminist & Gender Studies?
We recommend students take some courses with Professors Lewis, Guessous, Kumar, and/or Chavez before deciding to major. Subsequently, students may contact any one of these professors to discuss declaring. Please note, however, that students do not choose their major advisor. Rather, to be considerate of labor equity, we have an advising rotation practice that will be explained to students at the point of declaration.
Click here to see full information about major requirements.
Can I choose my major advisor?
No. To be considerate of labor equity, we have an advising rotation practice that will be explained to students at the point of declaration.
How do I complete the major?
Students must complete 12 units for the major. Click here to see full information about major requirements.
Can I count cross-listed courses for my major?
As of 2026, Feminist & Gender Studies is no longer accepting cross-listed courses from other departments, and only FGS courses may be counted towards the major. If you declared your major prior to Spring 2026 and have taken cross-listed FGS courses, please reach out to your major advisor to discuss your options. Click here to see full information about major requirements.
Can I count courses that are not offered by FGS for my major?
Not typically. However, special cases may be considered by the major advisor.
How many courses can I take pass/fail in the major?
We do not recommend majors take any core courses pass/fail. Taking other required courses pass/fail should be discussed with the major advisor.
Can I choose my senior capstone project topic?
Typically, yes. Students articulate these and other interests when they submit capstone project proposals in FG322 Junior Seminar.
What kind of senior capstone project can I do?
Students can submit traditional essays, creative writing, grant proposals, and other types of projects, which reflects the plurality of our discipline. These ideas are articulated when capstone project proposals are submitted in FG322 Junior Seminar.
Can I choose the first and second readers for my senior capstone project?
While students articulate their preferences when they submit capstone project proposals in FG322 Junior Seminar, the decision regarding first and second readers is ultimately decided by the Feminist & Gender Studies faculty with consideration for the faculty's areas of expertise and labor equity.
Can I request funding from the department for my senior capstone project?
Yes. You may discuss your needs with your major advisor, but you must fill out the Application for Funding for officialy consideration.
Who are the current Feminist & Gender Studies majors?
Click here to see a list of current Feminist & Gender Studies majors and minors.
Who has graduated from CC with a major in Feminist & Gender Studies?
Click here to see a list of Feminist & Gender Studies alumni.
What can I do with a Feminist & Gender Studies major after graduating?
As scholar Vivian M. May points out, our field’s “focus on the intersections of knowledge and power offers a heightened capacity to navigate and negotiate institutional structures, policies, and procedures […] interdisciplinary training translates into an ability to cross boundaries, to move among different groups, forging connections with people who might otherwise remain isolated, asking questions others might not think of, and sometimes accomplishing projects others think are impossible.” On that note, FGS majors become artists, teachers, librarians, non-profit professionals, journalists, lawyers, social workers, and policy makers, just to name a few. Consult with our faculty and the Career Center about how an FGS major or minor can be meaningful you. Contact the Career Center for assistance.
You can also read our Alumni Spotlight column and see our news and events to see some of what other students have done since graduating.
THE MINOR
How do I declare the minor?
We recommend students take some courses with Professors Lewis, Guessous, Kumar, and/or Chavez before deciding to minor. Subsequently, students may contact any of these professors to discuss declaring. Please note, though, students do not choose their minor advisor. Rather, to be considerate of labor equity, we have an advising rotation practice that will be explained to students at the point of declaration.
Click here to see full information about minor requirements.
Can I choose my minor advisor?
No. To be considerate of labor equity, we have an advising rotation practice that will be explained to students at the point of declaration.
How do I complete the minor?
Students must complete 6 units for the minor. Click here to see full information about minor requirements.
Can I count courses that are not listed in FGS for my minor?
Not typically. However, special cases may be considered by the minor advisor. Click here to see full information about minor requirements.
Do I have to complete a senior capstone project if I'm a minor?
No, a senior capstone project is not required to complete an FGS minor.
How many courses can I take pass/fail in the minor?
We do not recommend minors take any core courses pass/fail. Taking other required courses pass/fail should be discussed with the minor advisor.
Who are the current Feminist & Gender Studies minors?
Click here to see a list of current Feminist & Gender Studies majors and minors.
Who has graduated from CC with a minor in Feminist & Gender Studies minor?
Click here to see a list of Feminist & Gender Studies alumni.What can I do with a Feminist & Gender Studies minor after graduating?
As scholar Vivian M. May points out, our field’s “focus on the intersections of knowledge and power offers a heightened capacity to navigate and negotiate institutional structures, policies, and procedures […] interdisciplinary training translates into an ability to cross boundaries, to move among different groups, forging connections with people who might otherwise remain isolated, asking questions others might not think of, and sometimes accomplishing projects others think are impossible.” On that note, FGS majors become artists, teachers, librarians, non-profit professionals, journalists, lawyers, social workers, and policy makers, just to name a few. Consult with our faculty and the Career Center about how an FGS major or minor can be meaningful you. Contact the Career Center for assistance.
You can also read our Alumni Spotlight column and see our news and events to see some of what other students have done since graduating.
Updated June 18th, 2026