Declare and Release

Students interested in learning more about or declaring a Women's and Gender Studies or Gender and Health major, or one of the four minors should meet with a WGS advisor. To set up an appointment with an advisor please click the advising schedule here. 

Minors please note: a major must be officially declared before a minor can be officially declared.

Majors please note: Students may declare a major if they have taken or are taking the prerequisite course for the major (for Women's and Gender Studies major, WGS 240 Intro to Women's and Gender Studies, and for Gender and Health major, WGS 220 Perspectives in Women's Health).

Questions? Email wgs.advising@umich.edu

Majors, please make an advising appointment here. Under appointment reason, please check the name of your major (WGS or Gender & Health) and declare/audit as your appointment reason.

Minors, please follow the appropriate steps for your minor below:

GENDER AND HEALTH: email wgs.advising@umich.edu with 'Gender & Health Release' in the subject or schedule an advising appointment.

GENDER, RACE, & NATION; LGBTQ+SS; SOCIAL CLASS & INEQUALITY STUDIES MINOR RELEASE FORM

The department release form is a REQUIRED STEP for graduation.

Please submit this form in the term PRIOR to your graduation term, for example, if you plan to complete your degree in Winter 2024  (for May graduation), ideally submit the form in fall 2024 before your winter schedule is finalized.

Upon submission, a department advisor will verify your remaining minor requirements and submit a release. You will receive an email copy of the release.

If there are any concerns or questions, we will contact you by email.

If you have questions, please email us at wgs.advising@umich.edu or to schedule an advising appointment, click https://myadvising.lsa.umich.edu/appointments/offices/WS.

Students who have meet the eligibility requirements for the Honors Program apply in the fall of their junior year. Applications are due on November . Admitted students elect WGS 389 Junior Honors Seminar in the winter term, and then the Senior Honors Seminar and Honors Thesis independent study courses ( WGS 490 and WGS 491) during their senior year.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of Women’s and Gender Studies and Gender and Health, theses can take multiple forms; students will work with their faculty advisor to determine the appropriate method, length, and format of their thesis based on disciplinary norms. Students and their advisor should discuss and agree upon these expectations early in the program.

Interested students should attend the virtual honors information session, scheduled in October.

You can discuss the honors program with a departmental advisor and sign up for an advising appointment.  

Read more about the Women's and Gender Studies Honors Program.