The Department of Women’s Studies (soon to be changed to Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies) currently offers three undergraduate programs (BA degree, online BA degree completion program, and an undergraduate certificate), and a graduate certificate in Advanced Women’s Studies. Recent political situations that undermine the rights of gender and sexual identities and expressions of marginalized people, and the growing need and demand for better and more nuanced understanding of related issues necessitate that we offer an undergraduate certificate specifically in Queer studies. The name, “Queer studies” is indicative of broader trends within the changing fields of LGBT/Sexuality/Queer studies that have shifted to endorse Queer studies as an umbrella term to study sexual identities, heteronormativity, and other expressions. WS majors and certificate students, along with those enrolled in WS 141 Intro to LGBTQ Studies (Fall 2020) responded that they wanted the certificate to be called “Queer studies” (45.8%).
The new certificate program will remain distinct in that it emphasizes sexuality with a focus on Hawai‘i, Asia and the Pacific, from a transnational, interdisciplinary, and intersectional perspective. Currently there are fourteen courses regularly taught that would count toward the Queer studies certificate, this includes cross-listed courses in American studies, English, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Biology, and Ethnic studies. The College of Social Sciences has shown strong interest and support for the certificate and there would be significant crossover with departments in the College of Arts and Humanities where sexuality is a common topic in English and American studies courses. The certificate advisory committee also hopes to build relationships with Asian studies, Hawaiian studies and Pacific Island studies faculty who are interested in including or developing elective courses.