LGBTQ Studies Minor

The minor in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies offers students the opportunity to study sexuality from a variety of cultural and disciplinary perspectives meant to engage students in some of the most cutting-edge research in LGBTQ studies. After completing the minor, students should be familiar with the theoretical tools that different disciplines employ to study sexuality. They should be acquainted with some of the many different ways sexuality has been organized in the past and is organized in different cultures in the present, and should have an enhanced understanding and appreciation both of the sexual diversity of the world in which they live and of the complex ways in which sexuality intersects with other categories of identity and practice.

Minor Requirements

Students minoring in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies must complete seven courses, as outlined below. All courses must be taken for a letter grade. Courses in which students receive a grade of C- or lower will not apply toward the minor requirements.

Minor requirements below are effective Fall 2016. Students who declared the minor before Fall 2016 are not required to switch to the new requirements.

Required Courses

LGBTQS M114: Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies. This course introduces students to issues in LGBTQ Studies from the perspectives of the humanities, the social sciences, and the life sciences.

LGBTQS 180XP: LGBTQ Institutions and Organizations. This capstone service learning course requires students to apply the ideas learned in other LGBTQS courses to work in an LGBTQ-related community organization (contact Student Affairs Officer for permission to enroll). LGBTQS 180XP is only offered once per academic year, in the spring quarter. Students should plan their course schedules accordingly. 

LGBTQS 181: Variable Topics in Queer Diversities. Study of topics about queer diversities from the LGBTQ studies perspective.

LGBTQS 183: Variable Topics in Queer Subjectivities/Theories/History. Study of topics about queer subjectivities/theory/history from the LGBTQ studies perspective.

3 Elective Courses, selected from the list of LGBTQS Minor Pre-Approved Electives

• Students may petition to apply one (1) non-listed upper division course toward the elective requirements if at least 25% of the course content was LGBTQ-related. Students must submit a completed petition form and copies of the course syllabus and related coursework (papers, projects, etc.) to the Student Affairs Officer for review.
• Students who wish to pursue independent studies in LGBTQ-related topics under the supervision of an LGBTQS Faculty Advisory Committee member may earn credit via contract course. Please consult with the Student Affairs Officer for more information, including guidelines for creating a course contract.

Admission to the Minor

Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in order to declare the LGBTQ Studies minor. No coursework is required prior to declaring the minor; however students must contact the LGBTQ Studies Student Affairs Officer to discuss the minor requirements and add the program to their degree. Students who have earned 150 units or more of coursework must work with the Student Affairs Officer to petition their college counseling office for enrollment permission.

Download: LGBTQ Studies Minor Worksheet

Please direct all inquiries related to the LGBTQ Studies minor to Student Affairs Officer Samantha Hogan at shogan@gender.ucla.edu.

The LGBTQ Studies program is committed to providing a safe, inclusive environment for all students. Students should feel supported, respected and valued, and receive the ultimate advising experience to ensure success in the minor.