Overview
Carleton College’s Women’s and Gender Studies in Europe (WGSE) program focuses on women’s, feminist, and LGBTQ+ issues across Western and East-Central Europe. Participants study feminist and queer theory, cross-cultural feminist methodology, and European situated feminisms and conduct independent research projects while traveling to the Netherlands, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
Academics
Since 1984, Women’s and Gender Studies in Europe has offered students a unique opportunity to explore feminist and queer theory in practice across Western and East Central Europe. Interaction with academics, politicians, activists, and homestay hosts encourages comparative approaches to independent field research projects.
The independent field research is a centerpiece of Women’s and Gender Studies in Europe. Students will self-design a project based on a topic determined by their academic interests and in consultation with the Program Director.
You will enroll in four required courses, including the independent field research, that focus on topics like examining the history and present of feminist and LGBTQ+ activists across Western and East-Central Europe, reflecting on what it means to move between different linguistic communities, and addressing the impact of Anglo-American influences in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies.
Program Features
Students will stay in private apartments, student dorms, and homestays throughout Europe.
Beyond the classroom, weekend excursions will take students to places such as Texel Island (Netherlands), the Bad Saarow thermal mineral spa (Germany), and Olomouc and Javoricske caverns in Moravia (the Czech Republic).
Eligibility
Review eligibility to ensure that you meet all Columbia requirements to study abroad.
Review the external program webpage to understand any additional program prerequisites.
Note the program language requirements.
Application Instructions
To apply, you must complete the two steps below. Deadlines vary and some applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Therefore, you should complete the steps below simultaneously:
- To apply for Columbia clearance (approval) to study abroad, click on "Start Your Application" on this webpage. Clearance applications are approved on a rolling basis until the application deadline listed on this webpage.
- To apply for program admission, complete an external application directly on the program webpage. Note that this deadline may be in advance of the Columbia clearance deadline.