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Gender Studies Minor

Minor

With a gender studies minor, you’ll explore our notions of gender, their historical and cultural origins, and find ways to apply what you’re learning in your education and career.

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By adding a minor in gender studies, you’ll develop a reflective and interdisciplinary understanding of how our notions of gender, gender roles, and gender identities have been, and continue to be, shaped by the intellectual, historical, and sociocultural contexts in which they emerge. This flexible minor provides critical thinking and lessons that can pair well with majors like education, history, social work, business, and more. And you’ll work on a research or service learning project that will help you apply lessons from gender studies courses to your major field of study.

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Why should I study gender studies at Bethel?

Here, you’ll find a Christ-centered learning community where you belong. Your learning will center in the Department of History, Philosophy, and Political Science—often called the HiPPos—where you’ll learn from professors who get to know you personally and will invest in your success. You’ll experience:

  • Customized focus areas that apply to your major
    You’ll have an opportunity integrate a gender studies topic that interests you into a course within your field of study. You’ll design an integrative project through either research or service-learning that explores how issues of gender impact your major field of study. See the Gender-tag form (pdf) for more information.

  • Flexibility
    This minor offers lots of flexibility, as many of the course offerings also count toward general education requirements and will enhance your primary area of study.
  • Faith-fueled learning 
    We teach with the belief that all God’s creation and all human beings are worthy of study, so you’ll gain a broad knowledge of human history that is deepened by the integration of a Christian perspective.
  • A community where you belong
    You’ll learn in a welcoming community of intellectually curious students and professors who will invest in your success.

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Connect with a counselor

They’ll answer your questions, connect you with professors, and help you find the right time to visit campus. They’ll be there every step of the way to help make applying to Bethel as smooth as possible.

Find your counselor

Courses and skills

What skills will I develop?

As you explore gender studies, you’ll expand your knowledge and develop critical thinking skills for evaluating different beliefs and systems about gender. You’ll better understand how personal beliefs about gender influence thoughts about ourselves and others

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A strong base of knowledge

You’ll gain a better understanding of the key contexts that have and continue to shape gender experiences. And you’ll better recognize discrimination at the intersection of gender, race, class, and more.

Faith-fueled learning

As you explore key issues and beliefs around gender, you’ll develop the ability to apply biblical perspectives to gender issues.

Strong communication skills

You’ll be able to respectfully and thoughtfully communicate personal perspectives. And you’ll gain a stronger sense of empathy for how gender shapes and impacts people of other cultures

Skills for any career

Gender studies is an area that will enhance your critical thinking skills as you evaluate different beliefs and systems. And these skills can be applied to almost any area of study and career.

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Academic plans

Map out your time at Bethel—from day one to your diploma. Your course schedule is designed to help you grow, gain skills, and become who you’re meant to be.

See plans

Learning opportunities

What experiences will I have?

Hands-on learning is at the core of all Bethel majors and minors. That means you’ll find numerous opportunities to get involved, apply what you’ve learned, and gain experience.

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Study abroad

Study around the world through trips over a full semester, January session, spring break, and summer. Off-campus study abroad programs include the January trip to Morocco, Spain, and France. Or you can study for a semester at a university in another country. Recent students have studied in Chile, Costa Rica, Indonesia, and Lithuania.

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Internships

We have partnerships like a paid internship at the White Bear Lake Historical Society. You’ll also have the chance to intern at sites like the Minnesota Legislature and the Minnesota Historical Society, and the opportunity to apply to work for the department as a teaching assistant.

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Research

You’ll have the chance to conduct research with professors through programs like Edgren Scholars and summer research projects. And you can conduct your own original research in local or digital archives for your senior seminar paper.

See all experiences

Real-world impact

How will this minor help my career goals?

You’ll gain knowledge of political systems and communication, writing, and critical thinking skills that can prepare you for almost any job.

Stand out to employers

Through your service learning or research project, you’ll display the type of critical thinking skills that will help you stand out to employers and graduate schools.

Show your passion

Through rigorous study in a field like gender studies, you’ll stand out to employers with your passion and purpose.

Apply your faith to your career

As you wrestle with important questions and study from a Christian perspective, you’ll be well-equipped to glorify God wherever your career takes you.

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Start your journey

Explore Bethel for yourself

Visiting campus is the best way to learn about Bethel and our majors. As you try out academic and campus life at Bethel, you can attend a class, chat with students, meet professors and coaches, tour campus, and get a taste of life in our program.

Schedule a visit

Faculty mentors

Meet your professors

You’ll learn alongside faculty who are distinguished scholars and faithful Christians. They’ll know you by name and invest in your success. Professors are accessible and usually have an open-door policy so you can stop by with questions, and you’ll often find students gathered in the “HiPPos Suite.”

Department of History, Philosophy, and Political Science


Location

Clausen Center (CC) 429

Contact

Andrew Bramsen

Chris Gehrz

Andrew Bramsen

Andrew Bramsen

Associate Professor of Political Science

Bio >

Chris Gehrz

Chris Gehrz

Professor of History

Bio >

Charles Goldberg

Charles Goldberg

Associate Professor of History

Bio >

AnneMarie Kooistra

AnneMarie Kooistra

Professor of History

Bio >

Christopher Moore

Christopher Moore

Associate Professor of Political Science

Bio >

Sam Mulberry

Sam Mulberry

Assistant Professor of History and Co-Director of the Academic Enrichment and Support Center

Bio >

Sara Shady

Sara Shady

Professor of Philosophy

Bio >

Lynn Uzzell

Lynn Uzzell

Associate Professor of Political Science

Bio >

Dan Yim

Dan Yim

Professor of Philosophy

Bio >

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Bruce Berglund

Adjunct Instructor of History, Philosophy, and Political Science

Bio >

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Michael Bumann

Adjunct Instructor of History, Philosophy, and Political Science

Bio >

Omar Fakhri

Omar Fakhri

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Bio >

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Bart Fischer

Adjunct Instructor of History, Philosophy, and Political Science

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Andrew Greenlee

Adjunct Instructor of Philosophy

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Rushika Hage

Adjunct Instructor of History

Bio >

Amy Poppinga

Amy Poppinga

Adjunct Associate Professor of History

Bio >

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Todd Kline

Adjunct Instructor of History, Philosophy, and Political Science

Bio >

James Hurd

James Hurd

Professor of Anthropology Emeritus

Bio >

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John Lawyer

Professor of Political Science Emeritus

Bio >

Samuel Zalanga

Samuel Zalanga

Professor of Sociology Emeritus

Bio >

6 majors, 6 minors, and 2 endorsements available in the department

83

students in political science majors

60%

recent alumni continuing their studies in graduate school

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Accessible education

Tuition and financial aid

We want you to understand from the beginning what a Bethel education costs. That’s why we made it simple. Beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, tuition for the College of Arts & Sciences will be $25,990—down from $44,050. This more accurately reflects what you can expect to pay, empowering you to make informed decisions and become who you're meant to be.

Estimate your cost today

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Become A Bethel Student

Apply now

You belong at Bethel. If you're ready to see who you could become, start your free application today.

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Find your fit

Explore related programs

This flexible minor will complement almost any major you choose. But here are a few examples:

Explore the full lists:

Majors and minors Preprofessional programs Endorsements