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Women and Gender Equity (WAGE) Program

The WAGE Program engages incoming first-year students to improve their academic success, leadership, and professional development. WAGE seeks to improve the inclusion and retention of womxn and gender minoritized students on campus. For more information, check out our WAGE Welcome Admissions Brochure.

Through this course students will acquire study and interpersonal skills for academic and personal success throughout their enrollment at SDSU. Transition from high school to college can be full of challenges and choices. This course will take students on a journey of self-identity, connect first-year students with like-minded peers who are interested in womxn’s issues and social change, and will support them in a successful transition to San Diego State University. We are living through uncertain and unusual times. Through our class interactions, we hope to learn and discover values that will sustain and nourish us intellectually and personally. This syllabus is aimed at locating yourself in the larger system of knowledge production by centering yourself and your lived experiences. 

- Develop and strengthen skills in critical thinking, reading, and writing. 

- Identify strategies to succeed academically.

- Understand and analyze interlocking systems of oppression and their impact on a personal, community, and nation.

- Recognize images and representations of sexist, racist, classist, ableist, LBGTQ-phobic and other oppressive behaviors and content.

- Understand the concept of intersecting identities as related to your everyday lived experiences and contribute to knowledge construction.

- Historicize your community’s and family’s history to locate your identity.

- Support from womxn and gender expansive faculty, staff, and peer mentors

- Peer support from a WAGE Mentor through biweekly one to one meetings and ongoing support

- Community development through academic, feminist, and social justice events

- Integration into the WRC through programs and events

- Access to equity-minded leadership development including academic support, co-curricular opportunities, and career readiness

Thinking about a Major or Minor in Women's Studies? The program offers exciting courses, is committed to gender issues and social justice, and is adaptable to your interests and concerns. Women's Studies is not impacted! For more information contact: Dr. Irene Lara ([email protected]).