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Gender and Media Minor
Create Media that Challenges Inequality and Leads with Purpose
Media shapes, reinforces, and challenges ideas about gender and identity. The Gender and Media minor at Rutgers is a transdisciplinary program that prepares students to think critically and act creatively at the intersection of gender, media, and representation.
Combining perspectives from the School of Communication and Information and the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS), the Gender and Media Studies minor empowers you to analyze media systems, develop technical and creative skills, and advocate for more equitable narratives in all forms of media.
How to Declare a Minor and Key Policies
Eligibility
All Rutgers undergraduates may declare the Gender & Media minor after completing one foundation course with a grade of C or better:
- 01:988:202 Gender, Culture and Representation
- 04:567:215 Gender, Race and Class in the Media
SAS, SEBS, and SC&I students: You may minor in Gender & Media regardless of major.
Students in other Rutgers schools (Business, Engineering, Mason Gross, Nursing, etc.): You may minor in Gender & Media; consult your academic advisor to discuss options and requirements.
How to Declare (after you meet eligibility)
Choose the option for your school:
- SAS & SC&I: Log in to SASmyMajor
- SEBS: Log in to SEBS myMajor
- MGSA: Log in to MGSA myMajor
- Other Rutgers schools (Business, Engineering, Nursing, etc.): Use your school’s minor declaration form and submit it to SC&I Student Services (SC&I Building, Room 214, 4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick).
Advising
Make an appointment with SC&I Student Services (SC&I Building, Room 214, 4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick, College Avenue Campus) to map your plan and stay on schedule.
Counting Rules & Policies
- All Gender & Media courses must be completed with C or better to receive the minor; grades below C do not count.
- Gender & Media courses may satisfy select core curriculum requirements.
- Courses may double-count for the Gender & Media minor and any other major or minor at SC&I or SAS.
- Use Degree Navigator (Rutgers’ degree audit system) to plan and track progress.
Accordion Content
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Half of the Gender and Media courses are offered through SC&I and half through the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences. In this unique collaboration, you’ll:
- Apply technical skills as a media producer while bringing your critical perspective to creative work
- Demonstrate analytical thinking that allows you to evaluate and challenge existing media structures
- Examine and influence the power dynamics that shape media production and gender representation
- Gain a strong foundation in feminist and queer theories and apply them in real-world media contexts.
Whether your passion lies in journalism, activism, design, entertainment, or digital content, the Gender and Media minor helps you use media as a tool for cultural understanding and change.
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Through the Gender and Media minor, you’ll:
- Critically analyze how gender, race, sexuality, class, and other dimensions of identity intersect in media
- Create media content that reflects inclusive, socially conscious storytelling
- Understand the systemic structures that shape media industries
- Examine how gender and media contribute to broader cultural and political dynamics
- Collaborate with peers across disciplines to produce and critique media from a gendered lens
Some courses may count toward both the DCIM and Gender and Media minors. Check with your advisor to see how this applies to your program plan.
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SC&I’s Gender and Media minor complements all majors at Rutgers University. The 18-credit program consists of:
- One foundational course
- Two practice/production courses
- Two conceptual courses
- One capstone course
Courses fulfill a variety of Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences core curriculum requirements and may be double-counted for both the Gender and Media and Digital Communication, Information and Media (DCIM) minors.
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Begin your minor by taking one of the following foundational courses (no prerequisites required):
Once you've successfully completed one of these courses with a grade of C or better, you’re eligible to declare the Gender and Media minor.
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To complete the minor, students must take six 3-credit courses (18 credits total), including:
Foundational Courses (choose one):Practice/Production Courses (choose two):
Required: 01:988:200 Gender, Digital Media, Social Curation
Choose one:Conceptual Courses (6 credits)
*Note: Only 3 of 6 credits in this category may be taken at the 200-level. At least one conceptual course must be at the 300-level or above.
Choose one (first conceptual course):- 04:567:274 Consumer Media Culture
- 04:567:380 Media and Social Change
- 04:547:340 Gender and Technology
- Some Special Topics courses from SC&I programs may be allowed with approval (contact the Gender and Media Program Director, Mary Chayko).
Choose one (second conceptual course):
- 01:988:255 Gender, Art, and Society
- 01:988:257 Gender and the Body: Representations and Pornography
- 01:988:258 Gender, Race, and Contemporary Art
- 01:988:259 Homosexuality and Visual Culture
- 01:988:317 Gender and Consumption
- 01:988:385 Theories of Women and Film
- 01:988:341 Gender and Popular Culture
- 01:988:396 Topics in Women's and Gender Studies (with approval)
Capstone Course (3 credits)
To take this course, you must have already completed at least 12 credits in this minor.OR
Important Notes:
- At least 9 credits must be completed at the 300 or 400 level
- All courses must be completed with a grade of C or better
- At least 9 credits must be unique to the Gender and Media minor (i.e., not also counted toward your major or another minor)
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The Gender and Media minor enhances any major and is especially valuable for careers in:
- Arts and Entertainment
- Digital Media and Content Strategy
- Education and Cultural Studies
- Gender Equity Consulting
- Journalism and Broadcasting
- Nonprofit and Social Justice Work
- Public Policy and Advocacy
- Public Relations and Communications
Developing both critical insight and production skills, you’ll be prepared to lead meaningful conversations and produce impactful content in any professional context.
From the Classroom to Real Life: Rising Senior Stephanie Hague Benefits from the Gender and Media Minor
“One of my favorite parts of this minor has been learning how to harness the power of social media to share academic passions. I have had the opportunity to develop my own blog, create a magazine, and more,” Hague said.
Advising and Support
We're here to help.
Mary Chayko
Distinguished Teaching Professor of Communication and Information
Director of Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies