Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies

San Diego State University

Apr 12, 2025

2019/2020 University Catalog

Undergraduate Information
Graduate Information

Undergraduate Information

OFFICE: Arts and Letters 317
TELEPHONE: 619-594-6662

Faculty

Faculty assigned to teach lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender studies courses are drawn from the colleges at San Diego State University. The program is housed in the College of Arts and Letters.

Program Director and Undergraduate Adviser: Esther D. Rothblum (Women’s Studies)
Committee: Alameen-Shavers (Africana Studies), Ben (History), Benkov (French, Emeritus), Blashill (Psychology), Borgstrom (English), Calzo (Public Health), Cayleff (Women’s Studies), Cline (History), Colvin (Public Affairs), Corliss (Public Health), Draz (Philosophy), Elliott (Sociology), Ghosh (Women’s Studies), González-Rivera (Chicana and Chicano Studies), Howard (English and Comparative Literature), Kim (Sociology), Kuefler (History), Lindemann (Communication), Matos (English and Comparative Literature), Miller (Counseling and School Psychology), Mohammed (Religious Studies), Penrose (History), Rodriguez (Journalism and Media Studies), Schreiber (Political Science), Urada (Social Work), Vaughn (Psychology)

The Major

The interdisciplinary major in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and plus (LGBTQ+) studies advances knowledge in sexual and gender identity, and increases understanding of the diverse cultural, historical, ethnic/racial, and contemporary experiences of people across sexualities. The focus is on the changing nature of same-sex desire, sexual behavior, and same-sex relationships from antiquity to the present. Courses focus on emerging LGBTQ+ subcultures and identities from a global perspective. From there, courses address scientific and psychological explanations of LGBTQ+ identities, LGBTQ+ literature, the institutions of law and government, education and the workplace, family, and healthcare. We will finish by looking at local and international LGBTQ+ movements, popular culture, and news media in the current day. Throughout the program of study, we will carefully consider the full range of genders, sexualities, races, ethnicities, classes, physical abilities, religions, and political persuasions that characterize current LGBTQ+ movements and communities.

Courses are designed to provide students with a comprehensive, integrated, and scholarly education. The major also exposes students to community service and activism via a large selection of internships, and to global sexuality issues via international experiences.

A degree in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and plus (LGBTQ+) studies prepares students for a large variety of careers. Students majoring in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and plus (LGBTQ+) studies can work in LGBTQ+ non-profit agencies, law, local and national politics, health care settings, counseling centers, journalism, news media, theatre, film, fine arts, and education. LGBTQ+ studies majors may go on to obtain graduate degrees, preparing for a career as an LGBTQ+ studies scholar. LGBTQ+ studies majors can also double-major to enhance their career opportunities.

Advising

Students are required to meet with the undergraduate adviser in order to declare the major. All students admitted to the university with a declared major in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and plus (LGBTQ+) studies are urged to meet with the undergraduate adviser either prior to or during their first semester.

Impacted Program

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and plus (LGBTQ+) studies major is an impacted program. To be admitted to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and plus (LGBTQ+) studies major, students must meet the following criteria:

Complete preparation for the major;
Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units;
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

To complete the major, students must fulfill the degree requirements for the major described in the catalog in effect at the time they are accepted into the premajor at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.

Graduate Information

OFFICE: Arts and Letters 317
TELEPHONE: 619-594-2952

Faculty Committee for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies

Esther D. Rothblum, Ph.D., Professor of Women’s Studies, Director of Program (Graduate Adviser)
Edith J. Benkov, Ph.D., Professor of French, Emeritus Susan E. Cayleff, Ph.D., Professor of Women’s Studies [Senate Distinguished Professor]
Y. Barry Chung, Ph.D., Professor of Counseling and School Psychology, Dean of the College of Education
Heather L. Corliss, Ph.D., Professor of Public Health
William F. Eadie, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies, Emeritus, Director of Academic Labor Relations, Academic Affairs
Huma Ahmed Ghosh, Ph.D., Professor of Women’s Studies
Mathew S. Kuefler, Ph.D., Professor of History
Kurt J. Lindemann, Ph.D., Professor of Communication
Doreen J. Mattingly, Ph.D., Professor of Women’s Studies
Khaleel Mohammed, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
Ronnee D. Schreiber, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
Pablo E. Ben, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History
Aaron J. Blashill, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology
Michael K. Borgstrom, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English
Jerel P. Calzo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Health
David P. Cline, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History
Roddrick A. Colvin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Affairs
Victoria C. González-Rivera, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies
Yetta Howard, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature
Minjeong Kim, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology
Angel D. Nieves, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History
Walter D. Penrose, Jr., Ph.D., Associate Professor of History
Allison A. Vaughn, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology
Antwanisha V. Alameen-Shavers, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Africana Studies
Marie E. Draz, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Anna J. Kim, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Public Affairs
Angel D. Matos, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English and Comparative Literature
Arianne E. Miller, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Counseling and School Psychology
Cheryl M. O’Brien, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science
Nathian S. Rodriguez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies
Lianne Urada, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Social Work
Debra A. Elliott, M.A., Lecturer in Sociology

General Information

San Diego State University is one of the few institutions in the United States to offer an undergraduate major, minor, and advanced certificate in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and plus (LGBTQ+) studies.

LGBTQ+ studies is an interdisciplinary program, not affiliated with any one department. Courses offered include LGBTQ+ literature, history of sexuality, media and sexuality, psychology of human sexual behavior, sexuality in modern society, human diversity, and lesbian lives and cultures.