Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Studies, Certificate

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Studies certificate program description

The certificate program in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies offers you a multifaceted understanding of society.

Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people play important roles as colleagues, clients, parents, children, siblings, neighbors, employees, employers, religious leaders and friends. Given the increasing visibility of and changing political climate for LGBTQ+ people in the United States, you are served well by learning about contemporary social issues regarding people from LGBTQ+ backgrounds and about their histories and communities, even if you do not identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

Your educational experience is enhanced when you are introduced to complex intersections between and among sexual, racial, ethnic, religious, geographic and national identities. This program's philosophy is to promote intellectual and pedagogical diversity as one of the university's greatest assets, and this is done in part by instilling in you a sensitivity to cultures different from your own and through careful analysis of the self in historical, artistic and sociocultural contexts.

The goals of the program are to give you knowledge about the history of, evolution of and current issues facing the LGBTQ+ community; practical experience using coursework knowledge in the community through an internship or community service project; and theoretical perspectives on heterosexuality as a presumptive sexual identity. You gain an understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies as an academic area of inquiry and an understanding of community politics, dynamics and conflicts, and you engage in a use-inspired education that culminates in a public presentation.

Why earn this lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies undergraduate certificate at ASU?

At ASU, this lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies undergraduate certificate sits within a large public research university with extensive course offerings, so you can shape your studies around themes like law and policy, media, health, education or transnational perspectives on sexualities. This flexibility lets you build a focused path that fits your interests.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences draws on strengths in interdisciplinary work, connecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies with women and gender studies, justice studies, American studies, African and African American studies, Asian Pacific American studies, English, film and media and sociology. You'll study across the humanities and social sciences rather than within a single field.

You can pair this certificate with any undergraduate major, whether you're in education, health, business, the humanities or the social sciences. Adding focused expertise in queer studies complements your primary degree and signals your knowledge of diversity and social justice to employers.

ASU emphasizes applied and community-engaged learning. You can pursue directed research or community-based projects on LGBTQ+ issues under faculty supervision, and tap into a broader network of gender-focused research and student organizations for involvement and leadership.

Additional details

Beyond the classroom, you can get involved in LGBTQ+ and allied student organizations and attend campus events focused on gender, sexuality and social justice. These experiences help you build community, put your coursework into practice and develop leadership skills.