Women's Studies Catalog Information
An Interdisciplinary Program Program offered • Minor in Women’s Studies (20 credits) Women’s studies is an interdisciplinary minor that places the lives and experiences of women at the center of inquiry by analyzing the roles and perspectives of women as well as their contributions to the scholarly, artistic, political, social and religious worlds. Courses incorporate theory and research from different disciplines that examine the degree to which gender is a social construct. The women’s studies program is dedicated to building a more complex and inclusive portrait of humanity by using gender as a category of analysis, along with other differences, such as race, ethnicity, class and sexuality. The women’s studies program provides learning experiences that prepare students to achieve the following outcomes: • employ gender as a category of analysis in the contexts of women’s lives – personal, professional and public • analyze the ways in which women’s lives are shaped by race, class, sexuality, religion and ethnicity as well as by culture • explain multiple philosophical approaches to feminism • interpret the legacy of women’s lives and of women’s contributions to the well-being of humankind • recognize and value the emotional dimension of knowledge, reflect on their own lives, analyze the role of gender in their experience, and articulate their values and beliefs Minor in Women’s Studies The requirements for a minor in women’s studies are 20 credits: • WS 201 U – Introduction to Women’s Studies • 16 additional credits from the following: – ENG 365 U – Writing of Women, 4 credits – FREN 223 E – Race, Gender and Power in the Francophone World, 4 credits – GER 440 – Topics in German Film, 4 credits – HIST 316 H, U, X – U.S. Women’s History, 4 credits – HIST 344 H, G, X – Women’s History in Cross-Cultural Perspective, 4 credits – PHIL 337 – Philosophy of Feminism, 4 credits – PSYC 383 U – Psychology of Gender, 4 credits – PSYC 384 – The Life of a Psychologist: Women in Science Making Links Between their Work and their World, 2 credits – REL 224 D – Women in Religious History, 4 credits – REL 318 X– Women, Religion and Literature, 4 credits – SOC 317 U– Gender, Self and Society, 4 credits – SPAN 325 – Hispanic Women Writers, 2 credits – THR 323 – Women and Theatre, 4 credits • No more than 6 credits may be accumulated from WS 390 – Cooperative Education, WS 480 – Independent Study and WS 490 – Practicum.
Women's Studies Courses
WS 201 U – Introduction to Women’s Studies, 4 credits. E. An introduction to key concepts, theories and research in women’s studies. This course examines topics such as gender socialization and sexuality, women’s health and reproduction, women’s self-images and self-esteem, and women’s work and creativity, in order to understand the historical, political, economic, social and cultural processes that have shaped women’s experiences.
WS 380 – Special Topics, 2 to 4 credits. D. Courses covering various topics of interest in this particular discipline are offered regularly. Contact program director for more information.
WS 390 – Cooperative Education, 2 to 4 credits. D.
WS 480 – Independent Study, 2 to 4 credits. D. This course provides an opportunity for individual students to conduct in-depth research of a particular topic under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Contact the program director for more information.
WS 490 – Practicum, 2 to 4 credits. D.
Course Catalog
