Women's & Gender Studies

WS 1003 – Introduction to Women’s & Gender Studies – 3 credit hours

An introduction to the subject matter and methods of the discipline of women’s and gender studies, especially the practice of placing women’s experiences at the center of feminist critical inquiry. Introduces the idea of gender as a cultural phenomenon involving difference as well as power and privilege and explores issues at the center of women’s experiences, including work, education, sexuality, family, and violence. Particular attention is paid to the multiplicity of women’s identities and the interconnectedness of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class, and sexuality. Course rotation: Fall.

WS 1013 – Women in Global Perspective – 3 credit hours

An introduction to the discipline of global women’s and gender studies. Introduces students to the practice of placing women’s experiences at the center of critical inquiry by exploring the cultural constructions and implications of gender in various global regions and by analyzing experiences of women around the world from a feminist perspective. Also examines how women’s movements across the globe practice the desire for social justice. Course rotation: Spring.

WS 2203 – Gender & Popular Culture – 3 credit hours

Examines various aspects of popular culture from a feminist perspective, including how popular culture reflects and shapes cultural constructions of gender and women’s experiences. Enhances students’ ability to analyze a wide range of cultural practices and institutions through a lens of gender that is sensitive to power and privilege. Particular attention is paid to the multiplicity of women’s identities and the interconnectedness of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class, and sexuality. Prerequisites: WS 1003 or WS 1013 or instructor’s permission. Course rotation: Alternate spring.

WS 2213 – Gender & Politics – 3 credit hours

Examines the dynamic relationship between cultural constructions of gender and political practice in the United States from a feminist perspective. Enhances students’ ability to analyze a wide range of cultural practices and institutions through a lens of gender that is sensitive to power and privilege. Particular attention is paid to the multiplicity of women’s identities and the interconnectedness of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class, and sexuality. Prerequisites: WS 1003 or WS 1013 or instructor’s permission. Course rotation: Alternate fall.

WS 3203 – Feminist Theory & Practice – 3 credit hours

Introduces students to the major tenets of and debates in contemporary feminist theories and practices. Facilitates the application of various feminist theories in analyses of cultural constructions of gender and pivotal issues at the center of women’s experiences and explores the integral relationship between feminist theory and practice. Students also develop their own feminist critical perspectives, and they study trends in and learn to create effective feminist academic writing. Particular attention is paid to the multiplicity of women’s identities and the interconnectedness of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class, and sexuality. Prerequisites: WS 1003 and WS 1013 or instructor’s permission. Course rotation: Alternate fall

WS 3213 – Women, Violence & Feminist Activism – 3 credit hours

Explores the cultural constructions and implications of gender by examining various forms of violence against women from a feminist theoretical perspective, sensitive to inequalities that produce a climate of violence. Particular attention is paid to how violence against women intersects with other issues central to women’s identities and experiences, including race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, religion, nationality, health, family, work, and education. Students also study diverse feminist activist strategies for combating violence against women and engage in a substantive research project with a service-learning component. Prerequisites: WS 1003 and WS 1013 or instructor’s permission. Course rotation: Alternate spring.

WS 3313 – Feminist Writing & Film – 3 credit hours

Examines how various forms of feminist writing or feminist film challenge patriarchal gender norms and/or represent women’s histories and experiences. Particular attention is paid to the multiplicity of women’s identities and the interconnectedness of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class, and sexuality. Prerequisites: WS 1003 and WS 1013 or instructor’s permission. Course rotation: Alternate fall.

WS 3803 – Special Topics – 3 credit hours

Examines the depth and diversity of women’s and gender studies that may fall outside the range of listed courses. Special Topics will be offered on an irregular basis, and topics will vary according to instructor. Prerequisites: ENGL 1023, WS 1003, WS 1013, and WS 2203 or WS 2213 or instructor’s permission.

WS 4103 – Critical Issues in Women’s & Gender Studies – 3 credit hours

An advanced, in-depth study of issues related to cultural constructions of gender that are central to women’s and gender studies today. Particular attention is paid to the interconnectedness of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class, and sexuality. This course may be repeated once for credit. Prerequisites: WS 1003, WS 1013, and WS 2203 or WS 2213 and one 3000-level WS course or instructor’s permission. Course rotation: Alternate fall.

WS 4903 – Women’s & Gender Studies Seminar – 3 credit hours

A capstone course that gives students the opportunity to integrate the concepts and skills that they learned in core and intermediate women’s and gender studies courses, especially those that have prepared them to place women’s experiences at the center of critical inquiry, to analyze problems through the lens of gender, and to use feminist theoretical concepts and activist strategies. Students utilize these skills to engage in advanced study of gender issues specifically relevant to their major fields of study as well as their personal and professional lives and to develop individual research projects with a service-learning component. Prerequisites: WS 2203 or WS 2213 and WS 3203 or WS 3213 and women’s & gender studies major or minor and senior standing or instructor’s permission. Course rotation: Spring.

PROGRAM ELECTIVES

COMM 3713 – Gender & Communication – 3 credit hours

An assessment of communication interaction as influenced by gender differences and similarities. Intensive study of gender in social and professional situations. Recommended: COMM 1003.

ENGL 3163 – Women Writers – 3 credit hours

Advanced study that examines the works of women writers within the contexts of gender, history, society, politics, writing, literature, and literary theory. Content and variety of authors will vary by instructor. Use of secondary sources and research writing will be included. This course is also an elective for the Women’s & Gender Studies major and minor programs and emphasizes intellectual development, critical analysis, cultural literacy, and, when applicable, global awareness. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: ENGL 2103 or ENGL 2203 or instructor’s permission. Course rotation: Fall.

HIST 3143 – Women in the American Experience – 3 credit hours

Studies the social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping women’s lives from the pre-Colonial period to the present. This course will focus on the variety of women’s experiences and examine the intersections of race, class, and ethnicity. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above.

HIST 3633 – Women in World History – 3 credit hours

Studies the historical, social, cultural, economic and political forces shaping women’s lives throughout history. Focuses on the variety of women’s experiences and examine the intersections of race, class, and ethnicity. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above.

HS 2203 – Marriage & Family – 3 credit hours

Addresses the institution of marriage and family with an emphasis on the American family. Specifically, students investigate the origin and continuing evolution of the family, human sexuality, love and marriage, gender roles and parenting.

HS 4013 – Gender Studies – 3 credit hours

Introduction to gendered relationships and communication in contemporary American society, the course provides an exploration of communication in families and in society. Additionally, the course defines the function of interpersonal communication in the creation and perpetuation of gender roles. The influence of gender enactment on success, satisfaction, self-esteem, and the counseling profession is also explored. Self-awareness exercises, which stress the application of theory and research, provide the opportunity for personal growth and development.

RELI 3273 – Women in Religion – 3 credit hours

Drawing on the insights of Biblical theology, history, and cross-cultural studies, this course examines the places of women in society and in the church – both as they are and should and could be. Explores the views of female/male roles in the church over the centuries. Critically examines feminist thought and experiences of women with Christianity as well as other religions.