Women's Studies Major

Contact:
Maria Bobroff, Director of Women's Studies

The Women's Studies curriculum posits gender relations as a basic organizing principle of analysis. Gender is explored as a social construction that reflects and produces differentials of power and opportunity in many social systems. In a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary contexts, women's studies majors explore the interactive matrix of gender, class, race, age, ethnicity, nationality, and sexual identity through works produced primarily by women. Hence majors will study women in the dominant culture and in cultures of women of color, both national and international. Such analysis illuminates the variety of men's and women's experiences and expressions, while identifying those that have been scripted into social definitions of normative human behaviors.

Women's studies majors study and develop feminist critiques of traditional disciplinary knowledge, yet there is an integrative component that draws on the valuable contributions of traditional knowledge as well. Exploration of the roots and forms of women's political activism, and the feminist reconstruction of history, contribute to the formulation of inclusive perspectives toward social life and the understanding of models and examples of social change. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum, women's studies majors apply multiple methodologies in developing research and critical thinking skills, and forms of personal expression. In IDS 400 courses, internships, and thesis projects, students integrate knowledge from different classes to conceptualize new, fuller ways of understanding.

Degrees Offered

The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered in women's studies.

Major Requirements

The Women's Studies major is an interdisciplinary major that must be taken along with a disciplinary major. An advisor must be selected from a list of faculty who teach in the Women's Studies program, as well as an advisor from the other major. This may be the same person, or two different faculty members.

The Women's Studies Committee will verify that all requirements for each major have been satisfactorily completed.

Because the Women's Studies major is an interdisciplinary major, courses must be selected from at least four departments, with some courses in both the humanities and the social sciences. At least one senior integrative experience, a women's studies IDS 400 capstone, is required. Other integrative experiences, internships, independent study, or thesis, are encouraged.

Specific Course Requirements

Students must take a minimum of 32 credit hours (eight courses) in the disciplinary major and 33 credit hours (eight 4-credit courses plus a one-credit capstone) in women's studies in the following pattern:

  • At least one of the following:
    • HIST 223: Gender & Power in U.S. History
    • REL 222: Feminist Theology
  • ENGL 151: Black Women's History and Literature or another 100- or 200-level women's studies course
  • Two but not more than four Special Topics 250 courses (listed each semester under courses counting for the women's study major or concentration) and two 300-level courses.
  • At least one course must be on women of color (in U.S. or another part of the world).
  • At least two 400-level courses, one of which must be a capstone IDS 400 course (one offered each semester). NOTE: Independent studies, thesis, and internships can be taken at the 400 level.
  • The 1-credit Women's Studies Senior Forum is required of all majors in spring semester of their senior year unless a similar "transition out" course is required in the disciplinary major.

Because this is double major, two courses can double count for the women's studies major and other requirements without petitioning. Students must still fulfill the 33-hour requirement in Women's Studies and the total hour requirement in their other major.

First-year students should take HIST 223, REL 222, or a Women's Studies 250 to begin the major. Starting in Spring 2006, an Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies course will also serve as a starting point for majors.

Regular courses that count for the women's studies major or concentration: 
 

  • ENGL 151: Black Women's History and Literature
  • ENGL 151: Women in Ancient Greece
  • ENGL 331: Black Women Writers
  • ENGL 332: Black Men Writers
  • ENGL 334: African Women Writers
  • ENGL 374: Living Women Poets
  • HIST 223: Gender & Power in U.S. History
  • HIST 268: History of Chinese Women
  • HIST 343: Women in Modern Africa
  • IDS 407: Sacred Images, Altars & Rituals
  • IDS 409: Readings in Gay & Lesbian Studies
  • IDS 418: Science, Sex, and Nature
  • IDS 432: Drama of Difference
  • IDS 455: Human Sexuality
  • IDS 466: Great Goddess, Dying God
  • JAPN 220: Women in Modern Japan
  • JPS 310: Media, Gender and Nation in Japan
  • JPS 425: Family Violence
  • PHIL 231: Philosophy and Sexuality
  • PHIL 232: Gender, Identity and Experience
  • PSY 213: Class, Race, and Gender
  • REL 222: Feminist Theology
  • SOAN 213: Class, Race, and Gender 
  • SOAN 235: African Families in Transition
  • SOAN 313: Sociology of Sex and Gender
  • SOAN 413: Gender Violence
  • SOAN 415: Gender & Development in Africa 
  • SOAN 429: Gender in Organizations 
  • THEA 262: Gay & Lesbian Cinema
  • THEA 340: Drama of Difference
  • WMST 217: Literacy Seminar
  • WMST 250: Special Topics
  • WMST 260: Independent Study
  • WMST 350: Special Topics
  • WMST 360: Independent Study  
  • WMST 450: Special Topics
  • WMST 460: Independent Study
  • WMST 470: Senior Thesis
  • WMST 490: Departmental Honors

Recent Special Topics courses that have counted for the major or concentration:

  • FREN 311: The Francophone World
  • FREN 350: The Francophone World
  • PSY 250: Elders
  • PSY 350: Aging Women
  • PSY 350: Fatherhood