Major

Women's and gender studies is an interdisciplinary major in human societies, both past and present. It is also an inquiry into women's material, cultural and economic production, their collective undertakings and self descriptions. The women's and gender studies major seeks to provide opportunities for:

  • acquiring breadth of learning and integrating knowledge across academic disciplines.
  • developing an understanding and respect for the integrity of self and others.
  • learning to communicate effectively.
  • developing the knowledge, abilities, appreciation and motivations that liberate men and women.
  • seriously encountering with the values dimensions of individual growth and social interaction.

Majors develop integrative skill competencies in bibliographic instruction, writing excellence, close reading of texts, creative problem-solving, small group communication, oral communication, and expressive awareness.

Students majoring in women's and gender studies must take a minimum of ten courses, including WG 201H, and then nine courses in three disciplines in consultation with their Mentors. Five of these courses must be at the 300 level or above. Majors must successfully pass a Senior comprehensive examination or, if invited by the faculty, write a Senior thesis.

For a minor in women's and gender studies, students take five courses including WG 201H. Three of the five courses must be at the 300 level or above.

Descriptions of the following courses in the major are found in the disciplinary listings:

American Studies

  • AM 307H Rebels with a Cause
  • AM 308H Becoming Visible: Sex, Gender and American Culture

Anthropology

  • AN 289S Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspective

Chinese

  • CN 208G Gender/Sexuality in Asian Literature
  • CN 228G Chinese Martial Arts in Literature and Film
  • CN 301H Hero/Anti-Hero in Chinese Literature
  • CN 302H East Meets West: Chinese Cinema

Classics

  • CL 203H Women and Gender in the Ancient World
  • AS 301G Ancient Barbarians: Self and Other

Economics

  • EC371: Economics of Labor Markets

Environmental Studies

  • ES 345H Environmental Ethics and Justice

French

  • FR 342H: French Feminism, Everyday Life
  • FR 404 Themes in French Literature
  • FR 406 French Theatre on Stage

History

  • HI 101H Making History
  • HI 221H Women in Modern America: The Hand that Cradles the Rock
  • HI 270H Sex and Power: European Thought
  • HI 324G Native American History
  • HI 340H Women & Society in Modern France

    • Human Development

    • HD 203 The Adolescent Experience
    • HD 204 Socialization: A Study of Gender
    • HD 209 Family Systems
    • HD 214S Human Trafficking
    • HD 216G Global Children's Issues
    • HD 328 Crosscultural Communication and Counseling

    Literature

    • LI 216H Literature, Justice, and Law
    • LI 244G Postcolonial Literature

    Media and Communication

    • CM 221A Media and Society
    • CM 306 Gender, Sexuality, and Media
    • CM 316 Communicating Masculinity

    Philosophy

    • PL 243E Environmental Ethics
    • PL 244H Social and Political Philosophy
    • PL 246H Philosophy and Film
    • PL 312H American Philosophy
    • PL 314H Philosophy of Love and Death

    Political Science

    • PO 103G Introduction to International Relations
    • PO 243S Human Rights an
      d International Law
    • PO 315 Theories of War and Peace
    • PO 316G Women and Politics Worldwide
    • PO 342S Hunger, Plenty, and Justice

    Psychology

    • PS 202 Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence

    Religious Studies

    • RE 206H The Bible, Gender, and Sexual Politics
    • RE 212H Reading for the Rapture
    • RE 214H Cults and Religious Freedom
    • RE 220H Bible and Culture: American Film
    • RE 234H Regional Goddesses in Asia
    • RE 291H Apostle Paul-Religion and Politics
    • RE 323 Christianity, Canon and Controversy
    • RE 242H Engaging the Bible
    • RE 381E Ecotheology
    • RE 440 Seminar: Bible, Theory, Method
    • RE 480 Religious Studies Colloquium

    Sociology

    • SO 210 Social Stratification
    • SO 241 Gender & Society
    • SO 330 Sex & Society
    • SO 326 Family & Intimate Relationships
    • SO 335 Social Interaction

    Spanish

    • SP 407 Hispanic Women Writers