Students within the Women’s Studies minor will carefully consider feminist theories and perspectives and examine gender inequalities and issues. The Women’s Studies minor will sharpen students’ critical awareness of how gender operates in institutional, social, and cultural contexts and in their own lives.
The multidisciplinary approach emphasizes the breadth of disciplines in which feminist criticism is
taken seriously.
Required Core Courses for the Women’s Studies Minor
(3 courses):
WOST 201 Introduction to Women’s Studies
WOST/PHIL 225
Philosophy and Feminism
WOST 401 Women, Justice, and Equality
Women’s Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary minor with a wide array of elective offerings that vary annually. Students will choose electives that complement their interests and goals in conjunction with the Women’s Studies coordinator.
Approved Courses (partial listing):
ANTH 250 Special Topics*
ANTH 362 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
ARTD 306 Women, Art, and Feminism
COMM 231 Interpersonal Communication
CLAS 210 Ancient Literature*
CLAS 230 Classical Mythology
CLAS 240 Ancient Society*
ENGL 350
Special Topics*
FREN 332 Perspectives in French Literature*
INTG 215 Global Perspectives: Secret Lives of Women in Literature
PHIL 225 Philosophy and Feminism
PHIL 250 Special Topics*
RELG 220 Women and Religion
RELG 250 Women and the Bible
SOCI 250 Special Topics in Sociology*
SPAN 326 Topics in Spanish*
*when topic is appropriate and approved
WOST 201G. Introduction to Women’s Studies 1 course credit
An introduction to Western feminist thought and the study of women’s roles and status in society. This course also evaluates present knowledge about women, questions stereotypes, and reinforces the value and content of women’s everyday lives.
WOST 225. Philosophy and Feminism 1 course credit
(Cross-listed as PHIL 225)
This course will offer an introduction to some of the questions that shape feminist philosophy. What connections are there between feminist philosophy and feminist writing in other disciplines and feminist movements inside and outside the academy? The class will assume the importance of diverse women’s voices. Reading theoretical, literary, and experimental texts which challenge the distinction between theory and literature, the class will focus on how an awareness of the intersections of race, class, sexuality, gender, ability, and ethnicity is vital for disciplinary and interdisciplinary study in feminist philosophy. This course is required for the Women’s Studies Minor. Prerequisites: WOST 201 for WOST 225 students. For Phil 225 students, sophomore standing or above or permission of the instructor.
WOST 250. Special Topics.
1 course credit
Gender Studies, Masculinities, Queer Politics and Theory, and/or Transgender Studies (may be repeated for credit).
WOST 320. Independent Study 1 course credit
Independent study in an area of women’s studies directed by a member of the faculty. Prerequisites: WOST 201 and approval of the instructor and the Women’s Studies coordinator.
WOST 401. Women, Justice and Equality 1 course credit
The capstone seminar in which participants will read and discuss historical texts that have had a profound effect on the feminist struggle for equality and justice. In addition, participants will engage in individual research, chosen in consultation with the instructor, in which the research topics will provide the basis for additional readings in common. Prerequisite: WOST 201 and two additional WOST courses.