Women's and Gender Studies
Faculty
Mary L. Collar, program chair (2006-09) and professor of English.
B.A., 1969, University of Wisconsin; M.A., 1972, Ph.D., 1977, Pennsylvania State University. Appointed to Department of English, 1977.
Trisha Franzen, associate professor of women's and gender studies.
B.A., 1978, State University of New York, Buffalo; M.A., 1984, Ph.D., 1990, University of New Mexico. Appointed 2003.
Introduction
Women's and gender studies is an interdisciplinary program that examines the role of gender in the construction of lives, cultures, community norms, meaning systems, and systems of representation. All of the areas of study within the program use cross-cultural or multicultural investigations to understand the dynamics and differences in the operation of gender. Within specific contexts but also across differences, the program also focuses on the lives of women--on women's past and present active involvement in the making of the world. Each of the areas of study also emphasizes the ongoing interplay of theory and practice.
The program also includes minors in both gender studies and women's studies (see below).
Requirements for Major
- Eight units as well as a senior capstone experience (one-half or one unit). The requirements for each track are described below.
|
Women’s Studies Track |
Gender Studies Track |
|
Required courses |
Required Courses |
|
WGS 106:
Introduction to Women’s |
WGS 116: Introduction to Gender |
Six different courses, at least one from each of the following emphases. The six courses must be selected in consultation with the program director or the faculty member in the program.
Institutions or Knowledge Systems
This requirement emphasizes the study of the systemic nature of gender or of the critical perspectives brought to a discipline by feminist theory or gender theory.
Anthropology and Sociology 333: The Sociology of Sex and Gender, Melzer (if not taken as
the theory requirement)
Anthropology and Sociology 360: Intimate Violence, Melzer
Biology 368, 368L: Behavioral Ecology, McCurdy
Communication Studies 207: Communicating Gender, Erlandson, Young
English 363: Literary Theory, Collar
Religious Studies 320: Gender and Biblical Interpretation, McWhirter
Science 205: Women and Ethnic Minorities in Science, Schmitter
Representations
This requirement emphasizes feminist approaches or gender study approaches to the examination of gender in representations; this requirement also can involve the recovery and examination of representations that previously had been invisible due to gender bias.
Art History 310: Women and Art, Wickre
Anthropology and Sociology 389: The Cultural Politics of Sexuality, Renkin
English 243: Women and Literature, Lamouria
English 330: The Novel and the New: British Fiction, Behn to Bronte,
Jordan
English 340: The Twentieth Century in “English” Literature, Collar
English 341: Contemporary Literature, Collar
English 345: Renaissance Women's Writing, MacInnes
English 347: The Age of Satire, Jordan
English 402: Southern Women Writers, Lockyer
Global Perspectives
This requirement emphasizes the importance of gaining knowledge far from one’s own subject position. For this unit, students must choose a course outside their own cultural and geographical experience.
For U.S. students, some options:
Anthropology and Sociology 332: The Anthropology of Sex and Gender, Mullin (if not taken as
the theory requirement)
Art History 205: History of African Art, Morrow
History 301: Gender and Sexuality in the Hispanic World, Kanter
History 365: Women and Gender in East Asia, Wu
Spanish 350: Women in Hispanic Literature: Latin American Feminisms,
Whitehead
For international students, an option:
History 340: History of Women in the U.S., 1877 to Present, Franzen
Historical Contexts
This requirement emphasizes the study of women or gender in specific and detailed historical context(s) or the study of the methodology of women’s or gender history.
English 220: The Making of Modern Masculinities: British Literature
and Manliness,
1660-1914 , Jordan
English 243: Women and Literature, Lockyer
English 285: Gay and Lesbian Literature, Jordan
English 338: Eighteenth-Century Culture Shocks: Race, Class, and Gender
in Eighteenth-
Century Britain, Jordan
English 344: Age of Elizabeth, MacInnes
English 345: Renaissance Women's Writing, MacInnes
English 347: The Age of Satire, Jordan
French 320: French Women Writers and Feminist Criticism, Guenin-Lelle
German 350: German Women Writers, Grimm
History 301: Gender and Sexuality in the Hispanic World, Kanter
History 340: History of Women in the U.S., 1877 to Present, Franzen
History 365: Women and Gender in East Asia, Wu
History 390: Modern Germany, Cocks
History 395: The Irrational in History, Cocks
Physical Education 279: Gender and Sport, Egnatuk
Self Making
This requirement emphasizes the feminist and gender studies examinations of processes and narratives that transform beings into gendered humans.
Anthropology and Sociology 230: Men and Masculinities, Melzer
English 220: The Making of Modern Masculinities: British Literature and
Manliness,
1660-1914, Jordan
English 246: Immigration and Literature, Collar
Psychology 251: Developmental Psychology, Elischberger, Walter
Women's and Gender Studies 289: Sexuality, History, Identity, Franzen
Women's and Gender Studies 289: The Politics of Motherhood, Ziegler
Requirements for Minor in Gender Studies
- Five units, including: WGS 116, Introduction to Gender Studies; one from Anthropology and Sociology 332, 333 and WGS 360, Feminist Theory; three additional courses from the electives listed below, at least two of which must be at the 300 level or higher: Anthropology and Sociology 230, 332, 333, 360, Biology 368, Education 225, English 211, 220, 285, 337, 341, 344, 347, 351, 363, 370, History 308, 377, Physical Education 279, Religious Studies 320.
- Elective courses should be selected in consultation with a women's and gender studies faculty member and reported to the Women's and Gender Studies Program chair.
Requirements for Minor in Women's Studies
- Five units, including WGS 106, Introduction to Women's Studies, and WGS 360, Feminist Theory; one historical overview course; and two others from the electives listed below, at least one of which must be at the 300 level or higher: Art History 219, 310, 316, Economics 271, English 243, 338, 345, French 320, German 402, Spanish 350, History 240, 370, SCI 205, Theatre 210, 371.
- Elective courses should be selected in consultation with a women's and gender studies faculty member and reported to the Women's and Gender Studies Program chair.
Courses
106
Introduction to Women's Studies
(1)
Fall, Spring
Introduces some of the basic issues, debates and language
surrounding the feminist "revisioning" of the traditional academic
curriculum. Issues--education, images of women in various media,
work, sexuality, male violence and race--approached from various
disciplines, with emphasis on literature and the social sciences.
Franzen.
116
Introduction to Gender Studies
(1)
Spring
An introduction to gender studies including works that place gender at
the center of scholarly inquiry as well as related material drawn
from women's studies, men's studies and lgbt/queer studies. Focuses
on gender and difference, considering how issues of race, class,
ethnicity, sexuality, age and abilities interact with gender. Though
most of the studies are based in the United States, global issues are
introduced.
Franzen, Staff.
360
Feminist Theory
(1)
Spring
Prerequisite: WGS 106 or WGS 116 or permission of instructor.
Explores twentieth-century feminist thought from the United States and
Great Britain with some attention to other influences. Grounds
feminist theory within the grassroots women's movement, a social,
cultural and political movement for change. Tracing the influence of
feminism in the academy, the course surveys not only the critical and
analytical foundations of the field of women's studies but also the
impact of women and gender-centered scholarship on the traditional
disciplines. The challenges to feminist theory raised by U.S. women
of color, working-class women, lesbians and other women who have
experienced multiple oppressions are explored along with the women's
examinations of the intersections of sexism and racism, classism,
homophobia and other systems of power.
Franzen, Collar.
391, 392 Internship (1/2, 1) Fall, Spring
Offered on a credit/no credit basis. Staff.
398 Practicum (1/2) Fall, Spring
Offered on
a credit/no credit basis. Staff.
411, 412 Directed Study (1/2, 1) Fall, Spring
Directed studies generally are reserved for those students who have
schedule conflicts between two majors. They are also available for
students pursuing honors theses. In specific cases, students may request
directed studies that cover topics beyond the scope of the current
curriculum. These students are expected to present their proposed plan
of study to the instructor for approval well in advance of registration.
Staff.