College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences

Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

Women's Studies

University Exemplary Department
Member, National Women's Studies Association
Bernice L. Hausman, Interim Director

Professors: K. Allen (Human Development); R. Blieszner (Human Development); C. Burch-Brown (Art); G. Downey (Science and Technology in Society); E. Fine (Humanities, IDST); V. Fowler (English); A. Kilkelly (Theater Arts and Women's Studies, IDST); J. Rothschild (SPIA)

Associate Professors: C. Burger (Women's Studies, IDST); T. Calasanti (Sociology); E. Creamer (ELPS); W. Dunaway (SPIA); E. Ewing (History); L. Gillman (Women's Studies, IDST); B. Hausman (English); K. Jones (History); N. King (Humanities, IDST); S. Knapp (English); R. Shingles (Political Science) Assistant Professors: N. Alexander-Floyd (Women's Studies, IDST); A. Baxley (Philosophy); S. Carter-Tod (English); C. Dannenberg (English); S. Halfon (Science and Technology in Society); G. Kao (Religious Studies, IDST); M. Mollin (History); E. Plummer (Women's Center)

• Overview
• Undergraduate Course Descriptions

Overview

The Women's Studies Program is housed in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies but includes faculty affiliates from across the entire campus. Women's Studies faculty in IDST are appointed with primary or secondary responsibility to teach in the Women's Studies Program. All WS faculty are involved in administering the program and advising students, and many faculty around the campus teach courses listed as Women's Studies electives.

Women's Studies offers courses for all students in the university, including four in Area 2 of the University Core Curriculum (WS 1824, WS 2224, WS 2234, and WS 2254), one in Area 3 (WS 2264), and two in Area 7 (WS 2234 and WS 3214), and two 18-hour minors in Women's Studies and in Women's Leadership. The Women's Studies minors are interdisciplinary, cross-cultural programs of study in which students cultivate an understanding of the complex ways in which gender is defined in relation to social structure, history, culture, and technology. The field of Women's Studies transforms traditional disciplines through new methods and theories generated by feminist scholarship. The WS Minors offer students new ways of thinking about how issues of sex and gender shape social, political, economic, and institutional structures as well as personal experiences and perceptions. Central to the mission of the Women's Studies Program is the empowerment of a diverse population of women, both in the academy and in society, within local, regional, and global contexts.

To complete the minor in Women's Studies the following coursework is required: 18 semester hours as outlined below. Nine hours of preparatory course work at the 1000 and 2000 level are required. Students also complete nine hours of more advanced course work at the 3000 level or above. At the 4000 level, students must complete either WS 4114 or WS 4224. Students must complete at least three hours of a WS course (including cross-listed and approved courses) with a focus on gender and race (designated below with *).

1000 Level (3 hrs).
This introductory course is required:
WS 1824: Introduction to Women's Studies (Also meets Core Area 2)

2000 Level (6 hrs).
Students select two electives from the following list:
WS 2224: Women, Culture, and the Arts (Prerequisite: WS 1824 or permission of instructor) (Also meets Core Area 2)
*WS 2234 (BLST 2234) (REL 2234): Women, Ethics, and Religion (Also meets Core Area 2 and Area 7)
WS 2244: Women and Science (Prerequisite: WS 1824 or permission of instructor) (Also meets Core Area 2 and Writing Intensive)
WS 2254: Feminist Activism (Prerequisite: WS 1824 or permission of instructor) (Also meets Core Area 2)
*WS 2264: Race, Class, and Gender (Prerequisite: WS 1824 or permission of instructor) (Also meets Core Area 3)
*WS 2734 (BLST 2734) (REL 2734): Black Women in the U.S.
WS 2974: Independent Study (by arrangement with a professor)
WS 2984: Special Study (may be repeated with a different topic)

3000 Level (3-6 hours).
Students select one to two courses from the list below:
WS 3004 Topics in Feminism (may be repeated with a different topic)
(Pre-requisite: WS 1824 or permission of instructor)
*WS 3214 Global Feminisms (Prerequisite: WS 2264) (Also meets Core Area 7)

4000 Level (3-6 hours).
Students must complete (at least) either WS 4114 or WS 4224 from the list below:
WS 4114 Feminist Theory (Pre-requisite: WS 1824 and junior standing or permission of instructor)
WS 4224 Women's Studies Senior Capstone Seminar (topics vary)
(Prerequisite: WS 1824 and junior standing or permission of instructor)
WS 4704 (HST 4704): Gender and Science (Also meets Writing Intensive)
WS 4754: Internship (by arrangement with a professor) (Prerequisite: WS 1824 + any other WS course)
WS 4974: Independent Study (by arrangement with a professor)
WS 4984: Special Study (may be repeated with a different topic)

Note: Some courses outside WS are pre-approved as electives fulfilling the WS Minor. These courses are listed on the Women's Studies Web site. Non Women's Studies courses can not be substituted for 1000- and 2000-level WS courses.

The minor in Women's Leadership consists of a minimum of 19 credit hours, divided as follows: 6 hours preparatory course work at the 1000-2000 level are required. Students also complete 10 hours of advanced coursework at the 3000-4000 level.

I. Foundations (6 hours required)- no substitutions

• LDRS 1016: Exploring Citizen Leadership: Communities of Praxis (when the focus is on women/gender and leadership) (Prerequisite: Membership in the Residential Leadership Community Required)
• WS 2254: Feminist Activism (Prerequisite: WS1824 or permission of the instructor) (Area 2)
• WS 2264: Race, Class, and Gender (Prerequisite: WS1824 or permission of the instructor) (Area 3)

II. Advanced Work (3000/4000 Level classes in WS) (6 hours required) –no substitutions

• WS 3004: Topics in Feminism (when the topic pertains to women's leadership) (Prerequisite: WS1824 or permission of the instructor).
• WS 3214: Global Feminisms (Prerequisite: WS 2264) (Area 7)
• WS 4114: Feminist Theory (Prerequisite: WS 1824 and junior standing or permission of the instructor)
• WS 4224: Women's Studies Senior Capstone Seminar (when the topic pertains to women's leadership) (Prerequisite: WS 1824 and junior standing or permission of the instructor)

III. Capstone (4 hours required) – (Supervised by Ellen Plummer, Women's Center)

• WS 4754: (Combined Internship (3 credits) and "Feminist Praxis" (1 credit) taught by Ellen Plummer, Director of the Women's Center) (Prerequisite: WS1824 + any other WS course)
• 3 hours of 3000/4000 level internship experience in another department as long as the internship focuses on relevant issues, plus 1 credit of WS 4754 with Ellen Plummer.

IV. PRE-APPROVED ELECTIVES (3-6 hours). Note: Other pre-approved electives outside of WS for a given semester are listed on the WS website. Non-WS courses cannot be substituted for required women's studies courses.

• AAEC 4304: Environment & Sustainable Development Economics (Prerequisite: AAEC 1005 or ECON 2115)
• AAEC 4314: Environmental Economic Analysis & Management (Prerequisite: AAEC 4304, ECON 4014, FOR 3424)
• AE 3014: Leadership Effectiveness for Professionals in Agricultural Organizations (Prerequisite: none)
• COMM 2004: Public Speaking (Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Credit may not be earned for both Comm 2004 and 2014)
• EDHL 4514: Administration & Organization of Community Health Programs (Prerequisite: none)
• HST/HIST 2054: Engineering Cultures (Prerequisite: none)
• IDST 3114: Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies (when the topic pertains to leadership) (Prerequisite: none)
• IS 4014: Seminar in Grassroots Development (Prerequisite: none)
• LAR 2554 (FOR 2554): Nature & American Values (Prerequisite: none)
• LAR 4234: Theory and Practice of Urban Design (Prerequisite: none)
• LDRS 1015: Exploring Citizen Leadership: Contexts and Competencies and LDRS 1016: Communities of Praxis (combined will count for 3 hours, when 1016 does not have a focus on women and leadership) (Prerequisite: Membership in the Residential Leadership Community Required)
• MGT 3304: Management Theory & Leadership Practice (Prerequisite: Junior Standing)
• MGT 4334: Ethical Leadership & Corporate Social Responsibility (Prerequisite: MGT 3304)
• MGT 4344: Productivity & Quality Leadership (Prerequisite: Management majors only. Senior standing required. MGT 3304, 3324, BIT 3414)
• MGT 4354: Leadership: Advances in Skills & Concepts (Prerequisite: Senior Standing. MGT 3304).
• NR 4404 (ALS 4404, FIW 4464): Human Dimensions of Fisheries & Wildlife
• PHIL 2304: Global Ethics (Prerequisite: none)
• PHIL 4324 (MGT 4324): Business and Professional Ethics (Prerequisite: none)
• PSCI 3214: Political Participation (Prerequisite: PSCI 1014 or 1024)
• PSCI 3256: The Politics of Race, Ethnicity and Gender (Prerequisite: PSCI 1014 or 1024)
• PSCI 3714 (UAP 3714): The U.S. Policy Process (Prerequisite: PSCI 1014)
• PSCI 3744 (UAP 3744): Public Policy Analysis (Prerequisite: PSCI 1014)
• PSCI 4624 (UAP 4624): The Washington Semester: Seminar in American Politics and Public Policy (Prerequisite: Junior Standing or instructor consent and acceptance into the Washington Semester Program)
• PSCI 4644 (UAP 4644): The Washington Semester: Politics, Policy and Administration in a Democracy (Prerequisite: Junior Standing or instructor consent and acceptance into the Washington Semester Program)
• PSYC 4024: Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 2004, STAT 3604)
• SOC 2714 (AAEC 2714): Community Organization and Leadership (Prerequisite: Sophomore Standing)
• SOC 3304: Collective Action (Prerequisite: Soc1004)
• SOC 4054: Voluntary Associations (Prerequisite: Soc1004)
• TA 3604: Arts Management (Prerequisite: Junior standing)
• TA 4304: Theatre Outreach (Prerequisite: Junior standing, instructor consent)
• UAP 3414: Theories of Public & Non-Profit Organizations (Prerequisite: PSCI 1014)
• UAP 4214: Women, Environment & Development in a Global Perspective (Prerequisite: UAP 3344 or 3354)
• UAP 4264: Environmental Ethics & Policy (Prerequisite: UAP 3344 or 3354)
• UAP 4404 (ALS 4404, NR 4404): Approaches to International Development (Prerequisite: none).

The minor in Gender, Science, and Technology (GST) requires the completion of 18 semester hours as outlined below. Nine hours of preparatory course work at the 1000 and 2000 level are required. Students also complete nine hours of more advanced course work at the 3000 level or above, with more choice and flexibility at the upper level. Students must achieve a GPA of 2.0 or better in all the courses used to satisfy the GST Minor to complete the GST Minor. Students pursuing the GST Minor should see the Women's Studies Director to select an academic advisor.

These four courses (12 hours) are required:

WS 1824: Introduction to Women's Studies Area 2

HST 1504: Introduction to Humanities, Science, and Technology Area 2

WS 2244: Women and Science (Prerequisite: WS 1824 or permission of instructor) Area 2, also Writing Intensive

WS 4704 (HST 4704): Gender and Science Writing Intensive

At least six hours from the following list of electives are required:

WS 3004: Topics in Feminism (when the topic concerns science and/or technology) (Prerequisite: WS 1824 or permission of instructor)

WS 4224: Women's Studies Senior Capstone Seminar (when the topic is science and/or technology) (Prerequisite.: WS 1824 and junior standing or permission of instructor)

WS 4754: Internship (by arrangement with a professor) (Prerequisite: WS 1824 + any other WS course)

WS 4974: Independent Study (by arrangement with a professor)

WS 4984: Special Study (when the topic is science and/or technology)

HST 4304: Contemporary Issues in Humanities, Science, and Technology (when the topic is gender or inequality) (Also meets Core Area 2)

Pre-approved Electives for the GST Minor (check with that department for specific prerequisites). Note: Other pre-approved electives outside of Women's Studies for a given semester are listed on the Women's Studies Web site. Requests for approved electives can be made to the student's academic advisor or the Women's Studies Director.

UAP 4214: Women, Environment, and Development in a Global Perspective (Prerequisite: UAP 3344 or 3354 or 3000-level social science or WS course) (Also meets Core Area 7)

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Undergraduate Courses - Women's Studies (WS)

2224: WOMEN AND CREATIVITY
A study of the philosophical, artistic, and biographical dimensions of women's creativity in a wide variety of fields. Pre: 1824. (3H,3C)

2234 (REL 2234): WOMEN, ETHICS, AND RELIGION
Women's religious ethical formation; the roles and understandings of women in traditional and major modern religious traditions; authoritative writings and practices of various traditions as they focus on issues of sex and gender; gynocentric methods of study of women, ethics, and religion; feminist and womanist approaches to liberation and social change. (3H,3C) II.

2244: WOMEN AND SCIENCE
Uses research from the disciplines of science, women's studies, history, sociology, and philosophy to examine women's roles in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Starting with historical figures, students will follow the progress women have made in entering and succeeding in science careers. Pre: 1824. (3H,3C)

2254: FEMINIST ACTIVISM
Explores the history of individual and collective action geared toward gaining women's rights and improving women's positions in society. Course covers various tensions and shifts in feminist movements, as well as the various perspectives, agendas, and actions of specific subgroups of group of women whose perspectives sometimes conflict. Service-learning is a required component of the course. Pre: 1824. (3H,3C)

2264: RACE, CLASS, AND GENDER
This course focuses on the interrelationships of race, class, and gender in the context of women's studies scholarship, and explores how these interrelationships have influenced the experiences of all people in the U.S. Students will learn to conceptualize these categories as interactive systems, not just as separate features of experience. Emphasis will be put on how race, class, and gender shape all social institutions and systems of meaning. Must have prerequisite or instructor's consent. Pre: 1824. (3H,3C) I,II..

2274: WOMEN IN THE MILITARY
This course covers historical and global perspectives on the experiences women have had in and with the military. This course introduces students to issues concerning women fighters and military families, as well as to debates over women in combat positions, military policies, and globalization. (3H,3C)

2734 (BLST 2734) (REL 2734): THE BLACK WOMAN IN THE U.S.
The emerging womanist perspective of "interstructured oppression" (i.e., the simultaneous effects of racism, sexism, and classism) as relevant to the contributions of Black women in the United States of America; views of Black women from African backgrounds, the Atlantic slave trade, and the progressive rise of womanist/feminist liberation movements in Black culture; contributions of Black women in the U.S. and globally. (3H,3C)

2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

3004: TOPICS IN FEMINISM
A variable topics course that addresses how the social construction of gender shapes social, cultural, political, economic, and institutional structures as well as individual experiences and perceptions. The course stresses interdisciplinary approaches to topics of emerging interest in feminist scholarship. Can be taken up to three times for credit with varying topic. In addition to WS 1824, must have taken a 2000-level Women's Studies course, or have instructor's consent. Pre: 1824. (3H,3C)

3214: GLOBAL FEMINISMS
An introduction to the gendered analysis of global women's issues with a special focus on women of color. Examines the multiple and diverse sites of feminist struggle within the third world, and between first and third worlds both in the U.S. and internationally. Studies the impact on women of political movements such as nationalism, colonialism, revolution, authoritarianism and democracy. Compares theories originating with women of color in the U.S. with those from international third worlds. Pre: 2264. (3H,3C)

3984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

4114: FEMINIST THEORY
An examination of the principal conceptual bases underlying feminist theory across the disciplines. Senior standing required. Pre: 1824. (3H,3C)

4224: WOMEN'S STUDIES SEMINAR
This multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural course examines a significant topic in Women's Studies, utilizing the perspectives of history, biology, psychology, political science, sociology, and the arts. Variable topics. Pre: 1824, (2224. (3H,3C)

4704 (HST 4704): GENDER AND SCIENCE
Investigates the gender dimensions of science in both historical and contemporary perspectives. Discusses feminist studies of science, exploring strengths and limitations. Assesses implications of cultural assumptions about gender for practicing scientists. A 3000 level course in science or engineering may satisfy prerequisite. Pre: 2224 or HST 1504. (3H,3C)

4754: INTERNSHIP
Qualified students will be placed with a community agency or on-campus office which addresses contemporary issues of gender, class, and/or race, and will meet periodically with an appropriate faculty member to discuss assigned readings that will provide a context for the work experience. Students will also be expected to keep a journal and to write up a final evaluation of the experience. Variable credit: may be taken for up to 6 elective credits in the Women's Studies concentration. Junior standing, screening interviews with Tech faculty and with the service agency and consent required. Variable credit course. Pre: 1824.

4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.

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