2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Women's and Gender Studies

Courses

WGS 250. Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies. 3 Hours

Introduction to key concepts, themes, and debates in Women's and Gender Studies. Intersectional (studying gender as it intersects with other social identity categories such as race, class, and sexuality), multi- or interdisciplinary, and multicultural in approach. Restricted to students with no more than six semester hours applicable to a WGS major or minor.

WGS 310. Feminist Theory and Methodology. 3 Hours

Exploration of the intersections of feminist thinking and activism. Consideration and comparison of a range of theories about gender, power, and knowledge that have shaped the development of feminist thought, research, practice, and movement in the U.S. and in other parts of the world. Prerequisites: WGS 250, RCE 200, HRS 200, or permission of WGS director.

WGS 350. Feminist Social Change. 3 Hours

Exploration of the methods and priorities of feminist social change efforts in varying national, cultural, and/or religious contexts, including outside of the U.S. and Europe. Investigation of the nature, possibilities, and challenges of global and transnational feminist movements. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or higher.

WGS 351. Global South Feminisms. 3 Hours

Exploration of gender studies in the Global South. Focusing on a variety of issues/themes, this course will draw on scholarship, activism and advocacy located in the Global South. Topics will include how gender intersects with other social identity categories such as race, class, sexuality, and ethnicity, and highlight the histories and contexts of Global South feminisms. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or higher.

WGS 380. Special Topics in Women's & Gender Studies. 1-3 Hours

Intensive examination of current thematic, theoretical, or methodological issues in the field of Women's and Gender Studies. Consult composite for topics. May be repeated as topic changes. Prerequisite(s): WGS 250 or WGS 310 or WGS 350 or six semester hours prior WGS credit.

WGS 390. Service Learning in Women's & Gender Studies. 1-3 Hours

Individualized placements in community organizations that enable students to apply and enrich their formal studies by engaging in service work that addresses women's needs and/or advances social justice in relation to gender. May be done as an independent or group study under the direction of a WGS faculty member. May also be done in conjunction with another course. May be repeated up to a maximum of three semester hours. Prerequisite(s): WGS 250 or WGS 310 or WGS 350; permission of program director.

WGS 477. Honors Thesis Project. 3 Hours

First of two courses leading to the selection, design, investigation, and completion of an independent, original Honors Thesis project under the guidance of a faculty research advisor. Restricted to students in the University Honors Program with permission of the program director and departmental chairperson. Students pursuing an interdisciplinary thesis topic may register for three semester hours each in two separate disciplines in consultation with the department chairpersons. Prerequisite(s): Approval of University Honors Program.

WGS 478. Honors Thesis Project. 3 Hours

Second of two courses leading to the selection, design, investigation, and completion of an independent, original Honors Thesis project under the guidance of a faculty research advisor. Restricted to students in the University Honors Program with permission of the program director and departmental chairperson. Students pursuing an interdisciplinary thesis topic may register for three semester hours each in two separate disciplines in consultation with the department chairpersons. Prerequisite(s): Approved 477 and approval of University Honors Program.

WGS 480. Independent Study in Women's & Gender Studies. 3 Hours

Individual investigations of special topics in the field of Women's and Gender Studies under faculty direction. May be repeated under special circumstances. No more than six semester hours of WGS 480 may count toward the major. Prerequisite(s): WGS 250 or WGS 310 or WGS 350; approval of program director.

WGS 490. Senior Seminar in Women's & Gender Studies. 3 Hours

Concentration on a particular topic or problem in Women's and Gender Studies, with focus on critical theories, methodologies, ethics and practices appropriate for advanced feminist research. Emphasis on integration (e.g. of feminist theory, methods, and practice) and interdisciplinarity. May require students either to work collaboratively on a single research project or to apply certain theories or methods central to the seminar in their exploration of individual projects. May be repeated as topics change. Prerequisite(s): WGS 250 or WGS 350, WGS 310.