This interdisciplinary course introduces students to the field of gender and women’s studies. The course will enable students to understand how gender impacts their everyday lives, social institutions, and cultural practices both locally and globally. Additionally, students will examine the significance and meaning of one’s gender identity in different historical periods, the history of feminist movements, and transnational perspectives on feminism. Students will also discuss how gender intersects with other identity categories such as socioeconomic class, race, ethnicity, sexuality, age, geography, and generational location. Lastly, students will examine and critique cultural representations and claims about women and gender identities.

This course will provide an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) studies. The course will investigate the academic foundations of LGBTQ studies and the emergence and transformation of LGBTQ identities, cultural practices, and political movements, and the ways in which gender, race, ethnicity, and class have shaped same-sex sexuality in different historical periods, with an emphasis on the United States. (also listed as SOC 220)

The main goal of this class is to examine global women’s leadership and contemporary transnational feminism in a variety of areas, ranging from political representation to violence against women, peace and security, and other such concerns. The course is designed to help you have a clearer understanding of women’s leadership in diverse cultures and contexts and help you acquire the knowledge, skills, and practices necessary to develop your own leadership capacity. The seminar is designed for students to connect readings, assignments, and discussion to their experiential learning experiences, as well as their course requirements.

Introductory level course in topics in Gender and Women’s Studies not covered in the regular department offerings. May be repeated for credit with a different topic.

In this course, we will discuss feminist analyses of gender, colonialism, and economic globalization. The first part of this course will consider a variety of feminist theoretical perspectives on the gendered, classed, and racialized dynamics of colonialism and globalization. Next, we will examine the particularities of women’s lives globally and their different histories and social histories. Finally, we will look at some of the feminist transnational activism and mobilization around issues of conflict, environment, capitalism, and labor. Some of the questions we will consider are: How does globalization impacted existing (gender) inequalities? How does globalization trouble the “North-South” divide? What political, social, and economic ramifications does the outsourcing of reproductive labor have?

This course teaches a broad range of feminist theoretical approaches, including black feminist thought and critical race feminism, intersectionality, standpoint theory, queer theory, and transnational feminist theory. Prerequisite: GWS 207.

This course explores how feminist scholars challenge dominant theories of knowledge and methodologies employed in the social sciences and humanities. Some issues we will discuss in the course include subjectivity, intersectionality, reflexivity, definitions of sex and gender, and the place of gender, race, class, and citizenship in feminist research. Finally, we will analyze how feminist politics shape the kinds of questions we ask, the types of methods we use, and how we engage in ethical research partnerships with our informants. Class will include lecture, group activities, guest speakers, and student presentations to assist us in exploring, understanding, and practicing feminist methods used within Gender and Women’s Studies. Prerequisite: GWS 207 and GWS 350 or permission of instructor.

Qualified students take responsibility for leading class discussions and preparing instructional materials for selected Gender & Women’s Studies courses in collaboration with the instructor. Prerequisite: GWS 207 or permission of instructor.

Upper level course in topics in Gender and Women’s Studies not covered in the regular department offerings. May be repeated for credit with a different topic.

This course is designed to give students hands-on experience in the research of gender studies. We will concentrate on the theoretical approaches to methodology as well as the specific mechanics of various research styles. Students will have an opportunity to perform an independent research project under direct supervision of a faculty member. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

An opportunity for students to do independent study. Content dependent on student interests and background. Approval of Gender and Women’s Studies Chair required.

Practical off-campus experience in a Gender and Women’s Studies-related field at an approved site. Jointly supervised by a faculty member and a representative from the sponsoring agency. Open to junior or senior Gender and Women’s Studies majors or minors who have taken at least two Gender and Women’s Studies courses. Must be approved by the Gender and Women’s Studies department chair. A reflection paper appropriate to the nature of the internship will be required. Graded S/U. May be repeated for up to three hours.