Women's Studies (Interdisciplinary Minor)
Women's Studies, administered by the Women's Comprehensive Program, is an interdisciplinary program offered jointly by 10 departments and three colleges. Its objectives are: to provide perspective, analysis, and understanding of continuity and change in gender roles and of the profound impact of these role expectations in contemporary society; to recognize contributions of women in academic disciplines and in contemporary society; to increase awareness of the expanding scholarship which focuses on women; to encourage research in neglected areas; and to prepare students for success in an increasingly competitive economy.
Students electing this minor should inform the Women's Comprehensive Program director, who will serve as adviser in cooperation with the Women's Studies faculty.
Women's Studies and You
Students majoring in any field may choose to minor in Women's Studies or to take Women's Studies courses. The U.S. Department of Labor indicates that into the next decade, two out of three new entrants to the labor force will be female and/or minority. This change in women's employment is affecting all other social institutions. Students need to be prepared for leadership in this new labor force. Women's Studies helps students understand reasons for these changes; provides a current, useful perspective for one's chosen employment field; and prepares the student for graduate work in Women's Studies or other professions, and for effectiveness in a changing community and work place. Thus, Women's Studies enhances career preparation and provides a more accurate and balanced view of the society in which the student will serve.
Required Courses:
The Women's Studies minor requires a minimum of 16 credit hours in courses designated as Women's Studies, of which 8 credit hours must be at the 300- to 400-level. There are three distribution requirements:
Courses must be selected from at least three different departments.
- Courses must include at least one course from the humanities:
- ENF 214 Women Writers in English Translation
- ENF 215 Women Writers in English Translation
- ENG 207 African American Literature when taught by WST faculty
- ENG 208 Womanism/Feminism
- ENG 333 Studies in Restoration and 18th-Century British Literature
- ENG 334 Studies in 19th-Century British Literature
- ENG 335 Studies in 20th-Century British and Anglophone Literature
- ENG 351 Studies in Drama: Bronte Sisters
- ENG 363 Gender Issues in Literature
- ENG 495 Senior Seminar: Emily Dickinson, Jane Austen
- HIS 284 History of Women
- HIS 354 European Women's History
- HIS 393 Special Topics: History of Women in America, History of Black American Women
- PHL 253 Philosophy of Feminism
- REL 260 Women and Religion
- REL 370 Sexual Ethics
- REL 376 Women in Early Christianity
- SPN 484 Latin-American Women Writers in the 20th Century
- and, at least one course from the social sciences.
- ANT 324 Anthropology of Gender
- ANT 343 Language and Gender
- COM 493 Special Topics: Gender Differences in Language
- EDB 455 Women and Education
- PSY 255 Psychology of Women
- SOC 201 Race, Class, and Gender
- SOC 302 Women in Corporate America
- SOC 310 Sociology of Marriage and the Family
- SOC 317 Sociology of Gender
- SOC 388 Sociology of Work and Organization
- SOC 493 Special Topics: Black Women
- UST 455 Gender and Leadership
- WST 151 Intro to Women's Studies
- WST 351 Practicum
- WST 393 Special Topics
- WST 495 Advanced Seminar: Women's Studies
- WST 496 Independent Study
- The Advanced Seminar in Women's Studies (WST 495) is required for the minor in Women's Studies.
Up to 6 credit hours of advanced independent study, involving investigation of a topic relevant to Women's Studies, will be accepted toward the required credits. Regular procedures for independent study in the given department must be followed. In addition, the director of the Women's Comprehensive Program must approve the prospectus for independent study.