Requirements for a Women's Studies Major
I. Foundation courses (18 credits)
• WMST 200 Introduction to Women's Studies: Women and Society (3)
An interdisciplinary study of the status, roles, and experiences of women in society. Sources from variety of fields such as literature, psychology, history, and anthropology, focusing on the writings of women. Fulfills USP Distributive Studies (D) Social and Behavioral Studies requirement, CORE Distributive Studies Behavioral and Social Science Requirement and CORE Cultural Diversity Requirement.
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• WMST 250 Introduction to Women's Studies: Women, Art, and Culture (3)
An examination of women's creative powers as expressed in selected examples of music, film, art, drama, poetry, fiction, and other literature. Explores women's creativity in relation to families, religion, education, ethnicity, class, sexuality, and within a cultural tradition shaped by women. Fulfills USP Distributive Studies Literature and the Arts requirement, CORE Distributive Studies Arts requirement, and CORE Cultural Diversity requirement.
• WMST 300 Feminist Reconceptualizations of Knowledge (3)
An examination of how interdisciplinary study of women and gender has generated new questions, challenged traditional methodologies, and offered insights on the ways we come to learn, know, and teach; and an exploration of the impact of feminist thinking on various disciplines. Prerequisite: WMST 200 or 250; permission of the academic advisor.
• WMST 380 Feminist Analysis of the Workplace (6)
An examination of the world of work from a feminist perspective through theory and experience. Designed to provide students with experiences in work situations that have social, economic, educational, and/or political impact on women's lives. Students will develop the skill to theoretically analyze their experience and practically implement feminist models in the workplace. Prerequisite: WMST 200 or 250; permission of the academic advisor.
• WMST 400 Theories of Feminism (3)
A study of the multiplicity of feminist theories which have been developed to explain women's position in the family, the workplace, and society. Major feminist writings are considered in the context of their historical moment and in the context of the intellectual traditions to which they relate. Prerequisite: WMST 200 or WMST 250; permission of the academic advisor.
• WMST 488 Senior Seminar (3)
Seminar for advanced majors in women's studies or other students with appropriate preparation. Interdisciplinary topics will vary each semester. Repeatable to 9 credits if content differs. Prerequisite: permission of the academic advisor.
II. Distributive courses (9 credits)
Students must take one course (3 credits each) in each of the three broad topical areas listed below. Courses in this category may overlap with other requirements. Some of these have prerequisites. Please check with the academic advisor about prerequisites.
Area I: Arts and Literature
Area II: Historical Perspectives
Area III: Social and Natural Sciences
III. Cultural Diversity
Students will select two courses for a minimum of 6 credits. Courses in this category may overlap with other requirements.
IV. Student-developed Emphasis
Each student, with the help of the Women's Studies advisor, will design an emphasis consisting of at least three courses or 9 credits. Courses will ordinarily be drawn from those approved for the major. In some instances, students may secure permission from the Women's Studies advisor to include other courses.
V. Electives
Students should select their electives from the full list of courses for the major. The number of credit hours will vary depending on the individual student's program, but should bring the total number of semester credit hours to at least 39.
