SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Women's Studies Courses
All of the courses in the Women's Studies minor are Diversity Focused.
Required Course
WMNST 001 (DF)
Introduction to Women's Studies
The introductory course defines terms such as patriarchy and
feminism and provides conceptual frameworks for the causes and
effects of women's subordination, as well as their contributions to
society. Race and class issues as they intersect gender are also
examined. Images of women and men in psychology, the arts,
philosophy, history, religion, and the sciences are among the
subjects individual instructors may emphasize.
Supporting Course
WMNST 400 (DF)
Feminist Theory
This course examines perspectives that feminist and gender
scholarship have brought to the study of history, iterature,
economics, law, politics, and art. The relationship between theory
and practice is a major consideration throughout the course.
Prerequisite: WMNST 001
Electives
ELISH 487 (DF)
Women Poets
Feminist theory provides a framework for considering distinctions
between the poetry of men and women. The course emphasizes the
various cultural and aesthetic contexts (usually outside the
mainstream although parallel to it) which contribute to those
differences.
ENGL 490 (DF)
Women Writers and Their Worlds
Is there such a thing as a distinctively female imagination, with a
symbolic language of its own? Emphasis is given to feminist critical
and theoretical responses; texts and works are studied to determine
how contemporary women writers fit into a long tradition of women's
fiction.
HSTRY 109 (DF)
Gender and History
Throughout history the gender roles of males and females have
defined the terms of a symbiotic relationship. Changes in the
behavior of members of one sex have always necessitated compensatory
adjustments in the activities and attitudes of the other. HSTRY 109
traces this process from prehistory to the dawn of the modern
feminist movement in the early modern period.
PSY 170 (DF)
Psychology of Women
Issues of female psychology which have been neglected by mainstream
psychology are examined, and the influence of sex and gender on
behavior, cognitive abilities, and socio-emotional relations is
explored. Theoretical perspectives on sex and gender are also
considered.
PSY 472 (DF)
Psychology of Gender
Theories and research on biological, psychological, and social
differentiation of females and males.
RUS 130 (DF)
Women in Russian Literature
This is a survey of Russian characters and writers from the medieval
period to the present. It focuses on the changing role of women
writers and characters in Russian society and in the literary
tradition.
SPCOM 455 (DF)
Gender Roles in Communication
This course explores how different languages of men and women
contribute to miscommunication and how theoretical and practical
approaches to similarities and differences in their languages can
promote better understanding of both the verbal and nonverbal
viewpoints.
THEA 207 (DF)
Gender and Theatre
A study of theatre practice and dramatic literature as formed by
issues of gender, race, and ethnic background, this course also
gives attention both to theatre practitioners and to images of
gender in theatrical productions.
WMNST 003 (DF)
Introduction to Women, the
Humanities, and the Arts
An overview of scholarly research and theory pertaining to women and
gender in the humanities and the arts, this course also clarifies
how major cultural definitions of gender shape women's aesthetic
expression.
WMNST 005 (DF)
Introduction to Women in Science,
Technology, and Engineering
The experiences, achievements, and status of women in the sciences
are examined. The course takes a cross-cultural approach,
emphasizing great women scientists world-wide.
WMNST (BLST) 101 (DF)
The African-American Woman
The course provides an overview of the activities and status of
African-American women, and examines their experiences and
achievements.
WMNST (BLST) 102 (DF)
Women of Color: Cross-Cultural
Perspective
This course studies women's work, gender, and autonomy in different
cultures, and examines ethnocentric views that portray minority
cultures as "primitive" and "underdeveloped."
The ways women have made changes in their lives in different
cultures and the effect these changes have on the dominant group are
explored and critiqued.
WMNST (COMM) 205 (DF)
Women, Minorities, and the Media
The course provides a multicultural and feminist perspective on how
historical dominance of media production by a few giant corporations
affects public perceptions, reinforcing racism and sexism.
WMNST (ENGL) 194 (DF)
Women Writers
Do women write differently from men? Are there "female" or
"feminine" writing styles that differ from the male
tradition in literature? English 194 is an introductory course in
literature written by women. The course studies the ways that
writing by women both intersects and differs from mainstream
literature.
WMNST (LIR) 136 (DF)
Women, Minorities, and Employment
This course provides analytic tools to understand issues most
relevant to women and minorities in the American employment system.
The material covered deals with women and non-White minorities and
the historical, social, economic, legal, and political dimensions of
their participation in an employment system largely not under their
control.
MANGT 442
Managing Diversity
This case-oriented course provides an overview of the history of
women and minorities in the U.S. workforce, an overview of labor
economics related to each group, and discussions of advanced cases
examining contemporary management situations related to cultural
diversity. Each major minority group will be examined in detail as
part of the course content. Students will conduct independent and
group studies of small minority groups represented in the workforce.
The course will teach several frameworks for examining diversity
issues and resolving conflicts.