WOMEN'S STUDIES
College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies

SPECIAL MAJOR
MINOR
FACULTY
CONTACT
COMPLETE COURSE LISTING

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The field of Women’s Studies is dedicated to studying women’s lives and facilitating political activism and community participation. What makes Women’s Studies such a dynamic field is the conviction that theoretical knowledge is best illuminated when connected to political projects and personal experiences.

Our Women’s Studies curriculum is multi-disciplinary and focuses on women, gender, and sexuality in relation to other social and economic forces such as racism, ethnocentrism, capitalism, and militarism. Students have opportunities to examine women’s diverse experiences--locally, nationally, and globally--within feminist and social justice frameworks.

The course of study situates gender in specific historical and cultural contexts, and examines how our lives are shaped by social and economic institutions, political movements, and individual experiences. We also place a strong focus on community involvement and activism, and we offer many opportunities for internships and service work credit.

Women’s Studies affirms the Preamble and Purpose of the National Women’s Studies Association which states:

“ Women’s Studies owes its existence to the movement for the liberation of women; the women’s liberation movement exists because women are oppressed…Feminist aims include the elimination of oppression and discrimination on the basis of sex, race, class, religion, disability, and sexual orientation.”

Units required for the Special Major: 36; all must be upper division courses.

The special major in undergraduate and graduate programs allows for specially designed patterns of study leading to a degree when academic and professional aims are not adequately accommodated by standard degree majors. This provision is used to assist students in areas where courses already available allow completion of multidisciplinary programs, particularly in areas such as Women's Studies. A student interested in a special major should contact the Women's Studies Coordinator.

Units required for the Minor: 21; all must be upper division courses. The minor emphasizes the position and achievement of women in various fields of study
Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

At least one course must be taken from each of the following categories:

Identities and Intersectionality

The Humanities

Society, Politics and Social Movements

Descriptions of non-Women’s Studies courses may be obtained by consulting the listings under the appropriate departments. Please consult the Women's Studies Program for any new courses added to these categories. The minor and special major in Women's Studies is planned in advance and approved for graduation by the Women's Studies Coordinator.

Additional Information

• Course Offerings: To meet the feminist goals of Women's Studies, two types of courses are offered. Women's Studies courses taught by Women's Studies faculty and funded by Women's Studies; and service courses offered by other departments. Service courses are funded by their respective departments.
• Approved Service Courses: Women's Studies courses are offered in many departments including: Anthropology, Art, Teacher Education, Business Administration, Counselor Education, Economics, English, Ethnic Studies, Family and Consumer Sciences, Government, History, Humanities and Religious Studies, Criminal Justice, Journalism, Kinesiology, Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work. A complete listing of semester courses may be obtained from the Program Office, Amador Hall 561B.

Listed below are the regularly offered service courses, approved for the Women's Studies Program, although many experimental offerings are taught in departments each semester. Please refer to departmental listings for a complete description of these courses.

COMPLETE COURSE LISTING | RETURN TO TOP |