COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

An investigation of women’s experience from the perspective of various disciplines. The course examines the ways gender interacts with ethnicity, race, class and sexuality and explores contemporary and historical issues related to women's lives. Included are such subjects as health and body image, violence against women, and women's achievements.

This course focuses on the recent successes as well as the problems women face in the work force. It provides an overview of the changing nature of work in the United States and of the history of women from diverse groups and backgrounds.

Prereq:Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.

Human geographies will be studied through the lens of gender along with gender relations at home and abroad. Content is organized according to a variety of spatial scales including the body, home, city, and world. Cases investigated at the global scale include gendered livelihoods and migration, nationalism and war, and environmental issues.

This course is a study of women's contributions and their representation in such areas of American culture as literature, art, crafts, music, film, letters and diaries from the mid-Nineteenth Century to contemporary times. Students will also explore how the dominant ideas and images of American culture interact with the real lives of diverse groups of women.

Prereq:Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.

WOMENST 280 FEMINIST THEORIES

An introduction to historical and contemporary feminist theories, with emphasis on critical reading and analysis of original works by major feminist writers.

Prereq:WOMENST 100 and sophomore standing.

WOMENST 303/503 WOMEN'S VOICES/WOMEN'S LIVES

A study of the lives of women in different ages and cultures. Women's roles in society as revealed in diaries, autobiography and biography are explored.

Prereq: Sophomore standing.

WOMENST 310 WOMEN AND THE SHAPING OF LATIN AMERICAN CULTURE

This course critically examines roles of women in shaping Latin American culture and society through exploration of individual and collective action. Through the lenses of film, essay, and objective studies students encounter ways in which women create, maintain and restore cultures often viewed by the outside as strongly male-dominated.

Prereq:3 units of anthropology or consent of instructor

WOMENST 320 LESBIAN STUDIES

This course will introduce students to an array of interdisciplinary texts that present issues relevant to perceiving lesbian lives. Readings will include legal, scientific, and philosophic theory, studies by social scientists and historians, multicultural perspectives and literary works. There will be four units; 1) Defining our Terms, 2) Idea(l)s of Community, 3) Life-Cycle Choices, 4) Research on Current Issues.

Prereq:WOMENST 100 and sophomore standing.

Anthropological approaches to the cross-cultural study of gender relations with emphasis on societies of the non-Western world. Topics vary.

Prereq:GENED 130 or GENED 140 or sophomore standing.

A survey of women musicians in Western European art music and twentieth-century popular musical styles. Historical, cultural, and philosophical issues surrounding the contributions of female performers, composers, conductors, patrons, teachers, musicologists, and other musical professions will be explored, as well as the portrayal of women in opera, musical theater, and music videos.

Prereq:GENED 110.

WOMENST 350 STAGES AND TRANSITIONS INWOMEN'S LIVES

A study of identity issues that women may face in their adult lives, including specific transitions such as entering and/or leaving relationships; work patterns; parenting; care-giving; coping with loss; retirement; and facing the challenges of aging.

Prereq: Sophomore standing.

WOMENST 365 WOMEN, SCIENCE, AND SOCIETY

Historical survey of women's contributions to science; case studies of modern women scientists; feminism and scientific knowledge.

Prereq:Junior standing or WOMENST 100.

Unreq: HISTRY 365.

This course will provide an examination of Native American, African American, Latina, and Asian American women in the broad areas of work, family/community relationships, creativity, and social action.

Prereq:Junior standing or WOMENST 100.

A study of legal, social, and moral issues related to gender, such as the definition of sexual difference, inequality in the workplace, lesbian and gay rights. How those issues have been handled historically and normatively within the legal system will be investigated.

Prereq:Junior standing or consent of instructor.

WOMENST 455 ISSUES AND TOPICS IN WOMEN'S AND GENDER STUDIES

This course provides intensive study of important issues in Women’s Studies, with special emphasis on courses that reflect the most contemporary thought in our discipline and that correspond to faculty research interests. Topics include Women’s Human Rights, Gender and AIDS, and Women, Militarism and War.

WOMENST 464/664 WOMEN IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to study and analyze international relations from a multi-disciplinary perspective. It will examine current understandings of the causes, processes and structures of international relations, violent conflict, as well as resolution of those conflicts and peace within the context of Feminist theories. The goal is to examine the role of women in international relations, international security, conflict and peace through different approaches to the study of conflict and how it is understood. The course will consider both the strength and limitations of various disciplinary approaches.The traditional approaches to international relations, international security, international conflict and peace reflect viewpoints consistent with masculine perspectives on power and security. The goal is to consider how the limitations of the approaches can be effectively challenged and what alternatives might be offered. Themes for discussion will include gender, race, ethnicity, nationalism, state, community, conflict and peace.

Prereq:3 units of political science or 3 units of women's studies.

WOMENST 481 GENDER, ETHNICITY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

An examination of the ways that sexism, racism, ethnic/class exploitation and environmental destruction are interrelated. Considers social and cultural forces that lead to limited and/or gendered concepts of nature, and explores alternative theoretical and activist perspectives (deep ecology, bioregionalism, ecofemisim, environmental justice, etc.) and responses to the environmental crisis.

Prereq:Sophomore standing.

WOMENST 489 ADVANCED SEMINAR IN WOMEN'S STUDIES

An intensive, integrative study of selected issues in Women's Studies, emphasizing critical thinking and research techniques. A substantial research paper is required.

Prereq: WOMENST 100 and either WOMENST 280 or PHILSPHY 390.

Prereq: Consent of instructor.

WOMENST 493 INTERNSHIP IN WOMEN'S STUDIES

Work and study with an agency or institution related to women's issues. Students working under faculty supervision will combine academic learning with practical experience.

Prereq: 12 units in courses approved for the Women's Studies Minor and approval of Women's Studies Internship Committee.

Prereq: Consent of instructor.

Prereq: Consent of instructor and 6 units from the approved course list or approval of the Women's Studies Chairperson.

APPROVED COURSES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS:

ANTHRO ANTHROPL 367 Archeology of Women

ENGL ENGLISH 463/663 Nineteenth Century Women Writers

ENGL ENGLISH 464/664 Twentieth Century Women Writers

HIST HISTRY 326/526 History of Contemporary Women from 1800

HIST HISTRY 361 History of Sexuality

HIST HISTRY 363 From Goddesses to Witches

HIST HISTRY 364 Modern European Women's History

PHIL PHILSPHY 381 Philosophy of Gender and Race

PHIL PHILSPHY 390/590 Feminist Philosophy

PSCI POLISCI 315/515 Women and Politics

REL RELIGST 330 Women and Religion

SOC SOCIOLGY 345 Sociology of Gender Roles

SOC SOCIOLGY 379/579 Women and Crime

SPAN SPANISH 484 Women Writers of Spain and the Americas

Special Studies, workshops, internships, and seminars having a specific focus on women may be approved for a single term. For more information consult the current schedule of classes.

INTERDISCIPLINARY

CORE COURSES

This course exposes students to the areas of Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Art. Students will gain insight into the basic components of the arts, the role of art in society, and be given an historical perspective on art. Students will attend performing arts events and see work in the gallery context. Both western and non-western arts will be explored. May not be taken on an Satisfactory/No Credit grade basis.

Unreq: ACINDP 105.

This course examines major trends in the economic, political, and sociocultural history of the world since the nineteenth century. Students are encouraged to draw on multiple perspectives to develop a comparative framework for understanding the origins of current global issues and the changing role of the US in the world. May not be taken on a Satisfactory/No Credit grade basis.

Unreq: HISTRY 105.

This course critically examines how people influence and are affected by their social worlds from the perspectives of anthropology, psychology, sociology and women’s studies. The course focuses on how we experience life as individuals and as members of cultural systems that shape our personalities, behavior, and perceptions of the world. May not be taken on an Satisfactory/No Credit grade basis.

Unreq: PSYCH 105, SOCIOLGY 105, WOMENST 105 and ANTHROPL 105.

This course introduces students to key terms, concepts, issues and relationships in economics, geography and political science. The course investigates how increasing globalization impacts issues such as the authority and competence of the nation-state, population growth and migration, economic development and trade and patterns of international cooperation and conflict. May not be taken on an Satisfactory/No Credit grade basis.

Unreq: ECON 105, GEOGRPY 105, POLISCI 105.

GENED 291 GENERAL EDUCATION TRAVEL STUDY

This course gives students an opportunity to experience first hand important social, cultural and historical aspects of American and other cultures through travel and study in this country and abroad. Specific itineraries and fees will be published in the Schedule of Classes each term. Course is repeatable with change of itinerary up to 4 times and a maximum of 6 units toward degree; a maximum of 3 units may be counted in the General Education elective category. Offered on an Satisfactory/No Credit grade basis only.

This course examines themes and issues that have had a significant impact upon the world's civilizations. Readings will focus on primary texts representing major historical periods, world cultures, and diverse perspectives. This course will stress critical and analytical thought, drawing upon knowledge obtained in this and earlier core courses. May not be taken on an Satisfactory/No Credit grade basis.

Prereq:ENGLISH 101 and ENGLISH 102, Junior standing, and completion of all other required core courses.

Unreq: LSINDP 390.