Sharon M. Meagher, Ph.D., Director of Women’s Studies and Chair
Marzia Caporale, Ph.D.
Jones DeRitter, Jones, Ph.D.
Josephine Dunn, Ph.D.
Marian Farrell, Ph.D.
Mary Anne Foley, Ph.D.
Michael Friedman, Ph.D.
Christina Gschwandtner, Ph.D.
Jean Harris, Ph.D.
Jan Kelly, Ph.D.
Linda Ledford-Miller, Ph.D.
Susan Méndez, Ph.D.
Darlene Miller-Lanning, Ph.D.
Lee Penyak, Ph.D.
Virginia Picchietti, Ph.D.
Susan Poulson, Ph.D.
Meghan Rich, Ph.D.
Ana Rojas, Ph.D.
Ileana Szymanski, Ph.D.
Ann Marie Toloczko, Ph.D.
Jamie Trnka, Ph.D.
Gretchen Van Dyke, Ph.D.
Stephen Whittaker, Ph.D.
Habib Zanzana, Ph.D.
Overview
The Women’s Studies Concentration consists of courses that examine women’s experiences and the ways gender-related issues affect human lives and cultures. Faculty and students analyze the ways gender roles and images and assumptions about gender are reflected in art, business, literature, law, philosophy, public policy, religion, language, history, the sciences, and their own lives. Many Women’s Studies courses also address issues of race, class, ethnicity, and age as they intersect with gender issues.
Women’s Studies courses focus on women’s experiences in history, society, and culture; examine institutional structures, modes of authority/analysis of power, especially considering their implications for women; and incorporate one or more feminist analyses/scholarly works (recognizing that there are multiple, and even conflicting, feminist perspectives).
Women’s Studies seek to promote critical thinking, intellectual growth, and self-awareness useful to all students. It is an attractive academic supplement for students planning careers in government, law, business, human services, ministry, and teaching – to name but a few.
Courses for the Women’s Studies Concentration are drawn from departments across the University and are open to students in all majors. (To enroll, students must see the Director of Women’s Studies.) The concentration consists of six courses including one required core course (PHIL 218 or SOC 315). Many of the cross-listed Women’s Studies courses also fulfill major, minor, cognate, and/or general education requirements. Students also are encouraged to do extracurricular activities that will enrich the classroom experience.
Students may, with the approval of the Women’s Studies Steering Committee, substitute an honors tutorial or thesis, study abroad courses, one reader, or a non-cross-listed course for a women’s studies course elective in cases where major graded requirements are completed in ways that meet the course criteria for women’s studies. Students seeking such substitutions should seek advice from the Director of Women’s Studies, preferably before completing the credits they wish to substitute the Women’s Studies Concentration is offered by the Department of Latin American Studies and Women’s Studies (LA/W/S).
Women's Studies Courses
Some of the listed courses have prerequisites; please
consult departmental description.
Required Courses: Students are encouraged to
take both.
PHIL 218
(P, D) Feminism: Theory
and Practice OR
SOC 315
Feminism and Social
Change
Supplemental Courses: Choose any five (or four
if both PHIL 218 and SOC 315 are taken).
ARTH 210
(CA ,D) Women in the
Visual Arts
ARTH 311
(W, D, CA) Medieval and
Renaissance Women
CHS 337
(D, W) Counseling Girls
and Women
COMM 229
(D) Gender and
Communication
ENLT 225
(CL, D, W) Writing Women
ENLT 228
(CL, D, W) Race in
Anglo-American Culture 1600-1860
(Prerequisites PHIL 218, SOC 215 or permission of Women’s Studies Steering Committee) Designed to broaden the educational experience of students by providing practical experience for them in various non-profit and other organizations that deal primarily with women’s issues or women clients. Students will ordinarily be expected to write a reflection paper. Supervision by faculty members and agency supervisor.
