Department of Women's and Gender Studies

Women's and Gender Studies Courses

Spring 2022

WGST girl with laptop

Check out our spring course listing to see what classes the Department of Women's and Gender Studies are running soon.

WGST Course Descriptions

WGST 1150 Proseminar in Women's and Gender Studies I

[1 hour] Students reflect on the academic, professional and community activist dimensions of Women’s and Gender Studies. Students develop a preliminary plan for the development of their portfolio.

WGST 2010 Introduction to Gender Studies: Gender, Sex and Difference

[3 hours] An interdisciplinary introduction to Gender Studies. This course critically examines competing theories of gender and sex identification, construction and biological determinism. It also considers ethical issues regarding differences of gender, sex and sexuality. U.S. multicultural course.

WGST 2150 Proseminar in Women's and Gender Studies II

[1 hour] Designed for majors only. Students reflect on the academic, professional and community activist dimensions of Women’s and Gender Studies. Special emphasis is dedicated to the completion of the portfolio for future career, community activism and graduate studies. Prerequisite: Majors only and WGST 1150.

WGST 2400 Women's Roles: A Global Perspective

[3 hours] This course focuses on the current and evolving social, economic and political status of women in the United States and selected non-Western societies. Social sciences core course. Non-Western multicultural course.

WGST 2610 Women in American Politics

[3 hours] An examination of the role of women in the American political system with special attention given to socializing experiences, political power bases and legal status. Prerequisite: PSC 1200. U.S. multicultural course.

WGST 2640 Race, Class, and Gender

[3 hours] Introduction to the study of race, class and gender as factors in American stratification. Social sciences core course. U.S. multicultural course.

WGST 2980 Special Topics in Women's and Gender Studies

[3 hours] Study of selected topics relevant to Women’s and Gender Studies. May be repeated for major or minor credit when topic varies.

WGST 3010 Issues in Women's Studies

[3 hours] Required for the major. An interdisciplinary introduction to basic works of feminist thought, feminist methodologies and current issues in the field worldwide. Writing-intensive (WAC) course. Non-Western multicultural course.

WGST 3020 Visual Construction of Gender

[3 hours] This non-studio course focuses on the ways images reflect and shape our understanding of gender. Students learn to analyze visual material in order to identify and articulate their cultural significance in relation to gender. Writing-intensive (WAC) course. Prerequisite: 6 hours of English composition. Humanities core course. U.S. multicultural course.

WGST 3200 Issues in Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual and Gay Communities

[3 hours] This course provides students with an understanding of current issues facing LTBG communities including historical, developmental, socio-cultural and political perspectives.

WGST 3240 Queer Culture
 [3 hours]

WGST 3400 Feminist Approaches to Social Problems

[3 hours] This course examines current social problems from a feminist perspective. The course examines such issues as the feminization of poverty, violence against women, homelessness, prostitution, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and addictions.

WGST 3550 The Philosophy of Love, Sex and Marriage

[3 hours] An examination of feminist perspectives in philosophy, exploring the relevance of gender to central questions in ethics, political theory and epistemology. U.S. multicultural course.

WGST 3650 Economics of Gender

[3 hours] Analysis of labor market outcomes and income distribution characteristics resulting from gender differences; Gender-related economic outcomes; the feminization of poverty, persistent male-female wage differential, expanding proportion of female headed households. Prerequisite: ECON 1150 and 1200. U.S. multicultural course.

WGST 3700 Women's and Gender Studies Topics in Literature

[3 hours] Specific topics vary. Check schedule of classes for specific subject. Prerequisite: WGST 2010 and 3010 or permission of instructor. Recommended: ENGL 2700, 2800 or 3790.

WGST 3750 Women and Literature

[3 hours] Examines literary works in light of major issues raised by feminist criticism. Specific emphasis varies. Recommended: ENGL 2700 or 3790. U.S. multicultural course.

WGST 3800 Sexual Politics

[3 hours] This course examines sexual politics through studying canonical literature of Western political theory, feminism and postmodern theory.

WGST 3980 Topics in Women's and Gender Studies

[3 hours] Specific topics vary. Check schedule of courses for specific subject.

WGST 4010 Women's and Gender Studies Topics in Film

[3 hours] Specific topics vary. Check schedule of courses for specific subject and prerequisites.

WGST 4130 Family Violence Across the Life Cycle

[3 hours] This course examines the issues of family violence, including child abuse and elder abuse. Gender and cultural issues are explored along with the intergenerational nature of family violence.

WGST 4160 Health and Gender

[3 hours] An examination of gender as a predisposing factor of health status, health behavior, health care delivery, and the structure and posture of healthcare professionals. Writing-intensive (WAC) course. Prerequisite: 6 hours of Sociology or 9 hours of social science.

WGST 4170 Mental Health and Gender

[3 hours] This course examines the significance of gender in understanding the historical development of mental health concepts. Contemporary feminist critiques of diagnostic categories are discussed.

WGST 4180 Gender and Work

[3 hours] Analysis of the contemporary position of women in the U.S. work force focusing on the expansion of the number of women joining the labor force in recent decades, and the persistence of relatively low pay, status and authority in female-dominated occupations. Prerequisite: 6 hours of Sociology or 9 hours of social science.

WGST 4350 Women's and Gender Studies Topics in Communication

[3 hours] Cross-listings of 4000-level courses with the Communication department. Specific topics vary. Check schedule of courses for specific subject and prerequisites determined by the department of Communication.

WGST 4500 Women's and Gender Studies Topics in History

[3 hours] Cross-listings of 4000-level courses with the History department. Specific topics vary. Check schedule of courses for specific subject and prerequisites.

WGST 4510 Women in American History

[3 hours] This course presents American history from early settlement to the present by examining the contributions of women, in interaction with men, to the immensely complex fabric of American life. U.S. multicultural course.

WGST 4540 Witchcraft and Magic in Medieval and Early Modern Europe

[3 hours] Witchcraft, religion and magic in western Europe from the 12th through 17th centuries, focusing on the origins of witchcraft belief, diabolical magic and witchcraft's decline.

WGST 4610 Feminist Political Theory

[3 hours] An analysis and discussion of contemporary feminist theory. Prerequisite: PSC 2800.

WGST 4700 Women's and Gender Studies Topics in Literature

[3 hours] Specific topics vary. Check course schedules for specific subject. Prerequisite: WGST 2010 and 3010 or permission of instructor. Recommended: ENGL 2700, 2800 or 3790.

WGST 4770 American Women Writers

[3 hours] Author/authors vary with each offering. Consult schedule of courses for specific subject. Prerequisite: WGST 2010 and 3010 or permission of instructor. Recommended: ENGL 2700, 2800 or 3790.

WGST 4870 Feminisms

[3 hours] This introduction to global feminist thought familiarizes students with feminist terminology and a variety of feminist theoretical frameworks. Prerequisite: Required Junior or Senior status.

WGST 4890 Women's and Gender Studies Research and Methodologies

[4 hours] Investigates and applies current trends in Women’s and Gender Studies as a discipline and the ways in which Women’s and Gender Studies methodologies inform other disciplines. Requires research project. Prerequisite: Required Junior or Senior status.

WGST 4900 Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies

[3 hours] Seminar focused on timely topics in Women’s and Gender Studies chosen by rotating faculty. Prerequisite: Required Junior or Senior status.

WGST 4910 Honors Thesis in Women's and Gender Studies

[1-3 hours] Supervised research and writing for honors students only. Prerequisite: Permission of departmental honors director and permission of instructor.

WGST 4940 Internship in Women's and Gender Studies

[1-3 hours] Practical field experience applying Women’s and Gender Studies theories, arranged in conjunction with the department of Women’s and Gender Studies. Students must have pre-approval based on detailed written proposal. Prerequisite: Required Junior or Senior status.

WGST 4980 Advanced Topics in Women's and Gender Studies

[3 hours] A course on a special topic in Women’s and Gender Studies. Consult schedule of courses for topic to be studied and semester offered. Prerequisite: Required Junior or Senior status. Recommended: WGST 3010.

WGST 4990 Independent Study in Women's and Gender Studies

[1-4 hours] Supervised independent reading and research on selected topics. Before the end of open registration, students must present the supervising instructor a detailed written proposal and get written approval. Prerequisite: Required Junior or Senior status.

Last Updated: 6/27/22