2023-2024 Catalogue
Women's Studies (WST) Course Descriptions
WST 201: Psychology of Human Sexuality.
Goal: To explore biological, psychological, interpersonal and sociocultural aspects of human sexuality.
Content: Issues surrounding multiple and often contradictory elements that shape sexual attitudes and behaviors.
Credit: 3 hours; cross-listed as PSY 201.
WST 210: Women and Economic Development.
Goal: To study the impact of economic change on women by analyzing how age, sex, and race hierarchies modify changes in women's roles in different societies of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Content: This course will focus on the effects of economic growth on the socioeconomic status of women. Most importantly, students will study the means by which patriarchy has persisted in various parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America by redefining itself, even as economies have modernized.
Prerequisite: None.
Gen. Ed. Category: Synthesizing Perspectives; Women's Experiences; (SBS/PS).
Cross-listed as: BUS 210 and ECO 210.
Credit: 3 hours.
WST 213: Gender and Religion.
Goal: To engage students in the critical reading and assessment of significant religious and theological works concerning how gender impacts the practices of religion in society and how religion impacts individual and societal understanding of gender and gender roles.
Content: Students will examine in detail the approach to gender and gender roles undertaken by a diversity of religions, religious practitioners, theologians, and theorists of religion. The impact of gender on issues such as ethical formation, religious authority, the nature of human existence, and conceptions of the holy will be explored.
Gen. Ed. Category: Synthesizing Perspectives; Women’s Experiences; (HUM).
Credit: 3 hours; cross-listed as REL 213.
WST 215: Women, Music, and Culture.
Goal: To challenge students to engage actively and to think critically about women's roles and the power of perspective in historical narrative. Students will learn how to listen and analyze a number of musical styles and genres, as well as consider issues such as gender and control in music and how women are perceived cross-culturally.
Content: This course will examine the contributions of women involved in the world of music, including composers, producers, consumers, performers, and educators. The course will cover the major historical music periods as well as a number of popular and world music styles.
Gen Ed. Category: Synthesizing Perspectives; Women's Experiences; (FA).
Credit: 3 hours; cross-listed as MUS 215.
WST 225: Gender and Politics.
Goals: To examine the status of women in today's political world from a global perspective, and to understand how women's experiences are shaped by historical, political, and societal factors.
Content: The course examines the extent to which women have participated and achieved representation in the political arena, and with what impact; analyzes how public policy affects women's lives; and evaluates critical political and social issues that women face in today's global world.
Prerequisite: None.
Gen. Ed. Category: Synthesizing Perspectives; Women's Experiences; (SBS/PS).
Credit: 3 hours; cross-listed as POL 225.
WST 267: Women in World History.
Goal: To provide students with an introduction to the role of women in world history and to have students read critically from a variety of primary and secondary sources on topics related to women's changing role in different cultures.
Content: Using the experience of women as the unifying theme, this course will take a comparative approach to different civilizations from the ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern periods around the world.
Prerequisite: None.
Gen. Ed. Category: Synthesizing Perspectives; Women's Experiences; (SBS/PS).
Credit: 3 hours; cross-listed as HIS 267.
WST 301: Psychology of Gender.
Goal: To further students' understanding of psychological knowledge as it applies to women and gender issues.
Content: Exploration of the manner in which psychology provides a unique perspective on the study of gender, focusing primarily on women, with emphasis on research methodologies, empirical findings, theory, and current and historical controversies.
Prerequisite: PSY 101 or WGS 200.
Gen. Ed. Category: Synthesizing Perspectives; Women's Experiences; (SBS/PS).
Credit: 3 hours; cross-listed as PSY 301.
WST 328: Women, Culture, and Theatre.
Goal: Learn to perceive and respond thoughtfully, in oral and written form, to issues of gender and culture in theatre.
Content: Students will gain the tools to analyze, discuss, and write about plays, performances, and production work by women from various cultures, and how women have altered the nature of theatre, particularly within the past thirty years. Students will engage with issues of class, ethnicity, and the social construction of gender identity.
Prerequisites: None.
Gen. Ed. Category: Synthesizing Perspectives; Women’s Experiences; (FA).
Credit: 3 hours; cross-listed as THE 328.
WST 354: Art History III: 20th Century to Contemporary.
Goal: To acquire an understanding of art and architecture from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present.
Content: Study of art and architecture in the 20th and 21st centuries with an emphasis on global socio-political, environmental, and gender issues.
Gen. Ed. Category: Synthesizing Perspectives: Women's Experiences; (FA).
Credit: 3 hours; cross-listed as ARH 354.
WST 355: Seminar in Gender and Philosophy.
Goal: To engage students in the critical reading and assessment of significant philosophical works concerning how gender impacts the practices of philosophy and society.
Content: Students will examine in detail the philosophical ideas of a particular philosopher, school of philosophy, or philosophical trend that concerns the impact of gender on issues such as views of reality, theories of knowledge, and the nature of human existence and society.
Gen Ed. Credit: Synthesizing Perspectives; Women’s Experiences; (HUM).
Credit: 3 hours; cross-listed as PHI 355.
WST 377: Seminar in Women's History.
Goal: To provide students with an in-depth exploration of a variety of important primary and secondary texts in women's history, and to teach students to engage competently in discussions of historical writing about women and gender.
Content: This course provides students with an in-depth examination of a particular theme, period, or region in women's history with emphasis on the variety of historical scholarship on that topic. The focus of each seminar will vary. Topics might include the history of motherhood, the history of sex workers, or the history of women entrepreneurs.
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of College writing proficiency requirement or permission of instructor.
Gen. Ed. Category: Synthesizing Perspectives; Women's Experiences; (SBS/PS).
Credit: 3 hours; cross-listed as HIS 377. This course may be repeated one time with a different topic for a maximum of six credits.
WST 396: Special Topics in Women's Studies.
Goal: To offer the student opportunities to pursue Women's Studies in specific areas outside the regularly scheduled courses.
Content: An examination of the role of women and/or women's issues in a particular area of study.
Prerequisites: None, or if cross-listed with another course, the prerequisite(s) of that course will apply.
Credit: 3 hours. A student may take a maximum of six to eight semester hours (two courses) of special topics in any one field.
WST 451: Directed Independent Study.
Goal: To allow students to pursue particular interests in Women's Studies in addition to those covered in other courses.
Content: Varies according to interest of the student; to be agreed upon by student and professor and approved by the Women's Studies Program Chair.
Prerequisites: Permission of program director and instructor.
Credit: 1-6 hours.
WST 452/199: Field Study/Internship.
Goal: To provide students with an opportunity to gain experience and apply their learned skills in a practical, professional setting that can be explored through creative, vocational, and/or academic venues.
Content: Varies with student and her chosen advisor.
Prerequisites: Permission of program director and advisor.
Credit: 1-12 hours.
WST 499: Honors Thesis. (Fee required).
