Interdepartmental Programs

GENDER STUDIES MAJOR

Chaimov, Administrative Coordinator.

The aim of the major in gender studies is to provide a framework for examining gender in societies. The major focuses on the experiences of women and men of various races, classes, and cultures in history, society, science, and the arts. Courses address one or more of the following issues: 1) gender roles as cultural and cross-cultural concepts; 2) the impact of gender on academic inquiries; 3) the lives, achievement, and angles of vision of women.

Collateral Major in Gender Studies

1. Fulfill requirements for any of the majors listed on p. 13.
2. GS-107 Introduction to Gender Studies
3. GS-405 Gender Studies
4. An additional seven courses to be chosen as indicated from the two lists below. At least three academic disciplines courses, and no more than three courses may be chosen from the student’s primary major(s).

a. A minimum of three courses from the following list of core courses:

ENG-125, -127, -128 Exploring Literature (when topic is
ENG-187,-188 Literary Studies in Gender
FRE-108 or GER-108 or SPA-108 Images of Foreign Culture (when topic is appropriate)
GER-445 Race, Class and Gender (in German)
GS-207 Dress, Gender, and Identity
GS-247, -255 Gender Studies Symposium
HIS-397 Women in America
NUR-247 Women’s Health and Health Care Issues
PHL-277 Feminist Philosophy
REL-385 Topics in Religion (when topic is appropriate)

b. One or more courses from the following list of component courses to bring the total elective courses to seven.

EDU-387 Human Relations
ENG-257 Drama (when topic is appropriate)
ENG-347 American Literature (when topic is appropriate)
ENG-515 Victorian Fiction
ENG-705,-715,-725 Seminar in Literature (when topic is appropriate)
FRE-145. -146. -148 Literature in Translation (when topic is appropriate)
HON-715 Style and Transformation in the Arts (when topic is appropriate)
HON-725 Continuity and Transition in Non-Western Societies (when topic is appropriate)
NUR/PSY-237 Human Sexuality
REL-385 Topics in Religion (when topic is History of the Christian Tradition)
SOC-207 Sociology of the Family
SOC 415 Social Conflict
SOC-425 Social Change
THE-288 History of Dress

The major in gender studies is designed by the student, with help from advisors, to suit individual needs and interests. Students are required to complete their capstone experience during their senior year.

Gender Studies Minor

1. GS-107 Introduction to Gender Studies
2. GS-405 Gender Studies Capstone
3. At least two courses from list 4A for the collateral major.
4. One more course from either list 4A or 4B for the collateral major.
5. At least two academic disciplines should be represented among the three elective courses, and no more than one of these courses may be chosen from the student’s primary major(s).

Courses in Gender Studies

GS-107 Introduction to Gender Studies
An examination of the ways in which societies shape our notions of gender, including, but not limited to, how class, race, and sexual orientation influence this process. Topics for lecture, discussion, and readings are selected by the instructor and are drawn from a variety of academic fields.

GS-207 Dress, Gender, and Identity
Explores the issues of personal adornment and dress related to the projection of gender and identity. Examples from contemporary cultures around
the globe are analyzed and compared following a variety of themes. Those themes include: revealing and concealing gender and/or identity, dress codes as social markers, body image and gender, and group identity through dress and adornment. Open to all students.

GS-216 Gender in the Non-Western World
A study of gender rituals, family practices, sexuality, gendered work, and other aspects of gender in nonwestern cultures.

GS-247 Gender Studies Symposium
Study of selected works and subjects dealing with gender. Specific topics vary from year to year. May be taken twice, because topics vary.

GS-405 Gender Studies Capstone
Integrates skills and methods acquired through Gender Studies coursework and requires that the student make a public contribution to the community. During the course of the term, the student: 1) completes a self-designed project which has a public outcome and which is related to the student’s major, the student’s current ethical or social concerns, or the student’s possible post-college vocation; 2) participates in a specified number of gender-related campus or community events, with either direct involvement in or written response to each. Participation by consent of directing faculty member after submission and acceptance of proposal for project to the Gender Studies coordinating committee.