WOMEN'S AND GENDER STUDIES
Women's & Gender Studies Minor
Course Descriptions
Minné Hall, Room 329 (507-457-5460)
www.winona.edu/womensstudies
Tamara Berg, Director
FACULTY
Tamara Berg, Associate Professor; B.A., University of Wisconsin; M.A., Ph.D., Indiana University, Bloomington; 1995 -
PURPOSE
Women's and Gender Studies is a multidisciplinary program that looks at the lives and experiences of women and men through many different disciplines-history, art, psychology, economics, literature, sociology, and public health, among others. Women's and Gender studies students explore the ways in which gender shapes women's and men's identities and experiences in national global cultures. They also consider how cultural differences affect women's and men's lives within multicultural societies.
The Women's and Gender Studies Program is committed to integrating classroom and community. Women's and Gender studies students apply feminist theories and analyses to current social issues and develop the skills necessary for citizenship through a field experience with a community organization or agency.
The Women's and Gender Studies Program sponsors and coordinates campus opportunities and events that promote understanding and awareness of diverse perspectives and gender-related issues among WSU students, faculty, and staff. The program centralizes information relevant to women's and gender studies opportunities at WSU and provides students, faculty, and staff convenient access to and use of that information.
The Women's and Gender Studies Program functions for and with all segments of WSU including the Outreach and Continuing Education Department, the Rochester campus, and the larger Winona community. The program focuses on five major objectives:
- Promoting understanding of gender issues on campus and in the wider community
- Supporting gender-related social change activities on campus and in the wider community
- Guidance and leadership in the process of integrating gender issues into the WSU curriculum
- Centralization of information about existing opportunities for exploring and addressing gender issues
- Coordination and administration of women's and gender studies course offerings.
The program operates in the following areas:
- Academic Opportunities: The program offers a minor in women's and gender studies composed of courses that focus on women and/or gender. The program identifies and promotes additional academic opportunities for all students and faculty interested in expanding their knowledge of women's and gender issues.
- Campus and Community Events: The program works with campus constituencies in developing and planning workshops, lectures, performances and other events related to women's and gender issues.
The women's and gender studies minor provides students the opportunity to develop a clearer understanding of the lives and experiences of women, and the impact of gender differences on social development and experience. Women's and gender studies students explore the ways in which gender shapes women's and men's experiences in different global cultures and consider how cultural differences affect women's and men's lives within multicultural societies. The minor in women's and gender studies also develops among students an understanding of feminism both as a body of theory and an approach to social change. Through a combination of interdisciplinary women's and gender studies courses, courses in other departments, and a field experience, the women's and gender studies minor prepares students to assume roles as active citizens in addressing issues shaping women's and men's lives. Each student is required to complete a portfolio that represents and explains her/his growth and development as a minor in women's and gender studies.
PASS/NO CREDIT (P/NC) COURSES
Except for independent study, students must take all courses in the minor on a grade-only basis. The P/NC option is available to non-majors unless otherwise noted. Courses offered on a pass/no credit only or grade only basis are so designated in the course descriptions.
UNIVERSITY STUDIES FLAG REQUIREMENTS
Students may use Flag courses, which will usually be in the student's major or minor program, to satisfy both University Studies and major requirements. Flag courses will usually be in the student's major or minor program. The Women's and Gender Program offers the following flag courses in the University Studies Program:
Math/Critical Thinking ( O )
WAGS 348 Topics in Women's & Gender Studies (3)
For Women's and Gender Studies minors, Flag courses are identified in the lists of required courses and electives in this section.
B.A. MINOR - WOMEN'S AND GENDER STUDIES (WOMS) 23-25 S.H.
CORE COURSES (14 S.H.)
| WAGS |
148 |
Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies (3) |
| WAGS |
220 |
Power, Privilege and Gender (3) |
| WAGS |
373 |
Feminist Theory/Process (3) |
| WAGS |
420 |
Field Experience (3) |
| WAGS |
448 |
Senior Seminar (2) |
CORE DISCIPLINARY COURSES (6-8 S.H.)
Students take 6-8 S.H. from the following list of courses; see the Women's and Gender Studies Director for an updated list:
| |
BUED |
350 |
Quality of Work Life (3) |
| |
ART |
252 |
Survey of Women Artists (3) |
| I |
HIST |
315 |
Women in U.S. History (4) |
| |
NURS |
260 |
Women's Health Issues (3) |
| |
PSY |
275 |
Psychology of Women (3-4) |
| |
PHIL |
130 |
Moral Problems (3) |
| P |
POLS |
450 |
Feminist Political Theory (3) |
| |
PSY |
424 |
Women & Mental Health (3) |
| |
WAGS |
234 |
Interdisciplinary Approach to Gender and Latin American Society through 20th Century Literature (3) |
| |
WAGS |
235 |
Interdisciplinary Approach to Women and Social Justice Issues in Latin America (3) |
| O |
WAGS |
348 |
Topics in Women's and Gender Studies (3) |
ELECTIVES (3 S.H.) Electives may be chosen from courses listed above that are not used to fulfill core disciplinary course requirements and from a list of courses approved for women's studies elective credit. The following is a partial list of courses approved as WS electives:
History
I HIST 315 Women in U.S. History
Music
MUS 113 Women in Music
Nursing
NURS 260 Women's Health Issues
Philosophy
PHIL 130 Moral Problems
PHIL 240 Philosophy of Science
Psychology
PSY 275 Psychology of Women
Political Science
P POLS 450 Feminist Political Theory
Residential College
RESC 232 Interdisciplinary Approach to an Overview of Latin America and the Caribbean
RESC 233 Interdisciplinary Approach to Latin American and Caribbean Immigrants in U.S. Society
Social Work
| I |
SOCW |
340 |
Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare |
| P |
SOCW |
380 |
Social Welfare Policy |
Notes:
- For descriptions of the RESC courses, see Residential College on page 186.
- For a complete list of approved WS electives, see the Women's and Gender Studies Program Director.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS (WAGS)
148 - Introduction to Women's & Gender Studies (3 S.H.)
This course is an introduction to the interdisciplinary study of women and gender in society. The course, which is team-taught by faculty from different disciplines, examines women's social roles and contributions in various social groups, cultures, and areas of the globe; this course explores gender as a socially constructed category of human experience. It introduces students to feminism, both as a body of theory and as an approach to social change.
220 - Power, Privilege, and Gender (3 S.H.)
Explores the social construction of differences that lead to power and privilege in modern society. Issues of race, class, and sex, and gender are considered. Offered at least once a year.
320 - Independent Readings (1-3 S.H.)
This course allows students to pursue a project or topic of their own design with supervision and evaluation by the instructor. Instructor's written permission is required.
348 - Topics in Women's & Gender Studies (3 S.H.)
This course presents an in-depth study of topics of current interest in the field of Women's and Gender Studies. Offered as needed.
373 - Feminist Theory/Process (3 S.H.)
This course seeks to understand the creation and perpetuation of gender inequalities and their relation to other systems of inequality. This course seeks a broad understanding of the historical development of various strands of Western feminist thought and the range of interpretive possibilities such thought has opened up. Interdisciplinary readings investigate how feminist theory and process have affected our lives and our understanding of literature, philosophy, political science, law, science, film, history, sociology, and medicine. Prerequisites: WS 120, 220 or instructor's permission. Offered at least once a year.
405 - Gender, Violence and Society (4 S.H.)
This course introduces students to the roots of gender-based violence, the political and cultural structures that perpetuate it, and explores how this violence might be brought to an end. Students will investigate the local and global impact of violence; how gendered violence intersects with race, class, sexuality, age, physical ability and the oppressions that are linked to these identities; and strategies for addressing gender-based violence. The overlap between gender-based violence and child abuse and neglect will be addressed under each topic. As part of the class, students will complete a 45-hour advocacy training (plus 15 hours of volunteer advocacy work) offered in partnership with the Women's Resource Center of Winona. Course time will be divided between 2 credits of lab and 2 credits of theory. Prerequisites: CAST 301 or consent of instructor. Offered every fall semester.
420 - Field Experience (3-6 S.H.)
The Field Experience gives students an opportunity to explore gender-related issues and the gender dimension of social issues through experiences outside the classroom; integrate practical experience with feminist analyses developed in Women's and Gender Studies courses; and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to act effectively as citizens of their communities. Prerequisites: Women and Gender Studies minor status.
448 - Senior Seminar (2 S.H.)
As the capstone for the Women's and Gender Studies minor, this course requires students to review and assess their work in Women's and Gender Studies and the relationship between the minor and their major. Prerequisites: WS 148, WS 220, WS 348, WS 420, and Women's and Gender Studies minor status or instructor's permission.
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 8:54 by Lori Beseler
