Overview
Vivyan Adair, chair
Margaret Gentry
Man Kaplan
Stina Soderling
Special Appointment
Mariah Stember
The goal of the Women’s and Gender Studies Department is to develop students’ skills in conducting interdisciplinary critical analyses of how gender — in relation to race, class, citizenship status, ability, age, and sexuality — structures our world.
Students Will Learn to:
- Explain the connections between the pedagogy of feminism to the methodology and varying practices of the subject
- Demonstrate the connections between the history of feminism to contemporary theory, practice and activism
- Critique the use of contemporary theories of intersectionality, interdisciplinarity and transnationality in feminist studies
- Apply a range of feminist methodologies and theories in research and writing
- Demonstrate knowledge of theories in academic feminism with the social orders and structures in which we live
The concentration in Women’s and Gender Studies consists of nine courses: WMGST-101, WMGST-201, WMGST-301 and WMGST-550; two courses selected from among WMGST-314, WMGST-327, WMGST 334, WMGST 408W, WMGST-401, WMGST-402 and WMGST-405; and three electives. With the approval of the concentrator’s advisor, one course focused on women or gender that is not cross-listed with women’s studies may be counted toward the electives required for the concentration. Beginning with the class of 2020, students concentrating in Women’s and Gender Studies must satisfy the Social, Structural, and Institutional Hierarchies requirement by taking WMGST-101: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies.
The Senior Program (WMGST-550) is an interdisciplinary project culminating in a thesis or performance. Students who have an average of at least 3.5 (90) in the concentration may receive honors through distinguished work in WMGST-550. A complete description of the Senior Program is available from the program director.
A minor in Women’s and Gender Studies consists of WMGST-101, WMGST-201, WMGST-301, one course selected from WMGST-314, WMGST-327, WMGST-401, WMGST-402 or WMGST-405, and one elective.
Students without prior courses in the program may enroll in courses above the 100 level with permission of the instructor.