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• Undergraduate Fall 2012
• Women's Studies

Undergraduate Women's Studies

2012 Fall Term

Class Schedule

INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S STUDIES (GE)

WOMENST 100

An investigation of women's experience from the perspective of various disciplines. The course examines the ways gender interacts with ethnicity, race, class and sexuality and explores contemporary and historical issues related to women's lives. Included are such subjects as health and body image, violence against women, and women's achievements.

Class Schedule

GENDER AND GEOGRAPHY (GS)

WOMENST 245

Human geographies will be studied through the lens of gender along with gender relations at home and abroad. Content is organized according to a variety of spatial scales including the body, home, city, and world. Cases investigated at the global scale include gendered livelihoods and migration, nationalism and war, and environmental issues.

Class Schedule

WOMEN IN AMERICAN CULTURE (GE)

WOMENST 250

This course is a study of women's contributions and their representation in such areas of American culture as literature, art, crafts, music, film, letters and diaries--from the mid-Nineteenth Century to contemporary times. Students will also explore how the dominant ideas and images of American culture interact with the real lives of diverse groups of women.

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FEMINIST THEORIES

WOMENST 280

An introduction to historical and contemporary feminist theories, with emphasis on critical reading and analysis of original works by major feminist writers.

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LESBIAN STUDIES

WOMENST 320

This course will introduce students to an array of interdisciplinary texts that present issues relevant to perceiving lesbian lives. Readings will include legal, scientific, and philosophic theory, studies by social scientists and historians, multicultural perspectives and literary works. There will be four units; 1) Defining our Terms, 2) Idea(l)s of Community, 3) Life-Cycle Choices, 4) Research on Current Issues.

Class Schedule

STAGES AND TRANSITIONS IN WOMEN'S LIVES

WOMENST 350

A study of identity issues that women may face in their adult lives, including specific transitions such as entering and/or leaving relationships; work patterns; parenting; caregiving; coping with loss; retirement; and facing the challenges of aging.

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WOMEN IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

WOMENST 464

This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to study and analyze international relations from a multi-disciplinary perspective. It will examine current understandings of the causes, processes and structures of international relations, violent conflict, as well as resolution of those conflicts and peace within the context of Feminist theories. The goal is to examine the role of women in international relations, international security, conflict and peace through different approaches to the study of conflict and how it is understood. The course will consider both the strength and limitations of various disciplinary approaches. The traditional approaches to international relations, international security, international conflict and peace reflect viewpoints consistent with masculine perspectives on power and security. The goal is to consider how the limitations of the approaches can be effectively challenged and what alternatives might be offered. Themes for discussion will include gender, race, ethnicity, nationalism, state, community, conflict and peace.

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GENDER, ETHNICITY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT (DV)

WOMENST 481

An examination of the ways that sexism, racism, ethnic/class exploitation and environmental destruction are interrelated. Considers social and cultural forces that lead to limited and/or gendered concepts of nature, and explores alternative theoretical and activist perspectives (deep ecology, bioregionalism, ecofemisim, environmental justice, etc.) and responses to the environmental crisis.

Class Schedule

ADVANCED SEMINAR IN WOMEN'S STUDIES

WOMENST 489

An intensive, integrative study of selected issues in Women's Studies, emphasizing critical thinking and research techniques. A substantial research paper is required.

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INTERNSHIP IN WOMEN'S STUDIES

WOMENST 493

Work and study with an agency or institution related to women's issues. Students working under faculty supervision will combine academic learning with practical experience.

Class Schedule

INDEPENDENT STUDY

WOMENST 498

Study of a selected topic or topics under the direction of a faculty member.