Sharon M. Meagher, Ph.D., Director
The Women’s Studies Concentration consists of courses that examine women’s experiences and the ways gender-related issues affect human lives and cultures. Faculty and students analyze the ways gender roles and images and assumptions about gender are reflected in art, business, literature, law, philosophy, public policy, religion, language, history, the sciences, and their own lives. Many Women’s Studies courses also address issues of race, class, ethnicity, and age as they intersect with gender issues.
Women’s Studies courses focus on women’s experiences in history, society, and culture; examine institutional structures, modes of authority/analysis of power, especially considering their implications for women; and incorporate one or more feminist analyses/scholarly works (recognizing that there are multiple, and even conflicting, feminist perspectives).
Women’s Studies seek to promote critical thinking, intellectual growth, and self-awareness useful to all students. It is an attractive academic supplement for students planning careers in government, law, business, human services, ministry, and teaching – to name but a few.
Courses for the Women’s Studies Concentration are drawn from departments across the University and are open to students in all majors. (To enroll, students must see the Director of Women’s Studies.) The concentration consists of six courses including one required core course (PHIL 218 or SOC 315 ). Many of the cross-listed Women’s Studies courses also fulfill major, minor, cognate, and/or general education requirements. Students also are encouraged to do extracurricular activities that will enrich the classroom experience.
Students may, with the approval of the Women’s Studies Steering Committee, substitute an honors tutorial or thesis, study abroad courses, one reader, or a non-cross-listed course for a women’s studies course elective in cases where major graded requirements are completed in ways that meet the course criteria for women’s studies. Students seeking such substitutions should seek advice from the Director of Women’s Studies, preferably before completing the credits they wish to substitute the Women’s Studies Concentration is offered by the Department of Latin American Studies and Women’s Studies (LA/W/S).
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