Women's Studies

The Women's Studies Minor is offered to traditional undergraduate  students. It is an interdisciplinary program that examines women's lives, perspectives and experiences. Through scholarship by and/or about women and the study of feminist theories and research methodologies, the student develops an intellectual framework through which to examine gender as a social, cultural and historical construct.

Summary

Students will explore the way gender interacts with other socially constructed categories such as race, class, nationality, sexual orientation as well as with other dimensions of identity (including religion, ethnicity, and age) that have often been used as the basis for discrimination. Students also will be encouraged to examine and understand the impact of these categories on their own experiences, and will be prepared to participate in the processes of social change that would promote the full development of all women and men.

A Minor in women's studies can benefit students in a variety of careers including art, business, communication, counseling, education, health, journalism, law, music, politics, psychology, public policy, religion, social services and sports.

Requirements

The Minor in Women's Studies consists of seven courses and 21 credits, including IDS-150 Introduction to Women's Studies and IDS-440 Seminar in Women's Studies. Of the five remaining courses, all must be at the 200-level or above, and three of the five must be at the 300/400 level. (See program of study, following.)

Courses taken to fulfill General Education Requirements, and two courses from the student's Major, may be counted toward the Women's Studies Minor.

A student wishing to Minor in Women's Studies is encouraged to meet with the Program Coordinator to design an appropriate Program of Study to complement her Major and to receive information about course cycling.