WGST 112: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies

A social science perspective of women in psychological, sociological, historical, anthropological, economic, and political contexts; the changing roles, images, and institutions.

WGST 113: Women's Health

Basic functioning of the female body; effects of society on processes of health and disease.

WGST 300: Sex and Gender

Offers a sociological lens to develop critical ways of thinking about sex and gender as social processes in everyday lives. This course considers how sex and gender shape and affect the experiences of women, men, girls, boys, and individuals who live in the spaces in-between (those who are intersex or transgender) across a wide range of social institutions (family, work, education, politics, etc.).    Prerequisite: SOCY 101 Cross-listed course: SOCY 301 

WGST 301: Psychology of Marriage

The psychological, physiological, and social characteristics of marriage.  Cross-listed course: PSYC 301

WGST 304: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality

Historical and contemporary power relationships in race, social class, gender, and sexual orientation.  Cross-listed course: SOCY 304, POLI 305

WGST 307: Feminist Theory

Historical development of feminist theory and contemporary debates within feminism.  Cross-listed course: POLI 307

WGST 308: African-American Feminist Theory

An interdisciplinary survey of the contributions of African-American women to feminist theory.  Cross-listed course: AFAM 308

WGST 315: Gender and Labor

An examination of how gendered divisions of labor shape individual and collective experiences and notions of value within socio–political and economic systems.

WGST 321: Sexuality, Gender, and Power in Ancient Rome

Sexuality as a social construct exemplified in standards of sexual behavior in ancient Rome and their reinforcement of the ruling ideology; feminine virtue, definitions of manliness, attitudes toward homosexuality. Cross-listed course: CLAS 321

WGST 333: Sex, Gender, and Religion

Gender and sexuality in the shaping of social and individual identity in religious contexts. Cross-listed course: RELG 333

WGST 352: Gender and Politics

Impact of gender on the distribution of power in society; foundations for intersections of gender, race, social class, and sexuality and their economic, social, and political concomitants. Cross-listed course: POLI 352

WGST 388: Cultures, Pregnancy, and Birth

Anthropological study of pregnancy and birth with a cross-cultural focus comparing the United States to other nations. Examination of cultural factors such as prenatal care, dietary practices, taboos, birth location, practitioners, and birthing styles.   Cross-listed course: ANTH 388 

WGST 398: Topic: Sociology of Sexualities

This course examines sexualities through a sociological lens. It considers sexuality as a socially constructed phenomenon and traces the development of sexual and gender identities across space and time. Emphasis will be placed on intersectionality—particularly the connections among race, gender, class, space, and place. Students will analyze both historical and contemporary inequalities, including the challenges and discrimination faced by sexual and gender minorities, the erosion of rights, and the dynamics of heterosexual and cisgender privilege. The course also looks at how activism and collective action seek to contest such inequalities, as well as how sexuality is shaped by institutions such as family, education, religion, media, sports, and the workplace. Cross-listed course: SOCY 398

WGST 398: Topic: Anthropology of Sex

An overview of human sexuality in different cultures in regions across the globe; an examination of anthropological frameworks for sexuality that draws on historical and modern cultural conceptions. Cross-listed course: ANTH 360

WGST 398: Topic: African American Women in History

This course surveys the social and political developments in the United States through the diverse experiences of African American women from slavery to the twenty-first century. This course situates the heroism, activism, and feminism of African American women within a global context. Cross-listed course: AFAM 444, HIST 493

WGST 398: Topic: Gender, Sexuality, and Sports Media

How the sports media culture helps create and maintain, as well as challenge, inequalities based on gender and sexual identity. Students will learn how gender and sexuality are constructed through sports media and how they intersect with race, class, able-bodiedness and nationality. Cross-listed course: JOUR 345

WGST 432: Men and Masculinities

This course provides an overview of psychological, social, physical, and emotional issues related to men’s lives. Major topics include: gender construction, men and work, men and health, men in relationships, male sexualities, men in families, and masculinities in the media and popular culture.  Cross-listed course: PSYC 432

WGST 437: Women Writers

Representative works written by women. Prerequisites: C or higher in both ENGL 101 and ENGL 102.Cross-listed course: ENGL 437

WGST 445: LGBTQ+ Literature

This course will examine LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other nonnormative sexual identities) literatures and cultures. Prerequisites: C or higher in both ENGL 101 and ENGL 102. Cross-listed course: ENGL 445

WGST 454: Women and the Law

Constitutional and statutory case law dealing with gender equality issues. Topics include abortion, affirmative action, pornography, sexual harassment, fetal protection policies, employment discrimination, and women in the military.  Cross-listed course: POLI 454 

WGST 499: Community Service Internship

Supervised experience addressing a community organization's needs and allowing the student to explore an aspect of the community related to women's and gender studies issues. Contract approval by advisor required.    Prerequisites: C or better in WGST 112 or WGST 113; C or better in one additional WGST course at the 200-level or higher 

WGST 515: Race, Gender, and Graphic Novels 

Representations of race and gender in comics with a special emphasis on the experiences of African Americans.Cross-listed course: AFAM 515, ENGL 515

WGST 551: Adolescent Mentoring

Application of skills and theories of adolescent mentoring taught in the classroom to a supervised, structured mentoring field experience. Cross-listed course: CRJU 551

WGST 554: Women, Gender, and Crime

Impact of gender-based relations on crime and the criminal justice system.  Cross-listed course: CRJU 554

WGST 555: Language and Gender

Health status and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Includes an examination of measurement issues and methodological considerations in research, as well as intervention efforts targeting LGBT populations. Cross-listed course: HPEB 627Must be upper-division undergraduate (junior/ senior standing)

WGST 598: Topic: A History of Women's Health

In this course, graduate students and advanced undergraduate students examine the history of women’s health and healing in Europe and North America since 1600. Across time and space, health and healing have been imbued with complex and changing gendered meanings. This course foregrounds how gender combined with race, sexuality, religion or spirituality, and class in forming healing practices and cultures. Specific issues covered include gendered ideas of illness and health, the spaces of healthcare, healing practices, women healers, the medicalization of healing, the women’s health movement, and how health and healing have been linked with legal systems, colonialism, and the modern state. Students will explore not only women’s health-related experiences but also the larger political, social, and cultural meanings of gender, health, and healing in the past. A focus of legal, religious, and medical texts, health and healing also have made their way into the historical record through personal narratives, oral traditions, rituals and myths, legal and court records, written correspondence, material culture and artifacts, literature, and art; these sources and more will serve as the basis of this course. Cross-listed course: HIST 599

WGST 621: Maternal and Child Health

Public health issues, social and behavioral science, policies, programs, and services related to maternal and child health in the United States and other countries. Cross-listed course: HPEB 621