WOMEN'S STUDIES
College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The field of Women’s Studies is dedicated to studying women’s lives and facilitating political activism and community participation. What makes Women’s Studies such a dynamic field is the conviction that theoretical knowledge is best illuminated when connected to political projects and personal experiences.
Our Women’s Studies curriculum is multi-disciplinary and focuses on women, gender, and sexuality in relation to other social and economic forces such as racism, ethnocentrism, capitalism, and militarism. Students have opportunities to examine women’s diverse experiences--locally, nationally, and globally--within feminist and social justice frameworks.
The course of study situates gender in specific historical and cultural contexts, and examines how our lives are shaped by social and economic institutions, political movements, and individual experiences. We also place a strong focus on community involvement and activism, and we offer many opportunities for internships and service work credit.
Women’s Studies affirms the Preamble and Purpose of the National Women’s Studies Association which states:
“ Women’s Studies owes its existence to the movement
for
the liberation of women; the women’s liberation
movement exists
because women are oppressed…
Feminist aims include the elimination
of oppression and
discrimination on the basis of sex, race, class, religion,
disability, and sexual orientation.”
Requirements - Bachelor of Science
Units required
for Major: 36
Minimum total units required for the BS: 120; 40 units should be upper division
A minimum grade of C- is required of courses applied to the major.
Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.
A. Required Lower Division Core Courses (3 units)
(3) |
Introduction to Gender & Sexuality |
B. Required Upper Division Courses (9 units)
(3) |
Introduction to the Women's Movement in Contemporary Society |
|
(3) |
Introduction to Women's Studies |
|
(3) |
Seminar in Feminist Theory (WOMS 110 or instructor permission) |
C. Required Upper Division Elective Courses (24 units)
Identities and Intersectionality
At least one course must be taken from each of the following categories:
(3) |
Women Cross-Culturally |
|
(3) |
Sex Role Stereotyping in American Education |
|
(3) |
La Mujer Chicana |
|
(3) |
Native American Women |
|
(3) |
Black Women in America |
|
(3) |
Special Topics in Human Resource Management |
|
(3) |
Psychology of Human Sexuality (PSYC 2) |
|
(3) |
Psychology of Women (PSYC 2 or instructor permission) |
|
(3) |
Mother, Woman, Person |
|
(3) |
Gender, Race and Class |
|
(3) |
Women of Color |
|
(3) |
Women and Politics in Contemporary America |
|
(3) |
Fieldwork in Women's Studies (Instructor permission) |
|
(3) |
Special Problems (WOMS 115 and instructor permission) |
(3) |
20th Century Fiction by Women |
|
(3) |
British Women Novelists |
|
(3) |
American Women Writers |
|
(3) |
Chicana/Latina Women Writers |
|
(3) |
History of Women in Western Civilization: Prehistory - Middle Ages |
|
(3) |
History of Women in Western Civilization: Renaissance - Present |
|
(3) |
History of American Women |
|
(3) |
Women in Film and American Culture |
|
(3) |
Women in the Mass Media |
|
(3) |
Philosophy and Feminism |
|
(3) |
Asian American Women |
|
(3) |
Women and Theatre: Staging Diversity |
|
(3) |
Feminism and the Spirit |
|
(3) |
Women in Art |
(3) |
Women and the Criminal Justice System |
|
(3) |
Women and Education |
|
(3) |
Sex, Population, and Birth Control in America |
|
(3) |
Sociology of Gender |
|
(3) |
Crimes Without Victims |
|
(3) |
Violence Against Women |
|
(3) |
Women and Politics in Contemporary America |
|
| Economic Globalization and Transnational Feminism | ||
(3) |
Women and the Economy |
|
(3) |
Women of the Middle East |
|
(3) |
Women and Work |
|
(3) |
Women's Global Issues (completed at least 45 units) |
|
* Prerequisite: GWAR certification before Fall 09; or WPJ score of 80+; or 3-unit placement in ENGL 109M/W; or 4-unit placement in ENGL 109M/W and co-enrollment in ENGL 109X; or WPJ score 70/71 and co-enrollment in ENGL 109X).
Requirements - Minor
Units required for the Minor: 21; all must be upper division courses. The minor emphasizes the position and achievement of women in various fields of study.
Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.
A. Required Courses (9 units)
(3) |
Introduction to the Women's Movement in Contemporary Society |
|
(3) |
Introduction to Women's Studies |
|
(3) |
Seminar in Feminist Theory (WOMS 110 or instructor permission) |
B. Electives (12 units)
At least one course must be taken from each of the following categories:
Identities and Intersectionality(3) |
Women Cross-Culturally |
|
(3) |
Sex Role Stereotyping in American Education |
|
(3) |
La Mujer Chicana |
|
(3) |
Native American Women |
|
(3) |
Black Women in America |
|
(3) |
Special Topics in Human Resource Management |
|
(3) |
Psychology of Human Sexuality (PSYC 2) |
|
(3) |
Psychology of Women (PSYC 2 or instructor permission) |
|
(3) |
Mother, Woman, Person |
|
(3) |
Gender, Race and Class |
|
(3) |
Women of Color |
|
(3) |
Women and Politics in Contemporary America |
|
(3) |
Fieldwork in Women's Studies (Instructor permission) |
|
(3) |
Special Problems (WOMS 115 and instructor permission) |
(3) |
20th Century Fiction by Women |
|
(3) |
British Women Novelists |
|
(3) |
American Women Writers |
|
(3) |
Chicana/Latina Women Writers |
|
(3) |
History of Women in Western Civilization: Prehistory - Middle Ages |
|
(3) |
History of Women in Western Civilization: Renaissance - Present |
|
(3) |
History of American Women |
|
(3) |
Women in Film and American Culture |
|
(3) |
Women in the Mass Media |
|
(3) |
Philosophy and Feminism |
|
(3) |
Women and Theatre: Staging Diversity |
|
(3) |
Feminism and the Spirit |
|
(3) |
Women in Art |
(3) |
Women and the Criminal Justice System |
|
(3) |
Women and Education |
|
(3) |
Sociology of Gender |
|
(3) |
Crimes Without Victims |
|
(3) |
Violence Against Women |
|
(3) |
Women and Politics in Contemporary America |
|
| Economic Globalization and Transnational Feminism | ||
(3) |
Women and the Economy |
|
(3) |
Women of the Middle East |
|
(3) |
Women and Work |
|
(3) |
Women's Global Issues (completed at least 45 units) |
|
* Prerequisite: GWAR certification before Fall 09; or WPJ score of 80+; or 3-unit placement in ENGL 109M/W; or 4-unit placement in ENGL 109M/W and co-enrollment in ENGL 109X; or WPJ score 70/71 and co-enrollment in ENGL 109X).
Descriptions of non-Women’s Studies courses may be obtained by consulting the listings under the appropriate departments. Please consult the Women's Studies Program for any new courses added to these categories. The major and minor in Women's Studies are planned in advance and approved for graduation by the Women's Studies Coordinator.
Additional Information
- Course Offerings: To meet the feminist goals of Women's Studies, two types of courses are offered. Women's Studies courses taught by Women's Studies faculty and funded by Women's Studies; and service courses offered by other departments. Service courses are funded by their respective departments.
- Approved Service Courses: Women's Studies courses are offered in many departments including: Anthropology, Art, Teacher Education, Business Administration, Counselor Education, Economics, English, Ethnic Studies, Family and Consumer Sciences, Government, History, Humanities and Religious Studies, Criminal Justice, Journalism, Kinesiology, Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work. A complete listing of semester courses may be obtained from the Program Office, Amador Hall 561B.
Listed below are the regularly offered service courses, approved for the Women's Studies Program, although many experimental offerings are taught in departments each semester. Please refer to departmental listings for a complete description of these courses.
(3) |
Women Cross-Culturally |
|
(3) |
Women and the Criminal Justice System |
|
(3) |
Women and the Economy |
|
(3) |
Sex Role Stereotyping in American Education |
|
(3) |
Women and Education |
|
(3) |
La Mujer Chicana |
|
(3) |
Black Women in America |
|
(3) |
History of Women in Western Civilization: Prehistory-Middle Ages |
|
(3) |
History of Women in Western Civilization: Renaissance-Present |
|
(3) |
History of American Women |
|
(3) |
Women in Film and American Culture |
|
(3) |
Special Topics in Human Resource Management |
|
(3) |
Women in the Mass Media |
|
(3) |
Psychology of Human Sexuality (PSYC 2) |
|
(3) |
Psychology of Women (PSYC 2 or instructor permission) |
|
(3) |
Crimes Without Victims |
|
(3) |
Women and Politics in Contemporary America |
Faculty
Rita Cameron Wedding, Sujatha Moni, Tristan Josephson, Vicki Hall, Elizabeth Mukiibi
Contact Information
Rita Cameron Wedding, Department Chair
Lora Bowler, Administrative Support Coordinator I
Amador Hall 561B
(916) 278-6817
www.csus.edu/woms
Womensstudies@csus.edu