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University Catalog

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)

WOMS 50

Introduction to Gender & Sexuality

B. Required Upper Division Courses (9 units)

(3)

WOMS 110

Introduction to the Women's Movement in Contemporary Society

(3)

WOMS 115

Introduction to Women's Studies

(3)

WOMS 180

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)

ANTH 183

Women Cross-Culturally

(3)

EDTE 165*

Sex Role Stereotyping in American Education

(3)

ETHN 132

La Mujer Chicana

(3)

ETHN 151

Native American Women

(3)

ETHN 172

Black Women in America

(3)

HROB 158

Special Topics in Human Resource Management

(3)

PSYC 134

Psychology of Human Sexuality (PSYC 2)

(3)

PSYC 157

Psychology of Women (PSYC 2 or instructor permission)

(3)

WOMS 120

Mother, Woman, Person

(3)

WOMS 136*

Gender, Race and Class

(3)

WOMS 137

Women of Color

(3)

WOMS/GOVT 166

Women and Politics in Contemporary America

(3)

WOMS 195A

Fieldwork in Women's Studies (Instructor permission)

(3)

WOMS 199

Special Problems (WOMS 115 and instructor permission)

The Humanities

(3)

ENGL 185B*

20th Century Fiction by Women

(3)

ENGL 185C

British Women Novelists

(3)

ENGL 185D

American Women Writers

(3)

ENGL 185E

Chicana/Latina Women Writers

(3)

HIST 122A*

History of Women in Western Civilization: Prehistory - Middle Ages

(3)

HIST 122B*

History of Women in Western Civilization: Renaissance - Present

(3)

HIST 167

History of American Women

(3)

HRS 185

Women in Film and American Culture

(3)

JOUR 172

Women in the Mass Media

(3)

PHIL 123

Philosophy and Feminism

(3)

WOMS /ETHN 118

Asian American Women

(3)

WOMS/THEA 144

Women and Theatre: Staging Diversity

(3)

WOMS 145

Feminism and the Spirit

(3)

WOMS 146

Women in Art

Society, Politics and Social Movements

(3)

CRJ 111

Women and the Criminal Justice System

(3)

EDTE 266

Women and Education

(3)

HIST 175

Sex, Population, and Birth Control in America

(3)

SOC 126

Sociology of Gender

(3)

SWRK 134

Crimes Without Victims

(3)

WOMS 139

Violence Against Women

(3)

WOMS/GOVT 166

Women and Politics in Contemporary America

Economic Globalization and Transnational Feminism

(3)

ECON 184

Women and the Economy

(3)

WOMS 121

Women of the Middle East

(3)

WOMS 138*

Women and Work

(3)

WOMS 147

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)

WOMS 110

Introduction to the Women's Movement in Contemporary Society

(3)

WOMS 115

Introduction to Women's Studies

(3)

WOMS 180

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)

ANTH 183

Women Cross-Culturally

(3)

EDUC 165*

Sex Role Stereotyping in American Education

(3)

ETHN 132

La Mujer Chicana

(3)

ETHN 151

Native American Women

(3)

ETHN 172

Black Women in America

(3)

HROB 158

Special Topics in Human Resource Management

(3)

PSYC 134

Psychology of Human Sexuality (PSYC 2)

(3)

PSYC 157

Psychology of Women (PSYC 2 or instructor permission)

(3)

WOMS 120*

Mother, Woman, Person

(3)

WOMS 136*

Gender, Race and Class

(3)

WOMS 137

Women of Color

(3)

WOMS 166/GOVT 166

Women and Politics in Contemporary America

(3)

WOMS 195A

Fieldwork in Women's Studies (Instructor permission)

(3)

WOMS 199

Special Problems (WOMS 115 and instructor permission)

The Humanities

(3)

ENGL 185B*

20th Century Fiction by Women

(3)

ENGL 185C

British Women Novelists

(3)

ENGL 185D

American Women Writers

(3)

ENGL 185E

Chicana/Latina Women Writers

(3)

HIST 122A*

History of Women in Western Civilization: Prehistory - Middle Ages

(3)

HIST 122B*

History of Women in Western Civilization: Renaissance - Present

(3)

HIST 167

History of American Women

(3)

HRS 185

Women in Film and American Culture

(3)

JOUR 172

Women in the Mass Media

(3)

PHIL 123

Philosophy and Feminism

(3)

WOMS/THEA 144

Women and Theatre: Staging Diversity

(3)

WOMS 145

Feminism and the Spirit

(3)

WOMS 146

Women in Art

Society, Politics and Social Movements

(3)

CRJ 111

Women and the Criminal Justice System

(3)

EDTE 266

Women and Education

(3)

SOC 126

Sociology of Gender

(3)

SWRK 134

Crimes Without Victims

(3)

WOMS 139

Violence Against Women

(3)

WOMS/GOVT 166

Women and Politics in Contemporary America

Economic Globalization and Transnational Feminism

(3)

ECON 184

Women and the Economy

(3)

WOMS 121

Women of the Middle East

(3)

WOMS 138*

Women and Work

(3)

WOMS 147

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)

ANTH 183

Women Cross-Culturally

(3)

CRJ 111

Women and the Criminal Justice System

(3)

ECON 184

Women and the Economy

(3)

EDUC 165*

Sex Role Stereotyping in American Education

(3)

EDTE 266

Women and Education

(3)

ETHN 132

La Mujer Chicana

(3)

ETHN 172

Black Women in America

(3)

HIST 122A*

History of Women in Western Civilization: Prehistory-Middle Ages

(3)

HIST 122B*

History of Women in Western Civilization: Renaissance-Present

(3)

HIST 167

History of American Women

(3)

HRS 185

Women in Film and American Culture

(3)

HROB 158

Special Topics in Human Resource Management

(3)

JOUR 172

Women in the Mass Media

(3)

PSYC 134

Psychology of Human Sexuality (PSYC 2)

(3)

PSYC 157

Psychology of Women (PSYC 2 or instructor permission)

(3)

SWRK 134

Crimes Without Victims

(3)

WOMS 166/GOVT 166

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



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