All Women and Gender Studies Courses

Undergraduate Courses

WMS 101 Introduction to Women and Gender Studies (A,S,W)

Introduces students to the field of Women and Gender Studies. Examines women and gender in the United States from interdisciplinary, multicultural and feminist perspectives. Course topics include an exploration of the history of women’s rights movements, reproductive freedoms, the social construction of beauty, sexuality, violence against women, gender and work, and masculinity issues. The course is design to help students develop a critical framework for thinking about women and gender issues in a historical and contemporary context. Major and minor requirement. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

WMS 200 Topics in Women's Studies (A)

To be defined by the instructor in accordance with the specific topic to be covered in that semester. Typically, topic areas are gender and language or women on the margins of society. 3 Cr.

WMS 201 Little Women to Riot Grrls: Girls' Studies (A,H,W)

Introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of Girls' Studies. Surveys the construction of girlhood from infancy through the college years as read in history, literature, and social theory with a focus on contemporary girlhood realized across person and place. Examines social constructions of girlhood, media representations of girls/young women, and girls' lived experiences. Considers ways girls use writing, art, and activism to define their lives and create their identities. 3 Cr.

WMS 230 History of Women and Medicine (A,H,W)

Addresses key themes in the history of women in medicine with a transnational focus, both in terms of women as nurses, midwives and doctors, as well as patients. Looks at the medicalization of women’s bodies, reproductive issues, diseases and education. 3 Cr. Spring.

WMS 234 Puerto Rico & Puerto Ricans: Colony, Nation, Race, Diaspora (A,D,W)

Explores through interactive lecture and discussion Puerto Rico as a Spanish and U.S. colony and homeland/patria for millions, and the Puerto Rican diaspora. Through films, music, and documents students analyze struggles that yielded evolving systems of power, patterns of resistance, and identities, especially in terms of race and gender. Develops skills in critical reading, analysis, discussion of historical texts and debates, and writing. Course requires a minimum grade of C (for General Education/Major/Minor/Certification) Crosslisted with HST234. 3 Cr.

WMS 245 Imagining Women's Lives in American Literature (A,H,W)

Explores ways in which writing by and about women has exposed structural gender inequality in the United States while also fostering resistance and social change through the revelation of the imagination. Examines how women writers from a variety of identity positions—those of race, class, and sexual orientation—have imagined women’s lives and new possibilities in the US since the early twentieth century. Crosslisted with ENG245. 3 Cr.

WMS 271 Gender, Race and Class (A,D,W)

Examines the intersecting socio-political forces of gender, race and class, and how these forces interact. Looks at how these forces affect individuals, and individual and social responses to these forces. Investigates the history of efforts to end discrimination, and the ways these efforts translate into issues of current concern in the U.S. Major requirement. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

WMS 302 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Disability Studies (A,D,W)

Synthesizes an introduction to disability studies with critical visual and linguistic analyses. Takes an interdisciplinary and intersectional approach to social constructions of ability/disability. Explores questions such as: What forms of social oppression are perpetuated by such ableism? How do race, gender, sexuality and dis/ability intersect and how can an understanding of critical disability studies enhance feminist, antiracist, and queer theory and practice? Students will learn the basic tenets of disability studies and apply theme to an analysis of cultural texts. 3 Cr.

WMS 303 Native American Women (A,D,W)

Representation of Native American women generally conform to two stereotypes: the submissive drudge or the Indian princess. Both ignore the complexity and diversity of Native women's roles in their respective societies. Taught primarily from a Native women's perspective, this course moves beyond the two-dimensional portrait to engage life experiences and social institutions, emphasizing strength and endurance, the complementary nature of traditional gender roles and contemporary strategies for cultural survival. 3 Cr.

WMS 305 Gender, Sex and Power: the View from Inside (A,I,W)

How might your assigned sex and gender categories impact your life? This course explores the power dynamics intertwined within systems of sex and gender. Looking at people's diverse experiences, we will use a multidisciplinary perspective that considers the historical, socio-cultural, and political-economic factors of a range of cultural contexts within the US and abroad. Coursework emphasizes the intersecting connections of sex and gender to race, class, ethnicity and sexual orientation in a globalized and transnational world. 3 Cr.

WMS 307 Gendering the Past (A,S,W)

Introduces students to a wide range of historically conditioned gender roles based on archaeological, historical, and contemporary cultural studies to expand students' understanding of gender as a cultural construction. Teaches students how to critically analyze academic interpretations of past gender constructions based on historical or archaeological data while discussing the theories that influence these interpretations. Course requires minimum grade of C- for general education/major/minor/certification. 3 Cr.

WMS 308 Popular Culture (A)

Explores the many different components of popular culture (music, television, movies, arts, sports, festivals, holidays, etc.) from a sociological perspective. We are constantly surrounded by popular culture yet many feel as though we are blind to it and it does not have an impact on us. By the conclusion of this course, we should be able to answer the following questions: Where does popular culture come from and what role does it play in society? What do people do with popular culture? How does popular culture intersect with race, class, gender, sexualities, abilities and what do these intersections mean? Crosslisted with SOC308. 3 Cr.

WMS 310 Women in Art (A,W)

Examines the contributions and creations of women to the visual arts throughout history, with an emphasis on the women artists of the last two centuries. Students will gain an understanding of artistic techniques and movements and become familiar with the social and political history of women, in order to understand how such conditions affect artistic production. 3 Cr.

WMS 311 Women in Music (A)

A survey of roles and contributions of women in music and examination of cultural, political, and socioeconomic contexts surrounding them. Discussions of feminist theory and music. 3 Cr.

WMS 313 Gender Politics (A,W,Y)

Explores, from a feminist perspective, socio-political barriers that have made women the "majority minority" or "silenced majority." Includes barriers such as discriminatory legislation, political folkways, sex and gender roles, and myths that have created and perpetuated a male-dominated society. Cross-listed as HON & PLS 313. 3 Cr.

WMS 315 Contemporary Black Woman (A,D,W)

Eclectically explores the various positions and roles played by black women in contemporary times against their historical backdrop. Focuses on the roles of black women in traditional and contemporary contexts in Africa; black women in rural and urban areas and in the Caribbean; and professional black women and their characteristics. 3 Cr.

WMS 324 Politics in America, 1780s-190s: Sex, Race, Culture & Party (A)

Explores American politics from the 18th century until today, emphasizing central tendencies and long-term patterns in the distribution and exercise of power in America, with special attention to gender, interests, and ideologies. 3 Cr.

WMS 328 Women in America (A,V,W)

Focuses on the changing history of American women, including the intersections of gender and sexuality with ethnicity, race, immigration, and class. We analyze cultural images of American women, as well as individual and organized resistance to conventional definitions of womanhood as well as contemporary issues, including employment, reproductive freedom, and anti-racism. 3 Cr. Spring.

WMS 330 Global Perspectives on Women and Gender (A,O,W)

Explores historical, social and political factors shaping sex and gender across cultures and countries. Focuses on women and societies outside Euro-American contexts in considering ways global capitalism, gendered division of labor, and commodification of women's bodies contribute to the current position of women. Topics include gender and globalization; gender and work; women and the state; women and reproductive health; gender and religion; women, gender and family; gender-based violence; and the global sex trade. 3-4 Cr. Every Semester.

WMS 332 Witchcraft & Witch-Hunting in Early Modern Europe, 1450-1750 (A,H,W)

Students will deepen their understanding of witchcraft and witch-hunting in early modern Europe through discussions of readings, writing assignments, and lectures. The relationship between women, gender and witch-hunting forms a major focus of the class. Other topics include elite and popular views on magic and witchcraft; the links between religion, the rise of the modern state and witch-hunting; and the decline of witch prosecutions. 3 Cr. Even Spring.

WMS 334 Black Women's Narratives, Resistance, & Joy (A)

Analyzes the ways in which Black female writers and readers across political locations have endured trauma and, ultimately, engaged in moments of recovery, laughter, and hope as registered in literary artifacts. Approaches the subject through interdisciplinarity, in the fields of history, criticism, literary studies, as well as cultural and visual studies. Covers theoretical works, novels, short stories, poems, drama to gain a greater understanding of Black women’s cultural and literary expressions of joy, happiness, and humor. 3 Cr.

WMS 335 Feminism and Philosophy (A,W,Y)

Explores the philosophical foundations of some major strands in feminist theory. Examines the philosophical commitments of, e.g., liberal, radical, lesbian, Marxist, postmodern, and cyber feminisms. Investigates how these feminisms respond to contemporary concerns about work, parenthood, sexuality and technology. Cross-listed with PHL 335. 3 Cr.

WMS 336 Environment, Traditional Arts and Women's Lives (A,I,W)

Cross listed with ANT 336. What is the relationship between cultural and biological diversity when seen through the lens of "folk arts," rituals, story telling and material culture? In a time of rapid climate change, the traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous peoples as reflected in their artwork, stories, beliefs and their environmental stewardship holds lessons for us all. It enhances scientific knowledge of local environments and broadens our understanding of diversity. 3 Cr.

WMS 338 Lesbian and Gay Literature (A,D,W,Y)

Focuses on gay and lesbian authors; analyzes the intersections between race, class, gender, and sexuality in contemporary literature. Requires oral presentations, intensive critical discussion, and written responses to texts. 3 Cr.

WMS 339 Latinx History of the United States (A,D,W)

Latinx History of the United States is a course that offers a comprehensive introduction to the diversity of Latinx cultures and history in the United States. Students will explore the intersections of race, class, gender, ethnicity, and citizenship in the lives of Latinx peoples. This course spans over 200 years, evaluating the Latinx experience in various locations and times, from the first Spanish North American colonies to the rise of Latino/a studies departments on college campuses. Elective within major. Crosslisted with AAS HST 339. 3 Cr.

WMS 340 Digital Sociology and Online Communities (A)

Examines the communities and social interactions that occur in digital spaces. Covers the sociological underpinnings of our apps, likes, shares, swipes, and profiles. Applies sociological theories and methodologies to study online communities, social networks, online practices, and digital tools. 3 Cr. Spring.

WMS 344 Sex, Sin and Sorority: Women in Early American Republic (A)

Explores the origins of the modern American woman. Seeks to describe and explain the ways women in America transformed their reproductive, productive, political, and personal lives during the first century of The Great American Republic, c. 1776-1876. Is aimed at a general audience and has no prerequisites. Entails lectures, reading, discussion, quizzes, and essay exams. 3 Cr. Fall.

WMS 348 Sex and Gender in Literary Theory (A,W)

Provides an advanced introduction to the traditions of literary theory and criticism related to sex and gender studies. Closely analyzes primary theoretical material as well as literary texts in relation to theory. Requires students to write papers of analysis from multiple critical perspectives, classify and describe perspectives of various critics, and define critical terms. 3 Cr.

WMS 354 American Film Genres (A,W)

The course follows a chronological format and looks at important films about the crucial eras and events in US history, such as the Civil War, the West and the Sixties, as well as the history of film-making itself. Stresses the ideological function of films and the contrast between how historians and films present the past. 3 Cr.

WMS 355 Sociology of the Body (A,W)

Focuses on multiple approaches to the relationship between body and society. Explores how we experience the world through out own bodies, how the body is designed and understood through group interaction, and how our bodies become the object of knowledge, expertise, and surveillance. Topics include health/medicine, sport, celebrity, media, gender/sex, sexuality, food, hygiene, and more. Cross registered with SOC355. 3 Cr.

WMS 357 Questioning Masculinity (A,W)

Explores the construction and performance of masculinity across both time and space. Engages with key readings from sociology, geography, and gender studies to examine a multitude of institutional and interactional contexts that create, preserve, and alter gender norms in society, including schools, work, sports, and the media. Cross-listed as SOC357. 3 Cr.

WMS 358 Family and Social Change in American History (A,W)

Focuses on family structures and strategies, challenges to patriarchal families, and changing views of marriage and motherhood. Includes consideration of Native-American, black and immigrant experiences. Explores issues such as the impact of the women's rights movement on families and working mothers, single parenting, and alternative family structures. 3 Cr.

WMS 359 History of European Women (A,W,Y)

Examines the history of European women since 1500, including traditional roles in political, cultural, and social life. Focuses on change over the centuries. 3 Cr.

WMS 360 Sex and Culture (A,I,W)

Explores human sexuality as variously and richly patterned by different cultures. Covers the evolution of human sexuality; cultural significance of biological sex differences; sex roles; patterning of heterosexuality, homosexuality, and transsexuality in selected world cultures; and changing patterns of sexual behavior in the US and abroad. Instruction considers global feminist concerns in examining the interplay of biological, psychological, and cultural factors in the patterning of human sexuality. Major and minor requirement. 3 Cr.

WMS 361 Sociology of Families (A,I,W)

Provides an introduction to sociological theory and research on intimate relationships and families in the US. Examines historical and contemporary variations, with the main focus on the gendered nature of marriage and family life. Looks at intimacy and family formation through topics such as love, marriage and sexuality. Investigates key concerns in family life such as the balance of power, negotiating work/family roles, parenthood and divorce. 3 Cr.

WMS 362 Women in Western Political Thought (A,I,W)

Covers major theories of sexual politics, including Freud's theory of femininity, reform liberalism, socialist theory, and the theory of radical feminism. 3 Cr.

WMS 364 Sociology of Gender (A,I,W)

Examines gender as a social construction, embedded in interpersonal interactions, social institutions, and cultural systems, comparing gender in the US to gender in other cultures. Explores topics such as how we learn gender, how gender serves to maintain systems of inequality for men and women, and how the meanings of gender have changed over time. 3 Cr.

WMS 366 Gender in the Islamic World (A,O,W)

Covers gender in the Islamic world, and goes “beyond the veil” and women’s “oppression” to deal with the array of culturally-specific discourses that shape men and women’s lives in Islamic cultures. Presents a detailed look at Islamic history to make sense out of gender in the contemporary world. 3 Cr.

WMS 367 Women in World Literature (A,W,Y)

Cross-culturally examines writing by and about women. May be focused on particular themes, genres, historical moments, movements or international women authors. May address questions concerning literary canons, social and cultural contexts for literary representations of women, women writers working within particular genres, politics of women’s writing and publication, etc. 3 Cr.

WMS 368 Women in the Mediterranean World (A,O,W)

Examines continuities and changes in the roles and status of women living in Mediterranean societies from prehistoric times to the present. Students become familiar with conceptual problems in the historical study of women in this region through examining recurring social-cultural themes that inform their daily lives, such as class, economic roles, religious ideals and images, gender segregation and concepts of honor. 3 Cr.

WMS 369 Sociology of Sexuality (A,I,W)

Sociologists of sexuality understand that sexual identities, desires and behaviors are socially constructed. Each varies historically and culturally. Course examines the social sources of sexual meanings, values, institutions and identities. Additionally, student will explore the influence of other domains and institutions such as the family, the workplace and education over sexuality. 3 Cr. Fall.

WMS 372 Sex and Gender in the Renaissance (A)

Focuses on matters of sex, sexuality and gender in the literature of the British Renaissance. Examines a variety of works from the 16th and 17th centuries, with attention to those by and about women; depictions of masculinity and femininity and the sex act; and treatments of same-sex friendships and sexual relationships. 3 Cr.

WMS 373 LGBTQ+ Cultures (A,I,W)

Explores the history and emergence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender cultures in the U.S. from the 1940s to present. Topics include the history of the movement before and after Stonewall; the intersections between sexuality and ethnicity, gender and social status; and urban/rural/suburban differences in attitudes and approaches within the homosexual rights movement. Cross-listed as SOC & ANT 373. 3 Cr. Spring.

WMS 375 Gender in Latin America (A,I,W)

Analyzes traditional gender roles in Latin American culture and the intersection between race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class and gender identity in socialization processes that perpetuate the exclusion of women from the spheres of power. Examines the impact of patriarchy and globalization on the lives of women and their contribution to different social spheres, especially in politics, literature, and art. 3 Cr.

WMS 381 Fannie Barrier Williams Project (A,D,W)

The Fannie Barrier Williams Project is an ongoing digital public history inquiry into the life, times, and lasting historical significance of Fannie Barrier Williams (1855-1944), Brockport resident, first Black woman to graduate from the Brockport State Normal School (predecessor to SUNY Brockport), antiracist and women's rights activist, educator, writer, thinker, musician, visual artist. This is a project-based, experiential learning course. With guidance and support, each student produces a research project for a curated website, public symposium, and poster session. No advanced computer skills are required. While the course is grounded in historical inquiry, creative and Interdisciplinary approaches are very much welcome. Swing courses HST & AAS 381 3 Cr.

WMS 382 Queer Theory (A,I,W)

Explores historical developments and contemporary debates within interdisciplinary queer theory. Topics include the development of sex/gender/sexuality categories, the relationship between sexuality and the state, scientific discourses on sexuality, the politics of representation, and processes of identity formation. Important authors include Judith Butler, Judith "Jack" Halberstam, Michael Warner, Michel Foucault, and Eve Sedgwick. Also covers queer theory as a deconstructive method which can be applied broadly. 3 Cr.

WMS 386 Writings By African-American Women (A,I,W)

Surveys literary representations in Afro-American fiction from the Harlem Renaissance to the present. Examines the degree to which sexism, cultural stereotypes and racism influence the portrayals and function of women in black American literature. Explores concerns with women's issues and the emergence of the feminist movement in America. 3 Cr.

WMS 396 Women in Sport (A,I,W)

Examines the historical, contemporary, and future perspectives of women in sport. Reviews insights from history, psychology, and sociology related to women in sport, as well as athletes' perceptions of their performance. Focuses on information and issues which are fundamental to understanding women's participation in sport. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

WMS 397 Young Adult Literature (A,W)

Explores the representation of the young adult in literature with an emphasis on the portrayal of the diverse experiences of coming of age across differences in race, gender, nation, and historical era. Covers a wide range of genres and social issues, such as identity formation, discrimination, parent/child conflicts, suicide, and bullying. Introduces students to bibliographic and critical resources. Course requires a minimum grade of C (for General Education/Major/Minor/Certification) Crosslisted with ENG397 3 Cr. Spring.

WMS 399 Women and Gender Studies Topics: Directed Study (A)

Focuses on a topic related to Women & Gender Studies not offered in regular course rotation. Credit hours, syllabus, readings, and assignments will be designed by student and faculty member and approved by chair on a case-by-case basis. 6 Cr.

WMS 402 Women's Health (A,W,Y)

Provides a study of women as healthy functioning human beings. Includes lecture and discussion with guest speakers (when available) to present positive information and insights on the anatomical, physiological, mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects of contemporary women. 3 Cr.

WMS 403 Biography and Life History (A)

Explores the expression of life stories, their collection and recording, and their presentation in written format. Covers the evolution of the life history in anthropology and oral history; life history as a Western genre; life stories in non-Western form; gender and life stories; the life history as an expression of the self versus the life history as a window on culture; and the limitations of life history research. 3 Cr. Spring.

WMS 409 Feminist Theory (A)

Provides an advanced interdisciplinary and multicultural introduction to the main traditions of feminist theory, to the impact of feminist theory on a variety of disciplines, and to feminist theory as applied to various issues in society and culture. Major/Minor requirement. 3 Cr. Every Semester. 3 Cr. Spring.

WMS 411 Feminist Research Methods (A)

Feminist research methods challenges traditional quantitative and qualitative research methods in the social sciences. Feminist research methods are explicitly concerned with the choice of research subjects, the standpoint of the researcher, the effects of social structures on knowledge creation, and with aspects of social reality that may be hidden from traditional research methods. Students will complete a research project that responds to the main themes of the course. Major requirement. 3 cr. 3 Cr.

WMS 418 Women and Leisure (A)

This course is designed to assist students in developing an awareness of the changing roles of women in society, particularly within the leisure and work components of women’s lives. The content of this course aims to encourage students to think critically about the issues surrounding women, work, and leisure. Through a feminist perspective lens, students will explore how women’s lives can be made more visible, exploring how social change is necessary to allow women the opportunities that they deserve related to work and leisure. Course topics will also discuss the role that leisure can play in empowering women. Crosslisted with REL148. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

WMS 419 Human Sexuality (A,W)

Sexual knowledge, attitudes, values, and behaviors are examined within various topic areas as part of one’s total health and wellness. Emphasis is placed on knowledge of, experiences with, and modern practices in sexuality education to meet the needs of diverse learners. Course requires a minimum grade of C (for General Education/Major/Minor/Certification). Cross-listed as PBH419. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

WMS 420 Practicum in Women and Gender Studies (A)

Provides students with the opportunity to work from a feminist framework on a service learning project under faculty direction. Students complete an internship in an organization where they work on gender and/or women related issues. Students devise a project that makes use of the internship experience and places that experience within a larger theoretical and feminist organizational framework. Must have completed 12 credits in major and be in good academic standing. 1-9 Cr.

WMS 421 Senior Seminar in Women and Gender Studies (A)

Senior capstone course where, through engagement, activism and synthesis of acquired knowledge, establishes a theoretical foundation to inform future feminist practices in areas of work and or graduate study. The course draws on students’ discipline-specific interests as a critical lens into women and gender studies knowledge in its currency and diversity. The course seeks to build an intellectual forum in which students’ dialogue on a women and gender focused topic enacted into a meaningful capstone project which captures contemporary and emerging undergraduate feminist scholarship, action and production. 3 Cr.

WMS 423 Black Feminist Theory (A,I,W)

Cross listed with AAS 423. A critical analysis of Black feminist theoretical approaches to studying Black women's oppression and liberation struggles from 1800s to present. Focus on race, sexuality, gender identity, and expression to understand ways systems of power and dominance operate across state, nation, empire. Analyze seminal theoretical texts, fiction, and poetry to locate feminist theories and practices within a tradition of Black women’s activism, theory, and cultural production. Requires minimum grade of C for general education/major/minor/certification 3 Cr. Every Semester.

WMS 435 Legal Rights of the Disadvantaged (A,I,W)

As an issue-oriented course, provides an understanding of how the US system can be used to improve the status of the disadvantaged, such as blacks, Hispanics, women, prisoners, the poor, students, Native Americans, homosexuals, and those with mental and physical disabilities. 3 Cr.

WMS 436 Gender Issues K-12 (A,I,W)

Course focuses on the issue of gender in schools K-12. It identifies and examines the ways in which gender roles are reinforced in schools. It studies the ways in which race and class interact with gender to influence the schooling experience. Students learn the ways in which teachers and other educators can promote equitable educational experience for all students. 3 Cr.

WMS 438 Women and Gender in Latin American History (A)

As an advanced course, examines the diversity of Latin-American and Caribbean women's experiences from the Iberian conquest to the 20th-century. Analyzes the gender dynamics of colonial, national, dictatorial and revolutionary states, economies and cultures, and the importance of women's movements and feminism. Includes discussion of Latina history in the US and of Latin-American and Caribbean masculinity in historical perspective. 3 Cr.

WMS 442 Topics in Women's Literature (A,W,Y)

Provides advanced study of women in literature and women's literature, focusing, for example, on some aspect of female lives, such as adolescence; on one or more female authors writing in a shared tradition, genre, or period; or on women writing on a common topic or from perspectives held in common. 3 Cr.

WMS 443 Beauty and Performance: Black Women's Writing (A,W)

Examines how Eurocentric philosophical theories of aesthetics and beauty became popularized and have affected Black women and women in general. Pursues an understanding of the ways Black women writers have engaged in discourse with these theories and resisted the harm they perpetuate. Covers works of literature by and about Black women, films and documentaries, and other artifacts of popular culture. 3 Cr.

WMS 444 Sexuality, Gender, and Identity in Medieval Europe (A,W)

500-1500, particularly as women experienced them. Examines the perceptions medieval society fostered about gender; analyzes factors such as social class, work and professional status, legal structures, and sexuality and compares/contrasts their effect on women’s and men’s lives. 3 Cr.

WMS 452 American Literature: 19th Century Women's Novel (A)

Provides an intensive study of the novel as a form of women's self-representation and cultural criticism. May include novels about family life, anti-slavery and temperance, slave narratives; historical novels; and representations of urban and industrial experience. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

WMS 453 French Female Gaze- Women Writers and Filmmakers (A)

Through an exploration of texts and films authored by women, introduces students to a range of leading contemporary French-speaking writers and directors. Students examine recurrent themes and forms in recent women’s writing and filmmaking, including the representation of identity; the concept of origins; the intersection of class, race and gender; sexual repression and/or liberation; and the textual and cinematic strategies underpinning these considerations. 3 Cr.

WMS 457 Women and Film (A)

Focuses on films by women. Considers the following questions: Have women filmmakers depicted the world differently from "dominant" cinema? What possibilities exist for forms of "feminine" film discourse that are truly different from dominant film discourse? What has been the history of women filmmakers? How many of these women have indeed tried to speak a different "language"? Crosslisted as ENL & FLM 457. 3 Cr.

WMS 458 Women and Education in the Arab World (A,W)

Examines the persistent cultural and socioeconomic barriers to women’s education in the Arab World. Investigates how women’s education is influenced by religion, culture, family, teachers and costs, not only in relation to the decision of going to school but also to their education path. Contemporary concerns in education such as equity in schools, in higher education, and in the job market are also addressed. Crosslisted as EDI & FCE 458. 3 Cr.

WMS 470 Women's Popular Culture (A,W,Y)

Explores women's popular culture to engender a cultural analysis. Considers questions such as how women's popular culture responds to women's psychosocial needs, and how it functions within the dominant culture. Examines samples of the fiction and films that represent 20th-century women's popular culture. 3 Cr.

WMS 475 Women's Lives (A,I,W)

Examines women as clients, helpers, and policy makers in the context of social forces, values, and attitudes. Explores the theoretical, developmental, political, and social implications of women's changing roles. Open to selected upper-division undergraduates. 3 Cr.

WMS 477 Family Violence (A)

Crosslisted with CRJ 477. This reading seminar focuses on both the ideas about the lived experiences of gender and race change from Reconstruction to the present. This course will focus on intersections of race, gender, and sexuality as well as on who was defined as a citizen, why, and when. 3 Cr. Fall.

WMS 478 Gender and Race in Modern America (A)

This reading seminar will focus on ideas about, and the lived experiences of, gender and race from Reconstruction (1865) to the present. This course explores the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality and examines a multiplicity of themes affecting differing women's lives. Discussions will include a focus on the historical social construction of gender, the impact of race, sexuality, reproduction, work, education, media, material condition (class), and women's agency. 3 Cr.

WMS 479 Victimology (A,Y)

Develops an understanding of crime victimization, both direct and indirect. Focuses on street crime, social and political oppression, victimization of women, and victims of corporate deviance. Emphasizes theory and policy analysis. 3 Cr.

WMS 481 Women and the Criminal Justice System (A,W)

Examines women's relationships with crime and the criminal justice system. Specifically provides a study of women and crime, victimization and occupational obstacles and opportunities. Develops students' understanding of how social, political and economic conditions affect these problems. 3 Cr.

WMS 482 Race, Gender and Media (A)

Explores how America media influence representations of race and gender. Promotes critical thinking about the social construction of race, gender and class and the role media have in perpetuating and challenging those constructs. Examines how entertainment, advertising and news media have historically influenced and continue to influence how we think about others and ourselves in terms of race and gender. Culminates in a research paper on the representation of an identified group. 3 Cr.

WMS 485 Public History Internship (A)

Combines a ‘hands-on’ public history internship experience with classroom seminars for discussing readings and sharing experiences. Students will intern in local or regional archives, historical societies, historians’ offices, and museums. 3 Cr.

WMS 499 Independent Study in Women and Gender's Studies (A)

Arranged in consultation with the professor and in accordance with the procedures of the Office of Academic Advisement prior to registration. 1-6 Cr.

Graduate Courses

WMS 502 Women's Health (A)

Studies women as healthy functioning human beings. Includes lectures and discussion with guest speakers to present positive information and insights on anatomical, physiological, mental, spiritual and emotional aspects of today's woman. 3 Cr.

WMS 503 Biography and Life History (A)

Studies the expression of life stories, their collection and recording, and their presentation in written format. Includes the evolution of the life history in anthropology and oral history; genres of life history; gender and life stories; the life history as an expression of the self vs. the life history as a window on culture; and the limitations of life history research. 3 Cr.

WMS 509 Feminist Theory (A)

Provides an advanced interdisciplinary and multicultural introduction to the main traditions of feminist theory, to the impact of feminist theory on a variety of disciplines, and to feminist theory as applied to various issues in society and culture. Major/Minor requirement. 3 Cr. Spring.

WMS 510 Contemporary Women Playwrights (A)

Examines selected works by 20th-century female playwrights from America, Africa, China and England, (with units on African-American, Chicana, lesbian, and Asian-American writers) in the context of feminist theory as it applies to theatre practices. Includes explorations of the ways in which contemporary female playwrights present gender and gender experiences as staged with multiple cultural contexts. 3 Cr.

WMS 511 Feminist Research Methods (A)

This course provides an advanced framework for learning about methods of research from a feminist perspective. The course content explores the research process as a whole with a focus on gathering and interpreting data that gives voice to women and gendered experiences. Readings, written reflections, and a final research project shape the course structure and its learning outcomes. 3 Cr.

WMS 519 Human Sexuality (A)

Provides each student with the opportunity to gain an awareness of him/herself and others as sexual beings. Examines sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviors throughout the various life stages, in order to integrate human sexuality into one's total health and well-being. 3 Cr.

WMS 521 Women in the English Novel (A)

Studies significant authors treated singly or in coherent combinations. Content varies with appropriate subtitles provided for the individual course. May be repeated for credit with significant change in focus. 3 Cr.

WMS 522 Womens Education in the Developing World: Comparative Perspectives (A)

This course looks at women's education in the developing world. It raises questions on social mobility, inequality, women's role in the economic and social development of the third world society. Recent research on the topic will be reviewed; case studies will be drawn from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. A comparative analysis approach will be used throughout this course. 3 Cr.

WMS 523 Black Feminist Theory (A,I,W)

A critical analysis of Black feminist theoretical approaches to studying Black women's oppression and liberation struggles from 1800s to present. Focus on race, sexuality, gender identity, and expression to understand ways systems of power and dominance operate across state, nation, empire. Analyze seminal theoretical texts, fiction, and poetry to locate feminist theories and practices within a tradition of Black women’s activism, theory, and cultural production. Requires minimum grade of C for general education/major/minor/certification 3 Cr. Every Semester.

WMS 525 Women and Safety (A)

Examines issues of violent crime and personal victimization, especially for women, and the implications for personal crime prevention. Includes an in-depth examination of these violent crimes (e.g.: sexual assault, relationship violence), followed by a focus on individual strategies for maintaining personal safety and reducing crime risks. Considers crime prevention for children and other special populations. 3 Cr.

WMS 527 Women in the Novel (A)

Examines in-depth select novels and, on occasion, novels from other countries, to consider their thematic forms and functions, their literary significance, and especially what they reveal about the roles of women and attitudes to patriarchy. 3 Cr.

WMS 536 Gender Issues K-12 (A)

Focuses on the issue of gender in schools K-12. Identifies and examines the ways in which gender roles are reinforced in schools and studies the ways in which race and class interact with gender to influence the schooling experience. Presents ways in which teachers and other educators can promote an equitable educational experience for all students. 3 Cr.

WMS 538 Women and Gender in Latin American History (A)

Examines at an advanced level the diversity of Latin-American and Caribbean women's experiences from Iberian conquest to the 20th century. Analyzes the gender dynamics of colonial, national, dictatorial and revolutionary states, economies and cultures, as well as the importance of women's movements and feminism. Discusses Latina history in the US and Latin-American and Caribbean masculinity in historical perspective. 3 Cr.

WMS 542 Topics in Women's Literature (A)

Provides advanced study of women in literature and women's literature, focusing, for example, on some aspect of female lives, such as adolescence; on one or more female authors writing in a shared tradition, genre or period; or on women writing on a common topic or from perspectives held in common. 3 Cr.

WMS 544 Sexuality, Gender, and Identity in Medieval Europe (A,W)

Studies thematic history of gender and the roles of women in medieval societies (ca. 500-1500 CE) and the historical study of the European Middle Ages, particularly as women experienced them. Considers the “social construction” of the category of “woman” or “women,” and examines the perceptions medieval society fostered about gender; analyzes how factors such as social class, work and professional status, legal structures, and sexuality created differences among individuals of both genders in medieval society, and compare/contrast how such structures affected both women’s and men’s lives. 3 Cr.

WMS 551 Women and Work (A)

Examines women's work from cross-cultural, historical, and sociological perspectives, with particular emphasis on the analysis of the role assigned to women in late industrial society as housewives. 3 Cr.

WMS 552 Women and Health (A)

Analyzes the myths and realities of women, health and illness. Includes a review of the place of women in the health-care system as patients and health-care providers. Concentrates on women/health/illness in the 20th-century US, but uses cross-cultural and historical materials to give an added dimension to the theories and substantive materials of this field. 3 Cr.

WMS 553 French Female Gaze: Women Writers and Filmmakers (A)

Through an exploration of texts and films authored by women, introduces students to a range of leading contemporary French-speaking writers and directors. Students examine recurrent themes and forms in recent women’s writing and film making, including the representation of identity; the concept of origins; the intersection of class, race and gender; sexual repression and/or liberation; and the textual and cinematic strategies underpinning these considerations. 3 Cr.

WMS 557 Women and Film (A)

Focuses on films by women. Considers the following questions: Have women filmmakers depicted the world differently from "dominant" cinema? What possibilities exist for forms of "feminine" film discourse that are truly different from dominant film discourse? What has been the history of women filmmakers? How many of these women have indeed tried to speak a different "language"? 3 Cr.

WMS 558 Women and Education in the Arab World (A)

Examines the persistent cultural and socioeconomic barriers to women’s education in the Arab World. Investigates how women’s education is influenced by religion, culture, family, teachers and costs, not only in relation to the decision of going to school but also to their education path. Contemporary concerns in education such as equity in schools, in higher education, and in the job market are also addressed. 3 Cr.

WMS 570 Women's Popular Culture (A)

Explores women's popular culture to engender a cultural analysis. Considers such questions as how women's popular culture responds to women's psychosocial needs and how it functions within the dominant culture. Examines samples of the fiction and films that represent 20th-century American women's popular culture. 3 Cr.

WMS 578 Gender and Race in Modern America (A)

This course is equivalent to HST or AAS 578. This reading seminar will focus on ideas about, and the lived experiences of, gender and race from Reconstruction (1865) to the present. This course explores the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality and examines a multiplicity of themes affecting differing women's lives. Discussions will include a focus on the historical social construction of gender, the impact of race, sexuality, reproduction, work, education, media, material condition (class), and women's agency. Graduate students are expected to do extra reading and lead at least one discussion as well as write longer papers. 3 Cr.

WMS 581 Women and the Criminal Justice System (A)

Examines women's relationship with crime and the criminal justice system. Specifically provides a study of women and crime, victimization and occupational obstacles and opportunities. Develops students' understanding of how social, political and economic conditions affect these problems. 3 Cr.

WMS 585 Public History Internship (A)

Combines a ‘hands-on’ public history internship experience with classroom seminars for discussing readings and sharing experiences. Students will intern in local or regional archives, historical societies, historians’ offices, and museums. 3 Cr.

WMS 596 Sex and Censorship (A)

Considers the expression of sexual themes-and censorship of them-in contemporary literature, film and media. Includes topics such as the erotic in art, definitions of pornography and obscenity, evolution of censorship standards and practices, the Hollywood Code, the US Commission on Obscenity and Pornography (1970) and its critics, and recent feminist perspectives. 3 Cr.

WMS 599 Independent Study in Women's Studies (A)

Designed individually through consultation between the student and instructor to suit the student's needs and interests and the special competence of the instructor. Additional requirements may be established by the department. 3 Cr.

WMS 643 Safe and Healthy Relationships (A)

Crosslisted with: PBH 643. This course examines safe and healthy relationships throughout the life cycle. It will provide an emphasis on health literacy, as well as effective ways to teach about safety skills to manage healthy relationships. This will include issues in teaching and learning about social emotional learning (SEL), conflict resolution, violence prevention, HIV/AIDS/STl's and sexuality. The course will also examine risk factors, prevention methods and skill strategies to effectively promote positive safe and healthy relationships in schools and communities. 3 Cr.

WMS 651 U.S. Women’s History Seminar (A)

Crosslisted: as WMS651. Students will explore the history of women in the United States. Seminar readings will begin with the colonial period and continue through the latter twentieth century. Topics of focus include women’s work and family lives; involvement in political movements; differences and conflicts across race and class; the expression and regulation of female sexuality; changing definitions of femininity and womanhood; and women’s relationship to the state. Students will also explore historiographical trends in women’s history and read feminist theory that is relevant to historical interpretation. Regular short writing assignments, one longer book essay, and a longer final paper are required. 3 Cr.

WMS 699 Independent Study in Women's Studies (A)

Designed individually through consultation between student and instructor to suit the student's needs and interests and the special competence of the instructor. Additional requirements may be imposed by the department. 3 Cr.