Gender and Women's Studies - GWS

The information below lists courses approved in this subject area effective Fall 2015. Not all courses will necessarily be offered these terms. Please consult the Schedule of Classes for a listing of courses offered for a specific term.

500-level courses require graduate standing.

Back to Course Index

101 Gender in Everyday Life
3 hours. An interdisciplinary introduction to GWS that draws on the humanities and social sciences. Emphasizes intersections of gender, race, sexuality, class, and nation. Addresses historical and contemporary debates, focusing primarily on U.S. concerns. Individual and Society, and US Society course.

102 Global Perspectives on Women and Gender
3 hours. An interdisciplinary introduction to Gender and Women's Studies that draws on the humanities and social sciences. Emphasizes intersections among gender, race, sexuality, class and nation. Addresses historical and contemporary debates, focusing primarily on global concerns. Individual and Society, and World Cultures course.

110 Economics of Gender
3 hours. The role of gender in the economy; comparisons between men and women in time allocation patterns, education, and earnings; economic implications of diverse family structures. Same as ECON 110.

111 Women and Literature
3 hours. Introduction to reading English and American literature with a focus on gender, genre and women's roles. Same as ENGL 111. Creative Arts, and Individual and Society course.

117 Introduction to Gender, Sexuality and Literature
3 hours. Introduction to literary texts in Western and other traditions that explore issues of gender and sexuality. Same as ENGL 117. Creative Arts, and Individual and Society course.

120 Study of Gender, Class, and Political Issues in German Texts
3 hours. Portrayal of relationships between men and women, classes, and political interest groups in German literature. Same as GER 120. No credit toward a major or minor program offered by the Department of Germanic Studies. Readings, lectures, and discussions in English. Individual and Society, and World Cultures course.

192 From the Convent to the Streets: Latin American Women Writers in Translation
3 hours. Introduction to literature by Latin American women from the seventeenth century to the present. Focus on the role literature has played in the negotiation of gender identities in the private and the public spheres. Same as LALS 192, and SPAN 192. No credit toward any major or minor program in Spanish. Taught in English. Individual and Society, and World Cultures course.

194 Introductory Topics in Gender and Women's Studies
1 TO 3 hours. Study of a problem, topic, or issue relevant to the interdisciplinary area of gender and women's studies. Content varies. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term.

202 Comparative Social Movements
3 hours. International social movements involving issues of women, gender, and sexuality. Content varies. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): GWS 101 or GWS 102 or consent of the instructor.

203 Sexuality and Community: Lesbians, Gay Men and Contemporary Society
3 hours. Lesbian/gay studies; current personal, political, and cultural issues, including: coming out, hate crimes, military, AIDS, families, religion, activism, representations in literature, film, and media.

204 Gender and Popular Culture
3 hours. Analysis of representations of gender and sexuality in popular and material culture, using contemporary theories. Focus is on US popular culture. Same as COMM 204. Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or above; or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Credit or concurrent registration in GWS 101 or Credit or concurrent registration in COMM 102 or Credit or concurrent registration in GWS 102 or Credit or concurrent registration in COMM 103. Individual and Society, and US Society course.

211 Gender and Sexual Orientation in Greek and Roman Literature
3 hours. Ancient perceptions of gender roles and sexual orientation as they appear in the major authors of Greece and Rome. Same as CL 211. Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or above. Recommended background: CL 102.

214 Sex and Gender in World Cultures
3 hours. Comparative study of sex roles, gender identity, and male-female relationships, emphasizing biological, ecological, ideological and symbolic factors associated with cross-cultural variability. Same as ANTH 214. Prerequisite(s): 3 hours of social sciences or consent of the instructor. Individual and Society, and World Cultures course.

224 Gender and Society
3 hours. Sociological perspectives on gender as a factor in social stratification; gender role acquisition; individual and social consequences of changing social definitions of gender roles. Same as SOC 224. Prerequisite(s): SOC 100 or GWS 101 or GWS 102. Individual and Society, and US Society course.

232 Sex Roles: Moral and Political Issues
3 hours. Philosophical inquiry into controversies surrounding the changing roles of men and women. Same as PHIL 232.

238 Biology of Women
3 hours. An evolutionary perspective on the biology of women from conception to menopause, in light of current research on genetics, hormones, and development. Topics include sexual differentiation, sex differences, and life history. Same as ANTH 238. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ANTH 105; or consent of the instructor. Natural World - No Lab course.

240 Music, Gender and Culture
3 hours. Examination of the intersection of music, gender and sexuality in different historical periods and cultures. Study of music's role in the formation and expression of gender identity in classical and popular music. Same as MUS 240. Creative Arts, and Individual and Society course.

244 Women in Russian Literature
3 hours. Major works by and about women in Russian literature: experiences of women and societal attitudes toward them. Same as RUSS 244. Taught in English. Creative Arts, and World Cultures course.

252 Sexuality in America: Historical Perspectives
3 hours. Sexuality as a force in U.S. history. Topics include Victorianism, marriage and courtship, sexual subcultures, censorship and purity crusades, popular culture, and various "sexual revolutions." Same as HIST 252. Past, and US Society course.

259 The History of American Women
3 hours. Cultural, social, economic developments of gender relationships and women's lives from the seventeenth century to the present; political and ideological responses; feminism. Same as HIST 259. Prerequisite(s): ENGL 161; or consent of the instructor. Past, and US Society course.

261 Reading Black Women Writing
3 hours. Examines inscriptions of race, gender, class, and sexuality as they shape the literary and critical practices of nineteenth- and twentieth-century black women writers. Same as AAST 261 and ENGL 261. Previously listed as GWS 470. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in AAST 100 or Grade of C or better in AAST 110 or Grade of C or better in AAST 111 or Grade of C or better in ENGL 118 or Grade of C or better in ENGL 119 or Grade of C or better in ENGL 240; or consent of the instructor.

262 Constructions of Gender, Race, Health, and Human Rights
3 hours. Explores issues at the intersections of gender, race, and sexuality through the lens of health in both U.S. and non-U.S. contexts. Prerequisite(s): GWS 101 or GWS 102; and sophomore standing or above; or consent of the instructor. Individual and Society, and World Cultures course.

263 Asian American Gender and Sexual Diversity
3 hours. Introductory, cross-disciplinary examination of issues related to gender and sexuality among Asian Americans, with critical attention paid to diverse experiences across various social and political contexts. Same as ASAM 263. Prerequisite(s): ASAM 123 or ASAM 125 or GWS 101 or GWS 102. Individual and Society, and US Society course.

272 Race, Gender and Sexuality
3 hours. The course will focus on the various ways that African American Studies has conceptualized issues of gender and sexuality. Same as AAST 272. Prerequisite(s): AAST 100. Individual and Society, and US Society course.

275 Gender in Latin America
3 hours. Latin American women in historical perspective from pre-Columbian and Iberian societies to the present. Same as LALS 275 and POLS 275. Past, and World Cultures course.

276 Latinas in the United States
3 hours. Socioeconomic conditions and cultural experiences of Latinas in the U.S. Historical and contemporary views of labor, health, education, family, identity formation and leadership. Same as LALS 276, and SOC 226.

290 Topics in the Study of Sexuality
3 hours. Exploration of a topic concerning the subject of sexuality. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term.

292 History and Theories of Feminism
3 hours. An introduction to feminist theory and practice throughout the world from the 19th century to the present. Same as HIST 292. Recommended background: GWS 101 or GWS 102.

294 Topics in Gender and Women's Studies
1 TO 3 hours. Study of a problem, topic, or issue relevant to the interdisciplinary area of gender and women's studies. Content varies. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 hours. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor or one gender and women's studies course.

304 Male-Female Communication
3 hours. Speech differences and universals across genders. Talk in male-female interaction. Communication in romantic relationships. Gender issues in work settings. Same as COMM 304. Prerequisite(s): COMM 101 and COMM 102 and COMM 201 and COMM 203; or approval of the department.

311 Gender and Sexuality in Early Christianity and Judaism
3 hours. Examination of the root of contemporary perspectives on gender and sexuality in the early traditions of Judaism and Christianity including the Bible, the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Church Fathers, the Talmud, and legends of the saints. Same as JST 311 and RELS 311.

315 Psychology of Women and Gender
3 hours. Critical examination of research on women and gender across the life span, including psychological aspects of reproduction, and the way that gender shapes cognition, sexuality, family, friendship, and work experiences. Same as PSCH 315. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PSCH 242 or consent of the instructor.

356 Constitutional Law: Women, Gender and Privacy
3 hours. A multidisciplinary examination of U.S. constitutional law and politics in shaping issues of gender, privacy, race, and sexual orientation; including reproduction, labor, sexual harassment, political participation, and women and crime. Same as AAST 356, and POLS 356. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in POLS 101 or grade of C or better in POLS 112 or grade of C or better in AAST 100 or grade of C or better in AAST 103 or grade of C or better in GWS 101; or consent of the instructor.

361 Gender Theory
3 hours. Survey of theories of gender in culture. Same as ENGL 361. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ENGL 240; and Grade of C or better in ENGL 241 or Grade of C or better in ENGL 242 or Grade of C or better in ENGL 243; or GWS 101or GWS 102; or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: ENGL 117.

362 Queer Theory
3 hours. Survey of theoretical concerns and historical issues that inform and shape the field of "Queer Studies". Same as ENGL 362. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ENGL 240; and Grade of C or better in ENGL 241 or Grade of C or better in ENGL 242 or Grade of C or better in ENGL 243; or GWS 203; or consent of the instructor.

363 Gender and Sexuality in Literature
3 hours. A survey of works that take the status of gender and sexuality as one of their central thematic or aesthetic concerns. Same as ENGL 363. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ENGL 240; and Grade of C or better in ENGL 241 or Grade of C or better in ENGL 242 or Grade of C or better in ENGL 243; or GWS 101 or GWS 102; or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: ENGL 117.

390 Feminism and Social Change
3 hours. An examination of the historical development of feminist models of social change, as well as strategies of contemporary feminist activism. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): GWS 101 and GWS 102 and Junior standing; or consent of the instructor.

394 Intermediate Topics in Gender and Women's Studies
3 hours. Study of a problem, topic or issue relevant to the interdisciplinary area of gender and women's studies at the intermediate level. Content varies. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor or one course in gender and women's studies.

396 Independent Study/Research
1 TO 3 hours. Independent study or research in specialized area of women's studies or gender-related scholarship. Extensive reading and individual research projects. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing and consent of the instructor.

403 Culture and Sexuality: Cultural History of Same-Sex Relations
3 OR 4 hours. Lesbian/gay studies; issues in the history of (homo)sexuality; cultural and historical analysis of same-sexuality in several periods, including our own. Same as HIST 403. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or consent of the instructor.

406 Politics of Race, Gender and Class
3 OR 4 hours. Formation of social status categories, individual and collective identity construction, the mechanisms of group-based marginalization and stigmatization; relationship between social status categories. Same as AAST 406. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): AAST 100 or GWS 102 or GWS 101; or graduate or professional standing; or consent of the instructor.

413 French Feminist and Gender Theory
3 OR 4 hours. An introduction to French theories of gender, including feminisms influenced by Lacanian psychoanalysis, political philosophy, and multicultural stuides. Same as FR 413. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be used for credit in the French major only with consent of the director of undergraduate studies. Taught in English. Students who intend to use French 413 toward the major in French must complete assignments in French. Prerequisite(s): FR 301 or FR 302; or consent of the instructor.

419 Public Health Aspects of Sexuality and Women's Health
3 hours. An overview of human sexuality from a public health perspective with special emphasis on family planning, sexuality and behavioral effects on women's health. Same as CHSC 419. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

424 Gender, Crime, and Justice
3 OR 4 hours. An in-depth examination of the etiology of female crime and the involvement of females in the criminal justice system as offenders, victims, and workers/professionals. Same as CLJ 424. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): CLJ 101 and CLJ 220; or consent of the instructor.

425 Sociology of Gender
3 OR 4 hours. Variety and change in gender roles; patterns and consequences of gender inequality; gender and sexuality; gender and social institutions such as family, economy. Same as SOC 424. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 224, or any 100 or 200-level GWS course and an additional 200 or 300-level elective in sociology or gender and women studies; Junior standing or above; or graduate standing; or consent of the instructor.

428 Asian/Asian American Women in the Global Economy
3 OR 4 hours. Examines the racialization and feminization of a global division of labor and focuses primarily on Asian and Asian American women's participation and incorporation as workers and key actors in the development of the global economy. Same as ASAM 428 and SOC 428. 3 undergraduate hours; 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): At least one ASAM or GWS or SOC course; or consent of the instructor.

438 Women in South Asian History
3 OR 4 hours. A study of the diversity of women's experiences in South Asia in a range of social, cultural, and religious contexts from the ancient period to the present. Same as ASST 438 and HIST 438. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): 3 hours of History or consent of the instructor.

439 Gender and Cultural Production
3 OR 4 hours. Issues of gender representation and gender politics examined through the use of theoretical texts or through the study of women authors. Same as CEES 439 and GER 439. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 1 time(s) if topics vary. Taught in English. Students who intend to use GER 439/GWS 439 toward a degree offered by the Department in Germanic Studies will do assignments in German. Area: Literature/Culture. Prerequisite(s): GER 212 or consent of the instructor.

443 Topics in Gender, Sexuality and Literature
3 OR 4 hours. Specific study of topics in gender and literature. Content varies. Same as ENGL 443. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 1 time(s). Prerequiste(s): ENGL 361 or ENGL 362 or ENGL 363 or GWS 101 or GWS 102; and senior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.

444 Topics in Theories of Gender and Sexuality
3 OR 4 hours. Advanced study of topics related to theories of gender and sexuality. Same as ENGL 444. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 1 time(s). Prerequiste(s): ENGL 361 or ENGL 362 or ENGL 363 or GWS 101 or GWS 102; and senior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.

450 Women and Mental Health Nursing
3 hours. Theories of female psychology; women's daily lives and mental health; gender differences in mental illness; strategies for improving women's mental health. Same as NUEL 450. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Students enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must have credit in PSCH 100 and either PSCH 270 or PSCH 315 or GWS 315.

458 Asian America and Transnational Feminism
3 OR 4 hours. Advanced, cross-disciplinary examination of feminism among Asian Americans from critical race and decolonizing perspectives and in a transnational context. Same as ASAM 458. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): At least one ASAM or GWS course; or consent of the instructor.

462 AIDS, Politics and Culture
3 OR 4 hours. Introduction to the study of AIDS as a medical, social, political and cultural construction. Explores the epidemiology of AIDS, the politics of the state¿s response, how activists have addressed AIDS, and media representations of AIDS. Same as HIST 462. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): GWS 101 or GWS 102 or GWS 203 or GWS 214 and junior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.

463 Politics of Gender and Sexuality in Asian America
3 OR 4 hours. Advanced, cross-disciplinary examination of issues related to gender and sexuality among Asian Americans, with critical attention paid to feminist and queer perspectives on the politics of representation and identity construction. Same as ASAM 463. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.

469 Women's Literary Traditions
3 OR 4 hours. An exploration of issues such as the female aesthetic; women's popular literature; factors that enable creativity; differences of race and class. Same as ENGL 469. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ENGL 361 or ENGL 362 or ENGL 363; and senior standing or above; or consent of instructor.

472 Women and Film
3 OR 4 hours. Roles and representations of women in classical Hollywood, European art and independent feminist cinemas. Same as AH 434, and ENGL 472. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ENGL 302 or ENGL 342 or ENGL 361 or ENGL 362 or ENGL 363; and senior standing or above; or consent of instructor.

478 Women in Chinese History
3 OR 4 hours. Focuses on scholarship on women in Chinese society throughout history, dealing with topics such as marriage and family, literacy, career options, women in revolution and the historiography of the field. Same as ASST 478, and HIST 478. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Recommended background: Previous course work in Chinese history or women's studies.

484 Topics in the History of Women
3 OR 4 hours. Specific topics are announced each term. Same as HIST 484. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): 3 hours of history or gender and women's studies or consent of the instructor.

485 Gender and Politics
3 OR 4 hours. Impact of gender on basic categories of western political thought. Distinctions between reason and emotion, public and private, among others, examined from feminist perspective. Same as POLS 485. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): POLS 190 and one 200-level course in political theory; or consent of the instructor.

490 Advanced Topics in the Study of Sexuality
3 OR 4 hours. Special study at an advanced level of a topic concerning sexuality. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): 3 hours of gender and women's studies, or consent of the instructor.

494 Advanced Topics in Gender and Women's Studies
3 OR 4 hours. Specialized study of a problem, topic or issue relevant to the interdisciplinary area of gender and women's studies at the advanced level. Content varies. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Senior or graduate standing.

496 Independent Study
1 TO 3 hours. Individual advanced reading or research in Gender and Women's Studies, under the supervision of a faculty member. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): GWS 101 and GWS 102; and consent of the instructor. Recommended background: GWS 292 and GWS 390.

501 Feminist Theories
4 hours. Significant trends in the analysis of gender and sexuality, and the intersection of those trends with analyses of power, difference, and equality. Historical and contemporary, national and non-U.S. based critiques of identity, agency, representation.

502 Feminist Knowledge Production
4 hours. Exploration of diverse feminist research approaches emphasizing interdisciplinarity in terms of method and intersectionality in terms of identity. Specific themes or topics examined from a feminist perspective across disciplines.

514 Gender Issues in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
4 hours. Selected substantive and theoretical issues in the cross-cultural study of gender roles, conceptions, and relations. Same as ANTH 514. Prerequisite(s): ANTH 500 or consent of the instructor.

515 Psychology of Women and Gender
3 hours. Critical examination of psychological theories and research on women and gender, including biological, psychoanalytic, socialization, power, and social constructionist perspectives. Same as PSCH 515. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing in psychology; or PSCH 315 or GWS 315, and consent of the instructor.

521 Violence Against Women
4 hours. Examines the extent, causes, and consequences of sexual assault, intimate partner violence (e.g., domestic violence, dating violence), and sexual harassment, and considers the impact of culture and community on violence and its victims. Same as PSCH 521. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

523 Gender and Space
4 hours. A gendered perspective in conceptualizing and critiquing the plan and design, representation, and form of the built and designed natural environment, the distribution of spatial and physical resources, and environmental experience. Same as ARCH 523. Credit is not given for ARCH 523 if the student has credit in ARCH 412 or GWS 412. Students in the Gender and Women's Studies Concentration should contact the School of Architecture to enroll in the course.

525 Social Work with Women
3 hours. Research, policy, and practice approaches to working with women in diverse urban settings; empowerment and diversity perspectives. Same as SOCW 525. Prerequisite(s): SOCW 410; or consent of the instructor.

540 Language and Gender
4 hours. Examination of sociolinguistic research and theories on the interrelationships between language and gender, including gender categories in linguistic systems, gender differences in language use, interaction, and cross-cultural comparisons. Same as LING 540.

547 Race, Class, and Gender Dimensions of Crime and Justice
4 hours. Theories addressing the intersections of race, class, gender, crime and justice. Specifically, students examine criminological theories, social construction of race, class, and gender, legal decision-making, and implications of this for justice in our society. Same as CLJ 547.

563 Politics of Gender, Sexuality and Education
4 hours. Cross-disciplinary examination of issues related to gender, sexuality, and sexual orientation in education, with critical attention paid to educational policy and practice. Same as EDPS 563. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

583 Women in Education
4 hours. An overview of girl's and women's educational experiences and placement within the academic structure (as students, professionals and intellectuals). The impact of gender on the realization of educational, economic and social opportunities. Same as EDPS 583. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor or enrollment in the Ph.D. in Policy Studies in Urban Education program.

594 Special Topics in Gender and Women's Studies
1 TO 4 hours. Study of a problem, topic or issue relevant to the interdisciplinary area of gender and women's studies. Content varies. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor or one course in gender and women's studies.

596 Independent Study
1 TO 4 hours. Topics and plan of study must be approved by the instructor. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

Information provided by the Office of Programs and Academic Assessment.

This listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract. Every attempt is made to provide the most current and correct information. Courses listed here are subject to change without advance notice. Courses are not necessarily offered every term or year. Individual departments or units should be consulted for information regarding frequency of course offerings.