Women's and Gender Studies

Rebecca Richards, Rolvaag 403
507-783-3204

wp.stolaf.edu/womens-gender-studies

Women’s and gender studies students explore scholarship about women and gender across cultures and throughout history to examine intersections of gender, race, class, sexual orientation, nationality, ability, religion, and age. The program fosters critical thinking skills that encourage students to become active and ethical participants in career, family, social life, and community.

Overview of the Major and Concentration

Majors and concentrators take a range of courses across the curriculum, as well as in the women’s and gender studies program. Students explore the new scholarship about gender and gain an understanding of a variety of gender experiences across cultures and throughout history.

Distinction

See Academic Honors

Distinction in women's and gender studies must represent in some tangible way the culmination of interdisciplinary and/or theoretical work in the program. Distinction guidelines are posted on the program web site.

Requirements for the Major

A major in women's and gender studies consists of nine credits:

WMGST 121Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies1.00
WMGST 399Advanced Topics in Women's and Gender Studies (to be taken in the spring of the senior year)1.00
Seven additional courses, with the following criteria:7.00
One must be at level III
One course must focus on women's lived experiences
One course from each of the following areas:
1. Theory and methods applicable to studying gender
2. Gender in historical contexts
3. Gender in global, comparative, or diverse contexts
Total Credits9

No more than two courses from other institutions may count toward the major. A list of approved courses is posted on the program web site.

In consultation with the instructor and the program director, majors may count one course not designated as an approved women’s and gender studies course. This process requires a completed contract..

Requirements for the Concentration

Many students enhance their work in a major through an interdisciplinary focus on women and gender. A concentration in women’s and gender studies consists of:

WMGST 121Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies1.00
Four additional courses, three of which must be at level II or III, and they must be drawn from at least three departments4.00
Total Credits5

In consultation with the instructor and the program director, concentrators may count one course not designated as an approved women’s and gender studies course. Students who apply partial-credit courses toward the concentration must still complete the minimum number of required credits. No more than one course taken elsewhere may be counted toward the concentration.

WMGST 121: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies

Required for the women's and gender studies major and concentration, this course introduces students to the concept of gender as a category of analysis. It is designed for students who seek a fuller understanding of themselves as women and men and a wider knowledge of the experiences and achievements of women. Offered each semester. Also counts toward educational studies concentration.

WMGST 294: Academic Internship

WMGST 298: Independent Study

WMGST 394: Academic Internship

WMGST 396: Directed Undergraduate Research

This course provides a comprehensive research opportunity, including an introduction to relevant background material, technical instruction, identification of a meaningful project, and data collection. The topic is determined by the faculty member in charge of the course and may relate to his/her research interests. Offered based on department decision. May be offered as a 1.00 credit course or .50 credit course.
Prerequisite: determined by individual instructor.

WMGST 398: Independent Research

WMGST 399: Advanced Topics in Women's and Gender Studies

The course provides a capstone to the major. Taught as a seminar, it offers an opportunity for students to integrate their studies of women and gender across disciplines and to become more aware of the intricate web of gender, race, culture, and class that informs women's experiences. Offered annually in the spring semester.
Prerequisite: WMGST 121.

Approved Courses

Topics courses are acceptable only if the topic is approved. Please consult with the program director about topics courses.  Other courses not included in this list may be approved through a contract. Contract for course credit forms are available on the program website.

Theory and Methods Courses

ART 277 Gender and Visual Culture

ENGL 242 Children's and Young Adult Literature

ENGL 264 Topics in Gender and Literature

ENGL 280 Topics in Genre (when the topic is Queer Literature and Theory)

ENGL 340 Advanced Studies in Literary Eras: American

FAMST 242 Family Relationships

FAMST 253 Human Sexuality

HIST 320 Seminar: Modern Europe (when the topic is Race, Gender, and Medicine)

HIST 395 Oral History Seminar

MUSIC 136 American Popular Music through the Lens of Prince

PHIL 245 Philosophy and Feminism

PSYCH 390 Issues in Psychology (when the topic is Intimate Relationships)

PSYCH 396: Research (when the topic is Relationships OR Gender and Emotions)

RACE 250 Topical Seminar (when the topic is Race, Gender, and Sexuality)

REL 209 Introduction to Feminist Theology

REL 344 Feminist Perspectives and Christian Ethics

SOAN 235 Introduction to Islamic Feminisms

SOAN 260 Families, Marriage, & Relationships

Women and Gender in Global, Comparative, or Diverse Contexts

ENGL 207 Women of the African Diaspora

ENGL 251 Major Chicano/a Authors

ENGL 280 Topics in Genre (when the topic is Muslim Women Writers or Queer Literature and Theory)

FREN 273 Period Studies (when the topic is French Women Writers)

FREN 372 Topics in Francophone Studies (when the topic is Women and Identity in Literature of the Maghreb)

FREN 397 Seminar (when the topic is The Moral Universe of Gabrielle Roy)

HIST 121 The Making of Modern Russia

HIST 189 Topical Seminar (when the topic is Women in African Colonial History)

HIST 191 Europe from the Reformation to Modern Times

HIST 231 20th-Century Russia

HIST 237 Gender in Medieval Europe

HIST 320 Seminar: Modern Europe (when the topic is Nation and Empire in Russian History)

HIST 345 East Asia Seminar (when the topic is Engendering Modern East Asia)

MUSIC 345 Advanced Study in Music History (when the topic is Gender in Opera; Women in Classical Music; or Music, Gender, and Sexuality)

PHIL 245 Philosophy and Feminism

PSCI 251 Politics and Identity in the Contemporary Middle East

PSYCH 223 Exploring India: Human Development in Cross-Cultural Context (abroad)

PSYCH 241 Developmental Psychology

REL 209 Introduction to Feminist Theology

REL 264 Theology and Sexuality

SOAN 128 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

SOAN 235 Introduction to Islamic Feminisms

SOAN 261 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective

SPAN 250 Family and Gender Roles in Spain: 1900 to Present 

SPAN 312 Voices of the Spanish-Speaking World (when the topic is Women in Spain)

Women and Gender in Historical Contexts

CLASS 240 Gender and Sexuality in the Ancient World

DANCE 246 Dance in the United States

DANCE 290 Topics in Dance (when the topic is Dance and Gender)

ENGL 220 Topics in Literary History (when the topic is The Literature of American Slavery)

ENGL 253 Authors in English (when the topic is Southern Women Writers)

ENGL 340 Advanced Studies in Literary Eras: American (when the topic is Money and American Literature OR Sex, Marriage, and Madness)

FAMST 253 Human Sexuality

HIST 122 Europe and the Great War

HIST 182 America Since 1945

HIST 189 Topical Seminar (when the topic is Women in African Colonial History)

HIST 201 Major Seminar: Ancient History (when the topic is Alexander and Kleopatra)

HIST 272 Women in America

HIST 320 Seminar: Modern Europe (when the topic is Race, Gender and Medicine)

MUSIC 345 Advanced Study in Music History (when the topic is Gender in Opera; Women in Classical Music; or Music, Gender, and Sexuality)

REL 209 Introduction to Feminist Theology

REL 264 Theology and Sexuality

Elective Courses

BIO 124 The Biology of Women

HIST 270: Masculinity in America

HIST 297 Topical Seminar (when the topic is Race, Gender, and Sports in America)

NORW 282 Ibsen

NURS 312 Family Health

Other Courses That Might Count By Petition*

ART 263 Medieval Art

BIO 275 Biology of Reproduction

LATIN 370 Topics in Latin Literature

PSCI 117 Politics and Human Rights

PSYCH 223 Exploring India: Human Development in Cross-Cultural Context (abroad)

REL 260 Religion in America

SWRK 221 Social Work and Social Welfare

*Credit awarded after permission by instructor and Womens and Gender Studies Director; contract required

Abroad Programs and Courses

Augsburg University's Center for Global Education and Experience "Social Change in Central America: Exploring Peace, Justice, and Community Engagement"

Carleton College's "Women's and Gender Studies in Europe" program (offered in fall; two courses can count toward the major)

Ibtesam âl-Atiyat

Associate Professor of Sociology/Anthropology

Arab society; gender; social movements; Islamic movements

Dana L. Gross

Professor of Psychology, Associate Dean of Interdisciplinary and General Studies

developmental psychology; off-campus study

Anna K. Kuxhausen

Associate Professor of History

Russian history; women's history

Diane C. LeBlanc

Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Director of the Writing Program

rhetoric and composition; creative writing; gender studies

Linda Y. Mokdad (on leave)

Assistant Professor of English

film history; classical film theory; feminist film theory; art cinema; Arab cinemas

Joanne Quimby

Assistant Professor of Asian Studies

modern Japanese literature

Nancy M. Thompson

Professor of Art and Art History

medieval art in Europe; medieval and early modern art in Italy; women’s and gender studies