WOMEN'S STUDIES (WS)

Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary minor that examines the importance of gender and sex as categories of analysis of our world. Women's Studies courses emphasize the ways in which gender and sex have been constructed and represented across time and in different cultures. Drawing from a variety of disciplines, Women's Studies reflects the liberal arts emphasis on making connections among different areas of inquiry and exploring new perspectives. Students explore how gender and sex intersect with race, socioeconomic status, sexuality, ethnicity, nationality, religion, age, and physical ability to produce relative differences in power. By focusing on ways in which power and privilege have shaped what constitutes knowledge, the Women's Studies curriculum offers students the ability to think critically and communicate clearly about social inequities. Both in and out of the classroom - through coursework and involvement with the Greensboro community - Women's Studies students develop an awareness not only of their own identities, but also of their varied roles in our changing society.

Minor Requirements

A minor in Women's Studies includes at least 18 semester hours.

Required Courses:

WS 200Introduction to Women's Studies

Choose one:

ENCS 331Introduction to Linguistics
HIST 260Women in American History
REL 330Women in Judea-Christian Traditions
SPAN 343Spanish and Spanish-American Women Poets

Choose one:

PSY 235Psychology of Women
PSY 334Human Sexuality
SOC 320Gender and Society
SOC 304Marriage and the Family

Choose one:

ART 100WSIntroduction to Visual Arts: Women's Studies Emphasis
BIO 105Biology of Women
BUS 355Images of Women in Advertising
EDU 250Women in Education
WS 202Women in Film

Elective courses (at least 6 semester hours):

Any of the courses listed above, or any of the following:
Any ENCS course at the 200 level or above with a Women's Studies Emphasis (designated WS)
FRE 254WSLiterature in Translation: Women's Studies Emphasis
WS 350Feminist Theories
WS 490Internships in Women's Studies (up to three internship hours may count toward the minor)
XXX 450WSAny special topics (450) course designated WS
XXX.4Women's Studies Component

Women's Studies Components

Students may complete up to three (3) one-hour Women's Studies components for elective credit in the minor. The Women's Studies component is an independent project in a non-Women's Studies course (designated XXX.4). The component involves additional readings in the area of Women's Studies, the completion of a research or creative project, and an oral or visual presentation.

Courses in Women's Studies

WS 200 Introduction to Women's Studies (3)

This course is designed to introduce students to the interdisciplinary field of Women's Studies. Students will use feminist theories to explore the influence of gender identity in daily life and the ways in which power structures social, economic, and family relationships. Throughout the term, students will examine the intersection of sex and gender with race, class, nationality, ethnicity, sexuality, and religion through readings by women in different multicultural contexts. Topics may include gender and media, the economic status of women, and sex roles in the workplace. The course may be team-taught. Offered every year, either Fall or Spring Semester.

WS 202 Women in Film (3)

This course will examine representations of women in film, from both historical and contemporary perspectives, with a special emphasis on issues of genre and spectatorship. Though primary consideration will be given to mainstream Hollywood cinema - from the silent classic The Female of the Species to the recent blockbuster G.I. Jane - films produced outside the system, as well as internationally renowned works, will also be evaluated. Critical and theoretical writings from a variety of disciplines, including film studies and cultural studies, will be utilized as tools for analysis. Offered periodically based upon student need.

WS 350 Feminist Theories (3)

This course examines the diverse perspectives of feminist theory, tracing genealogy of contemporary feminisms from the late eighteenth century to the present. Students explore the most influential debates and issues within feminist thought and the ways in which feminist theories critically analyze conceptions of women and gender relations within political, social, and cultural contexts. The course studies feminisms from an interdisciplinary approach. Prerequisite: At least one Women's Studies course or permission of the instructor. Offered Spring Semesters, 2003, 2004, and 2006.

WS 490 Internship in Women's Studies (1-3)

This course provides the opportunity for the upper-level student to translate theoretical knowledge into positive social action and serve the larger community. Up to three semester hours of internship may be applied to meeting minor requirements. Prerequisite: WS 200, approval of the Women's Studies Program Director. Offered periodically based upon student need.

XXX.4 Women's Studies Component (1)

The Women's Studies component is an independent project in a non-Women's Studies course. The component involves additional readings in the area of Women's Studies, the completion of a research or creative project, and an oral or visual presentation. Students may complete up to three (3) one-hour Women's Studies components for elective credit in the minor.