Course descriptions index


Women's Studies


WMS F201 Introduction to Women's Studies (s)

3 Credits

An interdisciplinary introduction to the field of women's studies, exploring its development, subject matter and methodology. Readings of studies which have become classic examples of the importance of gender in research in many disciplines are examined. Also available via Independent Learning. (3+0)


WMS F202 History of Women in America (s)

3 Credits

A chronological approach to the history of women in America. Introduction to major issues of concern to historians of women, as well as different approaches used in analysis of women's past. Consideration of multiracial backgrounds of American women. (Cross-listed with HIST F202.) (3+0)


WMS F308W,O Language and Gender (s)

3 Credits

Examination of relationships between language and gender, drawing on both ethnographic and linguistic sources. Topics include power, socialization and sexism. Prerequisites: COMM F131X or COMM F141X; ENGL F111X; ENGL F211X or ENGL F213X or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed with ANTH F308; LING F308.) (3+0)


WMS F320 Sociology of Gender (s)

3 Credits

Comprehensive survey of sociological inquiry and feminist revisions for studying gender in U.S. society and culture. Interrogates the meanings of gender, and the interactional, cultural, organizational and institutional arrangements that underlie the social construction of gender and gender inequality. Prerequisites: One lower-division social science course, WMS F201, or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed with SOC F320.) (3+0)


WMS F325 The History of Sexuality (s)

3 Credits     Offered Summer

The history of sexuality from a worldwide comparative perspective. Theories and debates about the history of sexuality in selected times and places, with an emphasis on the modern period. Prerequisites: HIST F100X; ENGL F211X or ENGL F213X. (Cross-listed with HIST F325.) (3+0)


WMS F332 Human Sexualities Across Cultures (s)

3 Credits     Offered Alternate Fall Odd-numbered Years

Exploration of how people in a variety of cultures, both contemporary and historical, construct the meaning and experience of sexuality and express themselves as sexual beings. Interdisciplinary study includes psychology, sociology, anthropology, gender studies and related fields, with particular focus determined by which department is offering the course. Also available via Independent Learning. Prerequisites: SOC F100X or SOC F201 or PSY F101 or WMS F201 or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed with PSY F333; SOC F333.) (3+0)


WMS F333 Women's Literature (h)

3 Credits

Reading, discussing and analyzing literary works dealing with the social, cultural and political implications of patriarchal structures and traditions from the perspective of feminist theory and criticism. Focus may be on a particular theme, period or genre, but readings will include both primary and secondary texts. Prerequisites: ENGL F111X. Recommended: ENGL F211X. (Cross-listed with ENGL F333.) (3+0)


WMS F335W Gender and Crime

3 Credits

An exploration of gender and crime including the extent of female crime, victimization, masculinities and violence, and women professionals in the justice system. Prerequisites: ENGL F111X; ENGL F211X or ENGL F213X or permission of instructor; JUST F110; junior standing. (Cross-listed with JUST F335.) (3+0)


WMS F340 Women and Politics (s)

3 Credits

In-depth examination of the relevance of gender in political thought and action. Topics vary and may include: historical perspective of political ideas on the nature and status of women; women's involvement in national and/or international political movements and organizations; feminist approaches to the social sciences; feminism as a political ideology. Prerequisites: One political science course or permission of instructor. Recommended: WMS F201. (Cross-listed with PS F340.) (3+0)


WMS F348W Native North American Women (s)

3 Credits

Interdisciplinary examination of the relationship between Native American women and their social settings and cross-cultural experiences. Includes issues of political, economic and social solutions as employed by women in a large multi-ethnic nation-state. Prerequisites: ANS F101; ANTH F100X; ENGL F111X; ENGL F211X or ENGL F213X; SOC F100X; or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed with ANS F348.) (3+0)


WMS F350W Women's Issues in Social Welfare and Social Work Practice (s)

3 Credits

Examination of theories and research concerning women's issues in the field of social work and in the social welfare system, with particular emphasis on women in poverty and women of color. Contemporary policy issues and strategies of empowerment will be covered. Prerequisites: ENGL F111X; ENGL F211X or ENGL F213X; SWK F103 or SOC F100X; or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed with SWK F350.) (3+0)


WMS F351 Gender and Communication (s)

3 Credits

Basic socialization differences exist in the communication practices of women and men in every culture, resulting in differing cultural constructions of male and female gender. Those differences are addressed in interpersonal, organizational and cultural contexts. Explores cultural female/male dichotomy as well as individual similarities. Prerequisites: Any lower-division communication course or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed with COMM F351.) (3+0)


WMS F360O Psychology of Women Across Cultures (s)

3 Credits

Major theories, research and empirical data which describes the psychology of women as a discrete field, philosophical values of feminism and history of women's roles in society. The impact of culture on women interpersonally and intrapsychically examined across cultures. Prerequisites: COMM F131X or COMM F141X; PSY F101; or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed with PSY F360.) (3+0)


WMS F362 Feminist Philosophy (h)

3 Credits

Examination of contemporary feminist philosophical positions. Emphasis on feminist ethics, social and political philosophy, and epistemology. (Cross-listed with PHIL F362.) (3+0)


WMS F380O Women, Minorities and the Media (h)

3 Credits

Examination of how women and minorities are portrayed in the mass media, the employment of women and minorities in the media, and how accurately the media reflects our society demographically. Presented from a feminist, multi-culturalist perspective using a broad feminist analysis encompassing issues of gender as well as class, race, age and sexual orientation. Prerequisites: COMM F131X or COMM F141X; junior standing. (Cross-listed with JRN F380.) (3+0)


WMS F410W Women in Music History (h)

3 Credits

Lives and works of female musicians, composers and performers will be traced from the earliest days of the ancient and mythological through the medieval, Baroque Classical, and Romantic periods with special emphasis on composers of the 20th century. Prerequisites: ENGL F111X; ENGL F211X or ENGL F213X; junior standing or permission of instructor. (3+0)


WMS F414 Women and Gender in East Asian History (s)

3 Credits

Seminar on the history of East Asia with special emphasis on the experiences of women and the issue of gender. This seminar will focus on the modern period and on China and Japan especially, though other regions of East Asia may also be considered. Prerequisites: HIST F100X; ENGL F211X or ENGL F213X; or permission of instructor. Recommended: HIST F122 and/or HIST F275. (Cross-listed with HIST F414.) (3+0)


WMS F424 Topics in Women's History (s)

3 Credits     Offered Spring Odd-numbered Years

An in-depth seminar on a specific topic of current interest. Topics may change and may cover the history of European or American women from the 18th century to the present. Course may be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisites: A lower-division history course; junior standing; or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed with HIST F424.) (3+0)


WMS F440 Gender and Education (s)

3 Credits     Offered Alternate Spring Even-numbered Years

Educational practices and processes and their relation to the changing situation of women in society. Examination of schools as sites of pervasive gender socialization and discrimination as well as offering new possibilities for liberation. Topics include social construction of gender; patterns of access and achievements; gender as an organizing principle in schools and classrooms; and feminist agendas and strategies for change. Prerequisites: Junior standing or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed with ED F440. Stacked with ED F640.) (3+0)


WMS F445 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective (s)

3 Credits

Gender as cultural construction and social relationship is examined through readings in comparative ethnographies portraying gender roles in a broad variety of societies, from hunter-gatherer to industrial. New theoretical and methodological approaches in anthropology for exploring and understanding women's and men's experiences in their cultural variety are presented. Prerequisites: ANTH F215 or WMS F201 or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed with ANTH F445. Stacked with ANTH F645.) (3+0)


WMS F460 Women and Development (s)

3 Credits

Explores interrelationships over time of women, gender roles and development in the dynamic global economy, including issues in Alaska and the circumpolar north. Examines the historical marginalization of women in developmental processes, special issues affecting women in indigenous communities, and changing socio-economic and cultural gender roles of women and men in community development. Examines life histories of women that illustrate emerging principles and strategies for individual and community empowerment. (Cross-listed with RD F460.) (3+0)