Course Descriptions

WGS 150 - Current Conversations: Gender, Race and Sexuality (3)

Introduction to oral communication on the topics of gender, race, and sexuality from intersectional, feminist, queer, and critical race perspectives.  Students will develop their verbal and non-verbal skills as well as their active listening and critical thinking capacities through research and oral presentations. Satisfies the GE Area A1 requirement.

WGS 200 - Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies (3)
Explores social, political, and cultural dimensions of gender in society and culture. This course foregrounds intersectional feminist analyses: how gender is co-constituted with race, sexuality, nation, ability, economy, and other forms of social power. Students learn about the field of WGS, feminist analysis, interdisciplinary methods, and social justice. GE E.
WGS 201 - Feminist Lecture Series (1-4)

A weekly lecture series (or occasional workshops) offering presentations and discussions of current issues from feminist perspectives. There is usually a semester-long focus on a particular topic. The lectures are open to the community. May be repeated for credit.

WGS 202 - Queer Studies Lecture Series (3)

A weekly lecture series offering presentations and discussions of ethical, literary, activist, intellectual, and artistic approaches to society and culture from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer perspectives. The lectures are open to the community. May be repeated for credit. Satisfies GE Area C2.

WGS 255 - Introduction to Queer Studies (3-4)

This interdisciplinary course offers an introduction to the field of Queer Studies by analyzing the role of race, gender, sexuality, and nationalism in the social construction of modern gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer (GLBTQ) identities. Students also learn of queer theoretical approaches to politics, culture, and society. Satisfies GE Area C1. Course taught in face-to-face, hybrid and online modes.

WGS 285 - Men and Masculinity (4)
This course examines construction of masculinity across axes of race, sexuality, class, nation, and ability. Utilizing a multidisciplinary perspective, this course addresses various theories of masculinity and masculinity's impact on peoples lives in areas such as relationships, media representation, work, culture, development, and health. Satisfies GE Area E. Course taught in face-to-face, hybrid and online modes.
WGS 300 - Gender, Race and Representation (3)
This course uses feminist cultural studies, arts, and media studies methods to explore how intersections of gender and race structure contemporary society. Tracing the production of difference through culture, we foreground the study of race, gender, and representation as a method through which to understand and transform the social world. GE C1, Ethnic Studies. Course taught in face-to-face, hybrid and online modes.
WGS 305 - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer U.S. History (3)

Historical development of institutions, ideals, social and cultural transformations, and economic and political processes in the U.S. since colonization with a focus on the evolution of sexual and gender diversity. Satisfies GE category D and the state history requirement. Core course of Queer Studies Minor.

WGS 311 - Special Topics in Women and Gender Studies (1-4)
A variable-topics seminar focusing upon intensive study of issues related to WGS in society. May be repeated for credit with different topic.
WGS 325 - Youth: Gender Perspectives (3-4)
This course examines youth, focusing on the complex interconnections of gender, race/ethnicity, social class, sexuality, and other factors in understanding the experiences and social conditions of youth in the U.S., as well as the methodological issues that arise in conducting research on youth. This course requires community service learning.

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