Description of the Major
WGS Major
Women’s
and Gender Studies Department
Description of Major (pdf)
Women's
and Gender Studies is a 44 unit major housed in the School of Social
Sciences at Sonoma State University. Women's and Gender Studies is an
interdisciplinary and dynamic discipline that is a major presence at
universities throughout the country and increasingly, the world. The
major offers students the ability to acquire knowledge and develop skills
in the following ways:
KNOWLEDGE.
Students are trained to critically examine the experiences and opportunities
of women and men in relation to race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, and
nation. Students develop an understanding of masculinity and femininity
as historically and culturally specific constructions that shape human
development. Students acquire an advanced appreciation of how and why
gender influences and is embedded in the division of labor, mechanisms
of social control, and major societal institutions including the family,
health care, education, law, religion, the workplace, and the media.
Students gain important knowledge about historical and contemporary
forms of resistance and activism around issues of gender including feminist
movements, gay rights movements, men's movements, women's health movements,
and others. Students learn about the major themes in feminist theory
and applications of feminist theory to real life problems.
SKILLS.
The
curriculum consistently reinforces the development of strengthened abilities
in writing, critical thinking, group project planning and public speaking.
Furthermore, WGS students are required to complete a major research
project (WGS 425) that provides them with skills in qualitative data
collection and analysis.
EXPERIENCE
IN THE REAL WORLD.
WGS requires a 4 unit internship. Most students complete this requirement
through service in several settings, thereby increasing student experience
in different work environments and enhancing their resumes for employment.
A complete databank of available internships is maintained and continually
updated by the WGS Department. Examples of internships include: Planned
Parenthood, United Against Sexual Assault, YWCA, Circle of Sisters,
several local elementary and secondary schools, Read to Me Program,
Women's Health Resource Center at Sutter Community Hospital, National
Women's History Project, and numerous other opportunities.
ABILITY
TO DOUBLE MAJOR OR MINOR.
WGS encourages students to double major or minor in another discipline.
The 44 unit major is designed to effectively and efficiently coordinate
the number of units necessary to accomplish these goals.
PREPARATION
FOR ADVANCED STUDY.
Many WGS majors pursue advanced degrees. WGS prepares students by providing
a foundation in the major trends in feminist theory and research and
research and writing skills. Past students have presented papers at
conferences and submitted articles for publication in preparation for
graduate school. WGS majors have also spent a semester in a university
in another country (Ireland and Australia most recently) providing them
with experiences and opportunities valuable to advanced education and
career development.
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Women’s
and Gender Studies Department
WGS Major - 44 Units (pdf)
Women’s and Gender Studies Department
WGS Major - 44 Units
Core Requirements – 21 units
WGS 280 Women’s Bodies: Health and Body Image (GE,
category E)
or WGS 285 Men’s Health, Men’s Lives (GE, category E)
or WGS 350 Gender, Sexuality & Family (GE, category E) 3 units
WGS 375 Gender, Race and Class (GE, category D1; Ethnic Studies) 3 units
WGS 425 Feminist Research Methods (Fall only) 4 units
WGS 475 Contemporary Feminist Theory (Fall only) 4 units
WGS 485 Senior Seminar (Spring only) 4 units
Electives Any combination of courses on gender, highly 3 units
encouraged to be from WGS.
Disciplinary Concentration – 15 units
Students must specialize in one discipline (defined as
any recognized major or minor in the
University) by completing 15 units of course work in that area as follows:
1. A course on gender (3-4 units). Examples include: Sociology
of Gender, Women Writers, Gender and Archeology or Women in U.S. History.
2. An introductory (3-4 units) course in the discipline (may be lower
or upper division).
3. Additional upper division units (8-10 units) in the disciplinary
area chosen in
consultation with a WGS advisor.
Skills Application in Education or Human Services –
8 units
WGS 390 Gender, Work and Organization (Spring only) 4
units
WGS 395/499 CIP/Internships 4 units
Internships must be completed in an appropriate organization
selected in consultation
with a WGS advisor.
For more information, please visit the Women’s &
Gender Studies Dept. Office in Rachel Carson Hall (RCH) #18 or call
664-2840. Students should make an appointment by contacting:
Dr. Lena McQuade
Office: RCH 31
Phone: 707/664-2950
Dr. Don Romesburg
Office: RCH 11
Phone: 707/664-2574
Dr. Charlene Tung
Office: RCH 32
Phone: 707/664-2086
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Women’s
& Gender Studies Department
WGS Minor – 16 Units
(pdf)
Women’s & Gender Studies Department
WGS Minor – 16 Units
Core Courses – 10 units
WGS 280 Women’s Bodies: Health and Body Image
OR (GE Category E)
WGS 285 Men’s Health, Men’s Lives 3 units
OR (GE Category E)
WGS 350 Gender, Sexuality and Family
(GE Category E)
WGS 375 Gender, Race and Class 3 units
(GE Category D1, Ethnic Studies)
WGS 475 Contemporary Feminist Thought 4 units
Supporting Courses – 6 units
Minors in Women’s and Gender Studies must complete
at least two courses from at least two of the following five categories
for a total of 6 units. These courses are selected in consultation with
a WGS advisor.
Note: Courses on women and gender offered in other departments can fulfill
these requirements.
1. Women and Gender in American Society
2. Women and Gender in the Humanities
3. Biological and Psychological Perspective on Women or Gender
4. Women or Gender in International and Cross-Cultural Perspective
5. Special Topics on Women or Gender
For more information, please visit the Women’s &
Gender Studies Dept. Office in Rachel Carson Hall (RCH) #18 or call
664-2840. Students should make an appointment by contacting a WGS professor.
Dr. Lena McQuade
Office: RCH 31
Phone: 707/664-2950
Dr. Don Romesburg
Office: RCH 11
Phone: 707/664-2574
Dr. Charlene Tung
Office: RCH 32
Phone: 707/664-2086
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I.
Minor Core Requirements (10 units)
A.
WGS 280 Women's Bodies: Health and Image (3 units)
B.
NURS 480 Health, Sexuality and Society (3 units)
OR WGS 350 Gender, Sexuality and
Family (3 units)
C.
Practical Application
WGS 499 Internship in women's health setting (4 units)
OR NURS 425 Senior Clinical Study
(3 units)
II.
Electives (10 units)
All
electives must be health related (including mental health). When the
health course does not explicitly deal with women's health, students
are expected to do their term papers and projects on women's health
issues and be prepared to share these course materials with the program
coordinator. Electives are determined in consultation with the program
coordinator.
Suggested
electives:
AMCS 432 Health and Culture (3)
ANTH 370: Cultures, Illness, and Healing (3)
ANTH 372: Talk About Feeling Sick (3)
GEOG 396 Medical Geography (3)
GERN 300 Basic Gerontology (3)
NURS 340 Health and Illness in the Expanding Family (4)
NURS 360 Community Health Nursing (3)
PSY 404/WGS 330 Psychology of Women (4)
PSY 408 Transitions in Adult Development (4)
PSY 454 Biofeedback and Somatic Psychology (4)
SOCI 452 Health Care and Illness (cross-listed as GERN 452) (4)
WGS 301 Women's Health Lecture Series (1-2)
WGS/NURS 495 Special Study Research on Women's Health (1-4)
Total units required in the minor (20)
Total
units required in the minor: 20
For
more information contact the Women’s Health Minor Advisor:
Dr. Lena McQuade
Phone: 707/664-2950
Office: Rachel Carson Hall #31
Email: mcquade@sonoma.edu
or the Women’s and Gender Studies Department office
in Rachel Carson #18, 707/664-2840.
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Women’s
and Gender Studies Department
Requirements for a
DOUBLE MAJOR (pdf)
The Women’s and Gender Studies major is designed
to facilitate a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in any other
major offered as a Bachelor of Arts at SSU. The double major is a strength
for any resume, as it provides prospective employers with evidence of
substantial undergraduate education in more than one field. The double
major is especially encouraged for students who want to combine graduate
study in a more traditional discipline or field with an emphasis on
gender issues.
The WGS major is a 44-unit series of course. Students
pursuing the double major must declare their majors in both departments
and must have at least 24 units in each major that do not count for
the other major. Academic advising must occur in both departments and
WGS faculty will only advise for the WGS major. Please note that departments
may differ in the units that they will accept toward a double major
and as a result, ongoing advising in both departments is critical for
a well organized study plan.
REQUIRED COURSES THAT MUST BE COMPLETED IN WGS
26 UNITS
WGS 350, WGS 280, or WGS 285 (all category E in GE) 3
units
WGS 375 (GE, category D1, meets Ethnic Studies requirement) 3 units
WGS 390 (Gender, Work, and Organization) 4 units
WGS 425 (Feminist Research Methods) 4 units
WGS 475 (Contemporary Feminist Thought) 4 units
WGS 485 (Senior Seminar) 4 units
WGS 395/499 (CIP/Internship) 4 units
COURSES THAT MAY BE TAKEN IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT THAT WGS
WILL “DOUBLE” COUNT
18 UNITS
I. Disciplinary Concentration. WGS majors are required
to take 15 units in another major or minor on campus. All of these units
may be counted toward a double major. These courses include:
A course on women, men, or gender in the disciplinary concentration
3-4 units
An introductory course (upper or lower division) in the discipline 3-4
units
Additional upper division units in the disciplinary concentration chosen
in
consultation with a WGS advisor. 6-8 units
II. Electives. WGS majors are required to complete 3 units
of electives. The electives are highly encouraged to include any course(s)
on women, men, or gender issues offered in WGS 3 units.
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Women’s
and Gender Studies Department
Gender Studies Courses
(pdf)
255 Introduction to Queer Studies
(3-4 units) (Fall)
This interdisciplinary course offers an introduction to the emergent
field of queer studies by analyzing the role, race, ethnicity, gender,
and sexuality plan in the social construction of modern gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) identities.
280 Women’s Bodies: Health and Body Image
(3 units) (Fall and Spring) This course examines research and theory
about the health and body image concerns of women throughout the life
cycle, including the gender politics of medical research, mental health,
body image, reproductive health and chronic illness. Students will be
exposed to current theoretical work and writing about the body in society,
including focusing on weight and appearance issues for women of different
races and social classes. Women and men will develop the skills necessary
to become better consumers of health information, including training
in how to evaluate the quality of medical and health information available
on the World Wide Web. Satisfies GE, category E.
285 Men’s Health, Men’s Lives
(3 units) (Fall and Spring)
Examination of men’s mental and physical health within the larger
context of men’s lives. A multidisciplinary perspective will be
used to explore how various populations of men experience health, disease
and disability, the social sources of health and illness and men’s
body image concerns. In addition, this course will develop an understanding
of various theories of manhood or masculinity, and explore how men’s
participation in various activities—including relationships, family,
fatherhood, sports, crime and violence—influence their health
and well-being.
301 Feminist Lecture Series (1-2 units)
(Fall and Spring)
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, such as queer
studies or women’s health. The lectures are open to the community.
350 Gender, Sexuality and Family (3 units)
(Fall and Spring)
An exploration of changing ideals and practices of gender, sexuality
and family life in the United States, drawing especially on recent feminist
scholarship. Topics for reading and discussion will focus on both women
and men. Prerequisites: ENGL 101 or PHIL 101; and one course in sociology,
psychology, American history or women’s studies; or consent of
the instructor.
370 Gender in Asian America (3-4 units)
(Once per year)
This interdisciplinary course examines gender, race, class, and sexuality
in Asian America. We consider how Asian American women and men fit into
debates about sexism and racism in the U.S. – historically and
contemporarily. Topics include Asian American participation in women’s
civil rights movements as well as popular culture representation.
375 Gender, Race and Class (3 units)
(Fall and Spring)
An overview of the interaction of race, sex, and class oppression and
resistance in the historical and contemporary experience of Native American,
Asian American, African American, and Latin people. The course seeks
to enhance understanding of how racism and sexism function in the political,
social, and economic systems of the U.S. Cross-listed as AMCS 420 or
POLS 330. Satisfies GE, cat. D1 Ethnic Studies (Individual and Society).
385 Gender and Globalization (4 units)
(Fall)
This course examines how globalization processes impact women around
the world, including within the U.S. Utilizing sociological, historical,
and anthropological studies, literary essays, and films we will examine
the role the U.S. plays in the global political economy in relation
to women’s labor migration, sweatshop labor, and sex trafficking
among other topics.
390 Gender, Work and Organization (4
units) (Spring)
A review and critical evaluation of research on gender, work, and organization.
Topics include gender differences in earnings, advancement and career
selection, bureaucratic and alternative forms of work organization,
balancing work and family demands, and practical and policy solutions
for gendered problems men and women face in the workplace.
395/499 Community Involvement Program/Internships (1-4 units)
The purpose of CIP is to encourage student involvement in the community.
Projects sponsored by Women’s Studies focus upon women’s
needs and organizations. Supervised training and experience for advanced
students in community agencies concerned with women and gender change.
Student teaching is another form of internship. At present we offer
credit (and not a grade) for student teaching and off-campus projects.
Special contracts are required and are obtainable either in the Department
office or the Center for Field Experience. Internships may be paid.
Prerequisite: WGS 395 or consent of instructor.
425 Feminist Research Methods (4 units)
(Fall)
A feminist critique of traditional methods of constructing knowledge
& research practices and a discussion of gender-inclusive research
strategies. Students will be given instruction in library and electronic
information retrieval, and in grant writing for research funding. Students
will design, execute and report on a research project. Students who
are not majoring in WGS may take this class in conjunction with (or
after) a methods class in their discipline.
440 Sociology of Reproduction (3-4 units) (Once per
year)
An exploration of sociological perspectives on human reproduction. Topics
include reproduction and gender identity, the social implications of
reproductive technologies, historical and contemporary perspectives
on normal pregnancy and childbirth, the cultural context for breastfeeding,
and the politics of reproductive rights and choices in the United States.
Cross-listed with Soci 440.
455 Queer Theory, Queer Lives (4 units)
(Spring)
This interdisciplinary course offers advanced work in queer studies
by looking at the production of theories about same-sex sexualities
in history, culture and politics. The course presents queer theory in
conjunction with critical race theory, feminist theory, or post-colonial
studies. Prerequisite: WGS 255: Introduction to Queer Studies/Instructor
consent.
475 Contemporary Feminist Theory (4 units)
(Fall)
An overview of the development of feminist thought since WWII in relation
to the historical and social conditions of women and men, and to the
development of the women’s movement, men’s movement, and
gay and lesbian movements. An exploration of the current controversies
about how we conceptualize gender difference. The aim of the intellectual
work in this course is not only to increase our knowledge, but to enhance
our ability to reason theoretically and to link theory with our practice
to end gender inequality. Prerequisite: WGS 280, WGS 285, WGS 350 or
WGS 375 or consent of instructor.
485 Senior Seminar (4 units) (Spring)
This course provides an opportunity for advanced study on a special
issue each time it is offered, including topics such as health, family
and work. The special topic will be explored in seminar format for the
first half of the course. The second half of the course will be devoted
to student presentations on the development of gender analysis within
their disciplinary concentrations. Students will write research papers
or design organizational or advocacy programming. This course is for
seniors. Prerequisites: WGS 350 & 375 or instructor’s consent.
492 Syllabus Design (1 unit) (Fall and
Spring)
Students work on an individual basis with a faculty member to develop
reading materials, lecture and discussion topics, and assignments appropriate
to the teaching of a specific course. Student-taught courses must be
approved by the Coordinator, and students must follow established procedural
guidelines for teaching in the Women’s Studies program. Most student
teachers are required to take WGS 492 before teaching and WGS 493 while
teaching.
493 Teaching Supervision (1 unit) (Fall
and Spring)
In order to continue professional skill development in the teaching
of adults, students enrolled in WGS 499 (Intern. In Teaching) are required
to enroll in concurrent supervised group discussion relating to the
implementation of adult learning theory. Students acting as teaching
assistants in the University or teaching adults in q community context
are also able to enroll in this course. Prerequisite: EDUC 490. Corequisite:
WGS 499 or instructor’s consent.
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Roadmap
to Women's and Gender Studies Degree (BA) (pdf)
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