Women’s and Gender Studies Minor

Website: www.iup.edu/womens
Lynn Botelho, Director

The Women’s and Gender Studies minor is designed to increase students’ interdisciplinary knowledge about the gendered nature of women’s experiences and the ways that all genders are shaped by history, culture, and society. In order to achieve this goal, the program offers courses using a variety of theories and methodologies from a range of disciplines, such as anthropology, art, communication media, criminology, film, the fine arts, history, journalism and public relations, literature, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies, and sociology. The program explores gendered hierarchies and the impact of gender on the experiences of women, as well as women- and gendered-centered knowledge productions and learning. Students are encouraged to challenge traditional theories and research regarding women and gender through innovative and experimental classroom experiences and writing assignments. Students analyze the world, imagine and re-envision it, and seek to enact social transformation in both theory and practice.

A minor in women’s and gender studies strengthens and supplements every academic major and later professional careers. Students’ awareness of gendered, sexualized, classed, and racialized hierarchies make them valuable professionals in a range of careers, from business and banking to social work and law.

Required Course: 3

WGS 200 - Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies Credits: 3

Other Requirements:

Students receive approval for a specified course of study from the following list of courses: (1, 2, 3)

ANTH 350 - Anthropology of Gender Credits: 3
ASIA 244 - Samurai and Gongfu Heroes: Masculinity in East Asia Credits: 3
or
HIST 244 - Samurai and Gongfu Heroes: Masculinity in East Asia Credits: 3
COMM 325 - Gender in Media Credits: 3
CRIM 450 - Women and Crime Credits: 3
ENGL 225 - Introduction to Literature by Women Credits: 3
ENGL 336 - Language, Gender, and Society Credits: 3
ENGL 350 - Gender and Sexual Orientation in Literature, Theory, and Film Credits: 3
HIST 369 - Women in America Credits: 3
HIST 390 - History of Women—World Cultures Credits: 3
JRNL 250 - Women and the Press Credits: 3
PLSC 404 - Women and Politics Credits: 3
PSYC 379 - Psychology of Human Sexuality Credits: 3
PSYC 380 - Gender and Violence (CAAST) Credits: 3
PSYC 411 - Psychology of Women Credits: 3
RLST 245 - Women and Religion Credits: 3
RLST 345 - Women in the Bible Credits: 3
RLST 485 - Selected Topics in Feminist Studies of Religion Credits: 3
SOC 251 - Sociology of Human Sexuality Credits: 3
SOC 363 - Sociology of Gender Credits: 3
SOC 410 - Men and Masculinities Credits: 3
SOC 427 - Social Perspectives on Intimate Partner Violence Credits: 3
WGS 301 - Asian American and Asian Diasporic Women’s Literature Credits: 3
WGS 400 - Feminist Theories Credits: 3
WGS 482 - Independent Study Credits: 1-3
XXXX 281 - Special Topics (offered within department) Credits: var-1-3 (4)
XXXX 481 - Special Topics (offered within department) Credits: var-1-3 (4)
XXXX 493 - Internship Credits: var-1-3 (5)

Total Minor Requirements: 18

(1) Students receive approval for a specified course of study from the above list of courses and, with permission from the director of Women’s and Gender Studies, from selected WGS courses that have been recently developed.

(2) No more than two courses that for a student’s major can also count for the Women’s and Gender Studies minor.

(3) At least 6cr of coursework must be at 300 level or above.

(4) Special topics courses that focus on women’s and gender studies and are offered by individual departments can count as Women’s and Gender Studies minor electives with the approval of director.

(5) Internships (up to 3cr) may be counted toward the minor.