20 credits

Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines feminist theoretical perspectives on the intersections of race/ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, and other identities. This minor teaches students to think critically about the social construction of identity and the politics of knowledge production. Students will use these critical thinking skills to understand people's lives within a global context and to analyze the systems of oppression that contribute to continuing economic, political, and cultural inequalities. Women's Studies minors will be encouraged to promote social justice throughout their course work; they will engage in service learning as a capstone experience.

• Core Course
  IIWS 101 Introduction to Women's Studies
• Select one IIWS 200-level course
• WS 301 Feminist Theories
• WS 495 Capstone in Women's Studies
• Select one course from the list of approved electives. Special topics may also be available each semester. A Women's Studies faculty member can advise you about current offerings from various disciplines that will fulfill this requirement.
  Arts and Humanities

  • ENG 203 Women's Writing
  • ENG 208 Topics in Writing: Creative Process, Culture, and Gender (specific title required)
  • ENG 381 Women Writers
  • FILM 352 Film Genres and Directors: Contemporary Women Directors (specific title required)
  • FILM 495 Seminar: Feminist Film Theory (specific title required)
  • IIFR 240 Franco-American Women's Voices
  • HIST 269 Women in Modern America
  • HIST 495 Seminar: Gender in Early North America (specific title required)
  • IIHGS/IIWS 254 Women and the Holocaust
  • IAMU 115 Women in Music
  Professional Studies

  • IIEDUC 306 Women and Education
  • IIHLSC 350 Women and Health: Witches, Harlots, and Healers
  Sciences/Social Sciences

  • ANTH 315 Gender and Culture
  • PSYC 425 Psychology of Women
  • PSYC 495 Seminar: Psychology of Prejudice
    (specific title required)
  • SOC 321 Women in Society
  • SOC 345 Sociology of Families
  • SOC 455 The Body/Sexuality in Society
  Women's Studies

  • IIWS 290 Topics in Women's Studies
  • IIWS 300 Women of Color
  • WS 498 Independent Study