Women Studies

College of Humanities
Dean: Nancy McDermid

Department of Women Studies
HUM 315
415-338-1388
Chair: Inderpal Grewal

Graduate Coordinators: Chinosole, Inderpal Grewal

Undergraduate Advisers: M. Caulfield, Chinosole, I. Grewal, M. A. Jaimes-Guerrero

Faculty

 Associate Professors--Caulfield, Chinosole, Grewal, Jaimes-Guerrero

Programs

B.A. in Women Studies

Minor in Women Studies

M.A. in Women Studies

Program Scope

Women Studies encourages students to examine, interpret, critique, and appreciate the experiences and roles of women in different societies. Striving to be as inclusive as possible, courses take into consideration commonalities and differences of cultural, racial, and class background, as well as of sexual orientation. The course of study places women in specific cultural and historical contexts in relation to the men, children, families, and communities in their lives. The analysis treats the influence of sex/gender role differentiation and existing social structures and institutions on human development in present and past societies. Especially on the upper division and graduate level of study, courses cover the evolving body of new knowledge and theories of feminist scholars, writers, artists, social critics, and social activists. Because the department's purview is international, feminists of the multi-ethnic communities of North, South, and Central America are studied alongside those of Third World and European feminists. The program stresses not only the acquisition of analytic skills but also integrates personal with social awareness in the course offerings.

Courses which fulfill major requirements are offered by the Women Studies Department as well as by other departments. For Women Studies variant topic courses and focus-on-women courses in other departments, the Class Schedulemust be consulted each semester.

In consultation with an adviser, each student will develop a major program utilizing both Women Studies and other departmental courses. The emphasis on choice of courses beyond the required core and to some extent within the core will depend upon the focus of the major and the student's career or graduate study objectives. Majors must confer with the department chair in the early stages of their B.A. work for referral to an appropriate adviser.

The Women Studies minor is an 18-unit sequence well-adapted for combination with many existing majors. The twelve units of requirements and stipulated electives and six units of free electives provide a grounding in feminist perspectives and theory, and the opportunity to acquire background on feminist issues in a number of given disciplinary fields (e.g., history, psychology, sociology, literature, cultural studies, ethnic studies, and so on). Students interested in pursuing this minor should see the Women Studies Chair who will direct them to the appropriate adviser.

The Master of Arts in Women Studies is cross-disciplinary, enabling students to combine core and elective courses in Women Studies with electives in other departments and programs across the campus. The program, focusing on international and U.S. women of color issues, enables students to pursue advanced study of the history, status, and contributions of women in different cultures, and of the relationships among feminist theories, social/global structures, and women's lives.

Career Outlook

The B.A. is a liberal arts/humanities degree that focuses on women's issues in literature, history, sociology, anthropology, and ethnic studies. The major provides the incentive, knowledge, and skills that prepare students for a variety of graduate programs; and for careers in traditional and alternative social and educational institutions, as well as in national and international organizations that require expertise in women's issues. Some students have used the degree as a foundation for graduate work in professional degree programs such as teaching, counseling, social work, law, public health, administration, and advocacy.

The M.A. in Women Studies enhances students' ability to participate professionally in a range of organizations in the public and private sector, particularly those addressing women's issues. It has also been a preparatory degree for students interested in teaching or in pursuing doctoral degrees in related fields.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN WOMEN STUDIES

Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (consult Index for page reference).

The major requires at least 39 units, of which 30 must be at the upper division level. Eighteen units must be chosen from Women Studies core courses as follows:

Units

WOMS200	Women: The Basic Questions		3

WOMS301	Women in Groups or

WOMS302	Translating Women's Experi-

ence or

WOMS303	Woman as Creative Agent		3

WOMS400	Critical Analysis and Feminist 

Research			3

Any approved course focusing on third world 

women		3

Courses presently available:

WOMS544	Contemporary Asian Women 

Writers

WOMS548	Literature of U.S. Women of 

Color

WOMS561	Women of Color in the U.S.

WOMS562	History of African-American 

Women

WOMS564	Women Writers and Colonialism

WOMS565	Women in the Muslim and Arab 

Worlds

AAS 603	Seminar on Asian American 

Women

AIS 420	American Indian Women: A 

Heritage of Equality

ETHS 571	Women, Class, and Race

LARA 410	La Raza Women

WOMS611	Female Sexuality: Social and 

Theoretical Perspectives or

WOMS621	Feminist Thought		3

WOMS698	Work Study in Feminist Projects		3

Electives in Women Studies, or focus-on-

women courses in departments, or disci-

plinary courses to focus on a particular 

theme, issue, or set of skills based upon 

each student's academic interests and 

goals. Approval by a Women Studies 


adviser is mandatory.		21

Total		39

MINOR IN WOMEN STUDIES

 Units

WOMS200	Women: The Basic Questions		3

One of the following		3

WOMS301	Women in Groups

WOMS302	Translating Women's 

Experience

WOMS303	Woman as Creative Agent

WOMS400	Critical Analysis and Feminist 

Research

Any approved course focusing on third world 

women. (For courses presently available, 

see listing under B.A. in Women Studies)		3

WOMS611	Female Sexuality: Social and 

Theoretical Perspectives or

WOMS621	Feminist Thought		3

Electives in Women Studies or focus-on-


women courses		6

Total		18

MASTER OF ARTS IN WOMEN STUDIES

Admission to Program

 In order to be admitted to the program, students must meet all general university requirements. They must also possess at least a minor in women studies, or the equivalent, with background in U.S. women of color, third world women, and theories of sexuality. Students are expected to possess a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester units attempted for the bachelor's degree.

Applicants must provide the Graduate Admissions Committee with the following items: (1) transcripts of all previous course work; (2) a written statement of background, intentions, and goals, including experience in women studies and with women's issues, rationale for pursuing the M.A., and relation of the M.A. in Women Studies to prior academic work and to career objectives; (3) two letters of reference from individuals with direct knowledge of the applicant's scholarly ability. For admission, applications are due April 1.

Written English Proficiency Requirement
Level One:satisfactory performance in final research paper in WOMS 700. Level Two:successful completion of WOMS 894, 895, or 898.

Advancement to Candidacy

The Graduate Approved Program (GAP) is filed after the student has completed a minimum of twelve units, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better, and before completing 27 units of work applicable to the M.A. degree. Once the GAP is approved, the student is advanced to candidacy.

Courses for this discipline are listed in alphabetical sequence (consult Index for page reference).

Units

Core Requirements

WOMS700	Introduction to Graduate Studies		3

WOMS710	Women's Consciousness and Resis-

tance in Cross-Cultural Perspec-

tives I: Non-Western Societies			3

WOMS711	Women's Consciousness and Resis-

tance in Cross-Cultural Perspec-

tives II: Western Societies			3

WOMS712	Lesbians and Women-Identified 

Women: An International 

Perspective			3


WOMS713	Issues in Feminist Theory		3

Total for core		15

One of the following on advisement		3

WOMS750	Issues in Gender, Race, Class, and 

Sexuality

WOMS760	Issues in Women's Literature and 

Culture

WOMS770	Issues in Women and Public 

Policy

One of the following on advisement		3

WOMS894	Creative Work Project

WOMS895	Field Study Project

WOMS898	Master's Thesis

Related Field Units(upon approval of major 
adviser)		9

Minimum total		30