Women's Studies

Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program with a critical focus on social, cultural, economic, and political issues from the perspective of gender. Drawing on a substantial body of scholarship that challenges many of the assumptions and methods of traditional academic disciplines, Women's Studies creates new perspectives from which all students may analyze such issues as work, health, sexuality, violence, family, race, class and ethnicity. The curriculum of the Minor in Women's Studies includes core courses in Women's Studies and elective courses in the following departments or programs: Anthropology, Canadian Studies, Classics, Drama, English, Fine Arts, Geography and Environment, History, International Relations, Modern Languages and Literatures, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies and Sociology. The core courses provide an introduction to the principles of Women's Studies as well as a more advanced study of the theoretical and methodological approaches of feminism.

Interdisciplinary B.A. Programs

MINOR in Women's Studies is 24 credits earned as follows:

12	from WOST 2001, 3001, 3021, 4001
12	from CANA 3301, CLAS/HIST 2051, ENGL 3651, 3661, 4921, FINA 3081, GENV 4811, HIST 1671, 3251, 3471, 3531, 4461, 4571, FREN 3821, 3851 INLR 3001, MUSC 2221, POLS 3031, 4001, PSYC 2501 or 3511, RELG 3411, 3811, 4841, SOCI 2211, 4031

	or from the following courses in any year when the Program Co-ordinator approves that their content contains a significant Women's Studies component: ANTH 2231, 2401, 3101, 3531, 3871, 4421, 4621, ENGL 3561, GENV 4811, HIST 3361, RELG 4821

Note: Other courses from the following disciplines may also be approved by the Program Co-ordinator when a significant Women's Studies component can be demonstrated: Anthropology, Art History, Canadian Studies, Classics, English, French, German, Geography and Environment, Greek Drama, History, International Relations, Latin, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Spanish, and Sociology.

Students interested in using courses from other disciplines towards this Minor must receive approval in writing from the Program Co-ordinator during the term in which they are taking the course.

WOMEN'S STUDIES COURSES

Note: The listing of a course in the Calendar is not a guarantee that the course is offered every year.

Note: Students must obtain a grade of at least C- in all courses used to fulfill prerequisite requirements. Otherwise, written permission of the appropriate Department Head or Program Co-ordinator must be obtained.

WOST 2001 (3CR)
INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S STUDIES
Format: lecture/discussion 3 hours
Prereq: Completion of 30 credits or permission of the instructor
This course provides an introduction to Women's Studies, a discipline which documents and analyzes the experience and contributions of women from a global and historical perspective. Students will be introduced to the core principles of the discipline of women's studies. In addition, the course will examine key issues of research and analysis in women's studies, including: social construction of sex and gender, patriarchy and the origins of female subordination, and women's activism and social change initiatives.

WOST 3001 (3CR)
FEMINIST THEORIES
Format: lecture 3 hours
Prereq: WOST 2001; or permission of the instructor
This course provides a comparative and critical analysis of various feminist theories developed as explanatory frameworks for the understanding of the gender divisions within society. The course will review major feminist critiques of conventional approaches, and will offer an introduction to feminist thought. Theories examined include uniquely feminist theories such as radical feminism and cultural feminism, as well as feminist modifications of traditional social and political theories. Attention is given to perspectives which emerge from the diversity of women's lives.

WOST 3021 (3CR)
FEMINIST EPISTEMOLOGY AND METHODOLOGY
Format: lecture 3 hours
Prereq: WOST 2001, 3001; or permission of the instructor
This course examines feminist critiques and strategies relating to the construction of knowledge and research methodologies, with particular attention to both historical and contemporary debates on significant research issues. Students will be introduced to the methods, techniques, and ethics involved in feminist research and analysis. The emphasis is both theoretical and practical: students will therefore engage in the process of assessing and performing feminist research.

WOST 4001 (3CR)
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN FEMINISM
Format: lecture 3 hours
Prereq: WOST 2001, 3001, 3021; or permission of the instructor
This course provides an opportunity for students to study in considerable depth and detail selected contemporary issues of feminism in a global context. The course may focus on issues such as the politics of difference, theory and praxis debates, anti-feminist backlash, women and social change, masculinities, and feminist explorations of the body.

WOST 4950/4951 (6/3CR)
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN WOMEN'S STUDIES
Format: Independent Study
Prereq: Permission of the Department/Program Advisor. Students must obtain consent of an instructor who is willing to be a supervisor and must register for the course prior to the last day for change of registration in the term during which the course is being taken.
Note: A program on Independent Study cannot duplicate subject matter covered through regular course offerings.
Note: Students may register for WOST 4950/51 more than once, provided the subject matter differs.
This course permits senior students, under the direction faculty members, to pursue their interest in areas not covered, or not covered in depth, by other courses through a program of independent study.

WOST 1991/2991/3991/4991 (3CR)
SPECIAL TOPIC IN WOMEN'S STUDIES
Format: Variable
Prereq: Set by the Department/Program when the topic and level are announced
Note: When a Department or Program intends to offer a course under this designation, it must submit course information, normally at least three months in advance, to the Dean.
Note: Students may register for WOST 1991/2991/3991/4991 more than once, provided the subject matter differs.
This course either focuses on topics not covered by the current course offerings in a department or program or offers the opportunity to pilot a course that is being considered for inclusion in the regular program.