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: History, Sociology and Anthropology, Geography, Religious Studies, Philosophy, English, Classics, Psychology, Political Science, Canadian Studies and Modern Languages and Literatures. 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.

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

from Women's Studies 2001, 3001, 3021, 4001

from Canadian Studies 3301, 3311, 4250/4251* Classics/History 2051, Classics 4950/4951*, English 3651, 3661, 4901*, Geography 4811, 4950*, History 3531, 4571, 4950/4951*, French 3821, German 4950/4951*, International Relations 3001, Spanish 4950/4951*, 4880/4951*, Philosophy 4950/4951*, Political Science 3131, 4950*, Psychology 2501, 4401*, 4501*, Religious Studies 3900,4841, 4950/4951* Sociology 3211,4031, Sociology 4911* Anthropology 4911*

Note: Asterisked courses are Special or Advanced Topics courses and are acceptable for credit when a significant Women's Studies component can be demonstrated.

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 or Programme Coordinator must be obtained.

WOMEN'S STUDIES COURSES

WOST 2001 (3CR)
INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S STUDIES
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.
Prereq: Completion of 30 credits or permission of the instructor.

WOST 3001 (3CR)
FEMINIST THEORIES
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.
Prereq: WOST 2001 or permission of the instructor.

WOST 3021 (3CR)
FEMINIST EPISTEMOLOGY AND METHODOLOGY
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.
Prereq: WOST 2001, 3001 or permission of the instructor.

WOST 4001 (3CR)
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN FEMINISM
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.
Prereq: WOST 2001, 3001, 3021 or permission of the instructor.