Course Selection Guidebook [pdf] - College of William and Mary

Women’s StudiesCourse Selection Guidebook – Fall 2011The purpose of this field of study is to acquaint students with current scholarship on women,gender, feminist theory and research. Women’s Studies courses are designed to foster open andvigorous inquiry about this scholarship; to challenge perspectives in which women are absent orperipheral; to critically examine cultural assumptions about gender, race, class, ethnicity, andsexual orientation in light of information made available by new theories and research; and toequip students with a thorough knowledge of this field of study as well as to provide them withopportunities to apply that knowledge both in and out of the classroom. Such opportunities mightinclude, for instance, independent research projects, internships, participation in events, programgovernance, or student organizations. In addition, Women’s Studies offers a supportiveenvironment for all who are interested in this field of study and its role on campus.A major in Women’s Studies provides students with a flexible liberal arts education that integratesknowledge across academic disciplines. Courses in Women’s Studies are available in three basicforms: “core” courses offered directly by the program (these are always listed with a “WMST”prefix); cross-listed courses offered jointly by Women’s Studies and another program ordepartment (these course descriptions include a notation about the cross-listing); courses offeredby other departments and affiliated with Women’s Studies due to their content (these are publishedeach semester in a Women’s Studies course flyer available in our office and available on ourwebpage: http://www.wm.edu/as/womensstudies/index.php.When you choose a major or a minor in Women’s Studies, you select courses from all thoseavailable and work closely with an advisor to establish a particular emphasis in an area of interestto you. If you are especially interested in women’s history, for instance, you might design aprogram of study that includes several History courses or perhaps a minor or second major inHistory; you might make similar decisions in areas such as Anthropology, English, Psychology,Sociology and so on. Students generally declare a major at the end of their sophomore year. At thattime, or at any time you have questions about the Program, you should contact the Women’sStudies office to set up an appointment with a Women’s Studies advisor.No more than 10 credits of introductory courses, excluding WMST 205, may count toward themajor.Please note that, with the exception of WMST 205, these courses are not necessarily taught everyyear. We hope to offer them at least every second year.For more information, contact the program at (757) 221-2457.Introductory Courses150W. Freshman Seminar - Fall and Spring (4 credits) Topics vary. Please refer to separate courselisting. Examples of topics include women’s movements past and present, the sociology of love,women and work and women’s literature.151W. Freshman Seminar: Gender in Non-Western Cultures – Fall and Spring (4 credits) (GER4B) An examination of practices and conceptualizations of gender and their social and culturalconsequences in selected non-Western societies. (Crosslisted with SOCL 151W)205. Introduction to Women’s Studies - Spring (4 credits) (GER 4C) A multidisciplinaryexploration of sex and gender differences; race and class-based differences and divisions among78