Gender and Sexuality Studies Course Descriptions
GSS-150 Personal Self Defense Women
Women's Self Defense. See Human Performance department for course description. 1 credit.
Credits: 1.00
GSS-200 Introduction to Queer Studies
This course will provide an overview of queer communities through an interdisciplinary approach including a focus on the intersections of ethnicity, class, culture, sex and gender among gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and other sexual and gender identities. Theoretical, political, historical, and social frameworks will inform the basis of learning how queer communities negotiate identities outside of the hegemonic mainstream concepts of sexuality and gender. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-201 Introduction to Gender & Sexlty Studies
This introductory level course explores the various foundations of feminist theory, including perspectives from across the disciplines. Students review and critique readings from early feminist writers, second generation feminist writers and contemporary feminist and deconstructionist theorists. The course consists of two components: a classroom experience with an emphasis on the breadth of feminist literature and field work in the community. Spring only. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-210 Action Projects in Gndr & Sexlty Studies
This course is designed to promote student individual and collaborative work related to issues in feminism and gender studies. Students may participate in a one-time action project centered around an event, a service learning placement, or a collaborative project that promotes the goals of the minor. Projects may include, but are not limited to, serving at sites approved by the Gender & Sexuality Studies faculty, working on events connected to Women's History Month, carrying out their GSS 201 action projects, and projects designed to promote education in our community. Pass/No Pass. Prerequisite: GSS 201. 1-6 credits.
Credits: 1.00
GSS-217 Gender & Sexuality
An introduction to the theories and methods used by sociologists to study masculinity and femininity, the social and historical construction of sexuality, love, and romance. Discussion includes the sociology of homosexuality, bisexuality, and heterosexuality, as well as issues of HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, prostitution, pornography, sexual harassment and rape in the United States. Prerequisite: GSS 201 and Soc 101 or Soc 102. Must be 18 years of age. Biennially. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-220 Literature and Human Concerns
See the Gender and Sexuality Studies department for the course description. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-255 Special Topics
See department for course description.
Credits: 1.00
GSS-275 Internship
See department for details.
Credits: 1.00
GSS-280 Women in Art
This course is designed to explore the place of women in art. The course investigates both the image of women in art and women as artists. The class investigates how women have been portrayed in the art at different times and in different cultures. The goal of the class is to shine a light on material that has often been overlooked by the traditional art history cannon. No prerequisites - Feminist Theory class desirable. Meets Gender and Sexuality Studies minor requirement. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-300 Special Topics in Gender & Sexuality
This is a special topics course focusing on the specific interests of the faculty and students in the Gender and Sexuality Studies Minor program. Topics addressed in the course will be derived from a variety of disciplinary standpoints, and may involve interdisciplinary collaboration. Some examples of topics that may be offered through this course are: "The Development of Gender," "Women and Film," and "Feminist Epistemology" to name a few. Prerequisites: GSS 201. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-303 Advanced Feminist Theory
This course will provide a detailed examination of the academic discourse known as feminist theory. Utilizing a broad feminist theory framework, including Marxist, poststructuralist, and psychoanalytic perspectives, this course will address a number of social concerns. First, we will address how the concept of gender is socially-constructed through institutional power arrangements, popular culture representations, and everyday social dynamics. Second, we will examine to what extent advanced feminist theory departs from first and second wave feminism. Third, this course will address how feminist theory helps us understand more about the construction of ethnic and sexual identities. Finally, with a special emphasis upon the concept of power, this course will illustrate how feminist theory enables a more broad and inclusive discussion of politics in contemporary society. Prerequisite: GSS 201. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-309 Families
The primary emphasis is on the relationship between the familial institution and the society in which it is being studied. Attention is given to trans-historical and cross-cultural data and how social change impacts the institution. Additional areas of investigation include definitions of the family, socialization, cohabitation, courtship, marriage, divorce, gender and sex roles, sexuality, socio-economic forces, family violence, alternative forms, and the future of the family. Prerequisite: SOC 101 or 102. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-310 Travel in India: Gender Society Service
Travel in India: Gender, Culture and Service is a Winter III course sponsored by the Center for Gender Equity. It consists of two and a half weeks travel in southern India during the month of January. The bulk of the course is conducted at Lady Doak College, a small liberal arts women's college in Madurai, India in Tamilnadu. The course consists of lecture and discussion by Lady Doak faculty, service-learning, discussion with local service agencies, field work on a topic of the student's choice, and travel to sites of cultural and historic importance. The participant is required to register for HUM 210 the fall semester prior to the travel portion of the class. Meets comparative cultural core requirement. Prerequisite: HUM 210. 3 hours.
Credits: 3.00
GSS-321 Women's Writing in Francophone World
Survey of women's writing in the Francophone world throughout the 20th Century. Special focus on the novel and the development of alternate prose forms. Authors from France, Switzerland, Belgium, Quebec, the French Caribbean, Senegal, and Algeria may be included. Taught in French. Meets Humanities core requirement or comparative cultural core requirement. Prerequisite: FREN 202 or equivalent proficiency. Offered intermittently. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-345 Gender & Sexuality in Victorian America
This course treats the development and spread of Victorian culture in the United States during the nineteenth century, particularly as it defined ideas about gender and sexuality. Focus is on the creation of "women's sphere" and ways in which women accommodated themselves to domesticity, rebelled against it, or used it themselves to discipline their husbands and sons. Prerequisites: GSS 201 and Hist 141 or 142 or Junior Standing. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-355 Special Topics
See department for course description. Prerequisite: all 300 and 400 level courses when taken for Gender & Sexuality Studies credit need GSS 201.
Credits: 1.00
GSS-395 Independent Study
See department for details.
Credits: 1.00
GSS-400 Medieval Women
This course is a seminar on the attitude towards, roles, work, and responsibilities of women in the period from the first century to the fifteenth century. Women in their roles as nuns, witches, prostitutes, brewers, mothers, queens, and consorts are discussed. The course is thematic as well as chronological, and investigates anthropological, feminist, and political theories and paradigms associated with the study of women generally. Assigned reading consists of primary sources, secondary monographs, and journals. Prerequisite: Junior standing or above. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-421 Women's Writing in Francophone World
Survey of women's writing in the Francophone world throughout the 20th Century. Special focus on the novel and the development of alternate prose forms. Authors from France, Switzerland, Belgium, Quebec, the French Caribbean, Senegal, and Algeria may be included. Students taking the course at the 400-level will need to complete more elaborate assignments in French that require more expertise in French. Taught in French. Meets Humanities core requirement or comparative cultural core requirement. Prerequisite: Two 300-level FREN courses or 12 upper-division credits earned overseas in a French-speaking country. Offered intermittently. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-425 Studies/20th Cent Lit
Intensive studies in major writers of the period. Prerequisite: GSS 201, two literature courses, and Junior standing. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-430 Major Writers
A detailed study of the works of selected writers: for example, Chaucer, Milton, Dickens, Blake, Yeats, Thoreau, Woolf. Prerequisites: GSS 201, two literature courses and Junior standing. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Offered intermittently. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
GSS-450 Gender & Sexuality Studies Capstone
Gender & Sexuality Studies 450 is designed to allow students an opportunity to complete the capstone project required for the minor. The project will be developed in consultation with one of the GSS faculty members. Prerequisite: GSS 201, two GSS electives, Junior standing. Fall only. 2 credits.
Credits: 2.00
GSS-451 Gender & Sexuallity Studies Mentoring
In this seminar course, students read and analyze advanced works in Gender & Sexuality Studies and review the material they have encountered in their electives and GSS 201 in light of advanced theory. It also gives the students the opportunity to fulfill the mentoring requirement of the Gender & Sexuality Studies minor. GSS 451 students will meet with GSS 201 students from time to time. During this semester the students present the findings of the project they completed in GSS 450 to the Pacific Community in a public forum during the Women's History Month. Prerequisites: GSS 201 and GSS 450, two GSS electives and Junior standing. Spring only. 2 credits.
Credits: 2.00
GSS-455 Special Topics
See department for the course description.
Credits: 1.00
GSS-475 Internship
See department for details.
Credits: 1.00