Women's and Gender Studies

The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum that focuses on the diverse experiences of woman and the structures of power in both national and international contexts. The department also examines the meaning of gender as a socially constructed category that shapes personal identities, beliefs, opportunities, and behaviors. Courses explore the intersections of gender, race, class, and sexuality; the institutional structures that have an impact on women's and men's lives; and the broad range of feminist theory that seeks to explain and influence women's status in society.

The department is administered by a committee of faculty members appointed by the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The department is interdisciplinary, and courses are taught in many areas of study: anthropology, architecture, arts and administration, education, English, ethnic studies, history, international studies, journalism, literature, philosophy, public policy and management, political science, psychology, and sociology, among others.

Any student may take women’s and gender studies courses. Some students take a few courses to complement the curriculum in another major. Others choose to fulfill the requirements for a major in women’s and gender studies or a minor in women’s and gender studies or in queer studies.

Most women’s and gender studies courses satisfy group and multicultural requirements. For courses approved to fulfill these requirements, see the current list on the registrar’s website.

Preparation. No specific high school preparation is necessary. Students who transfer to the university from other colleges may apply as many as 8 credits of women’s and gender studies courses to the major or to the minors.

Careers. An understanding of gender and of women’s experiences, abilities, and needs is an asset to careers in such fields as education, social service, government, business, law, medicine, the ministry, journalism, counseling, and child care. In addition, a background in women’s and gender studies can be used as a basis for entering a growing number of graduate programs that emphasize the study of women or gender.

Major Requirements

The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies offers an undergraduate major leading to a bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) degree. Students may major in women’s and gender studies alone or as one of two or more majors. Majors must construct their programs in consultation with women’s and gender studies advisors.

Courses used to satisfy major requirements must be taken for letter grades except for Thesis (WGS 403), Reading and Conference (WGS 405), Practicum (WGS 409), and Feminist Pedagogy (WGS 413); no more than 12 credits taken pass/no pass in these courses may be counted toward the major. At least 32 credits must be in upper-division courses.

At least 24 upper-division credits must be taken at the University of Oregon. Women’s and gender studies majors must attain a grade point average of 2.50 or higher in courses applied to the major; graded courses in the major must be completed with grades of C– or higher.

Honors in Women’s and Gender Studies

To graduate with honors in women’s and gender studies, a student must (1) have an overall grade point average for UO and transfer credits of at least 3.50 through the winter term prior to graduation; (2) gain approval for a research proposal from the department head during fall term of the academic year in which the thesis is completed; (3) successfully complete Reading and Conference (WGS 405) for thesis research during the academic year in which it is completed; and (4) register for a minimum of 4 credits in Thesis (WGS 403). The thesis must be completed and approved by the advisor and a second reader, chosen from the WGS faculty by the student, by Monday of the fifth week of the term in which the student intends to graduate with honors. The student’s performance on the thesis and on courses taken during the senior year will be reviewed before the honors distinction is granted. Obtain complete instructions and required forms from the women’s and gender studies office.

Women’s and Gender Studies Minor Requirements

The minor in women’s and gender studies requires 24 credits including at least 12 credits in WGS courses. The remaining 12 credits may be in either women’s and gender studies or approved upper-division courses. Women, Difference, and Power (WGS 101) is required, and candidates for the minor are strongly urged to take History and Development of Feminist Theory (WGS 315). No more than 6 credits in Reading and Conference (WGS 405) and Practicum (WGS 409) may be counted toward the minor. No more than 8 credits may be taken pass/no pass; no more than 8 credits may count toward both the minor and the student's major. Graded courses in the minor must be completed with grades of C– or higher. At least 16 credits applied to the women’s and gender studies minor must be taken at the University of Oregon.

Students must apply for the minor in the women’s and gender studies office well in advance of graduation for transcript evaluation. In order to be eligible for the minor, students must complete all degree requirements and a major in another academic department.

Queer Studies Minor Requirements

The queer studies minor requires 24 credits. Four of these credits must be earned in Introduction to Queer Studies (WGS 201) and another 4 credits must be earned in an upper- or lower-division WGS course that focuses on queer studies. The remaining 16 credits may be earned in courses taught in either the women’s and gender studies department or another department. A minimum of 16 of these 20 credits must be earned in upper-division courses. Students wishing to minor in queer studies should consult frequently with a women’s and gender studies advisor to determine which courses offered during any given academic year will count toward the fulfillment of these 20 credits. A minimum of 16 of the 24 total credits for the minor must be earned at the University of Oregon. The other 8 may be earned through successful completion of preapproved courses from another university or approved overseas program. A minimum of 16 of the 24 credits must be graded. Students must complete all 24 credits with a grade of P or C– or better.

Students must apply for the queer studies minor in the women’s and gender studies office well in advance of graduation for transcript evaluation. In order to be eligible for the minor, students must complete all degree requirements and a major in women’s and gender studies or another academic department.

The graduate certificate in women’s and gender studies requires 24 credits in courses approved by the Women’s and Gender Studies Committee. At least 12 of these credits must be in core courses in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies. No more than 4 credits in Reading and Conference (WGS 605) and Practicum (WGS 609) can be applied to the certificate. At least 8 credits must be taken in approved graduate courses offered in other departments. No more than 8 credits may be taken pass/no pass without specific approval. Students who have not taken Women, Difference, and Power (WGS 101) or its equivalent must enroll in either Practicum (WGS 609) to facilitate a discussion group for WGS 101 or in a feminist pedagogy alternative.

A student who is unconditionally admitted to the Graduate School may earn a women’s and gender studies certificate as an unclassified graduate student, as a complement to an individually designed interdisciplinary master’s degree with a focus on women’s and gender studies, or as an enhancement to a degree in another discipline. For more information, see the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Applicants should arrange an appointment with the department head.

101 Women, Difference, and Power (4) Interdisciplinary examination of the diverse experiences, status, and contributions of women in the United States. Topics include social construction of gender, race, sexualities, work, class, violence, and health.

198 Colloquium: [Topic] (1–2R)

199 Special Studies: [Topic] (1–5R)

201 Introduction to Queer Studies (4) Introduction to the study of sexuality and society from a queer studies interdisciplinary perspective. Raiskin.

303 Women and Gender in American History (4) Focuses on women and gender in the U.S., highlighting how diverse women have experienced gender roles and sexism since the 17th century. Not offered 2012–13. 

315 History and Development of Feminist Theory (4) Feminist theory from the Enlightenment through the Second Wave, with special emphasis on the diverse theories of the 1960s to the present. Prereq: WGS 101.

321 Feminist Perspectives: Identity, Race, Culture (4) Examines intersections of race and ethnicity, class, sexuality, and gender in the history and lives of United States women of color. Explores definitions of community, culture, and identity. Prereq: one WGS course or ES 101 or 102. Fujiwara.

331 Science, Technology, and Gender (4) Topics include the role of gender in the practice of science and the impact of sexism and racism on the development of science and technology. Prereq: WGS 101 or equivalent.

341 Women, Work, and Class (4) Explores contexts and cultural attitudes shaping the women’s market and domestic labor including race, sexuality, age, and class as well as occupational segregation and control. Fujiwara.

352 Women’s Literature, Art, and Society (4) Interdisciplinary examination of women’s literary, artistic, and intellectual contributions to women’s culture and to dominant cultures. Focuses primarily on 19th and 20th centuries. Raiskin.

399 Special Studies: [Topic] (1–5R)

401 Research: [Topic] (1–16R)

403 Thesis (1–12R) R with department head’s and thesis advisor’s consent for maximum of 12 credits.

405 Reading and Conference: [Topic] (1–5R)

406 Field Studies: [Topic] (1–12R) R with department head’s consent for maximum of 12 credits.

407/507 Seminar: [Topic] (1–5R) A current topic is Feminist Research Issues. R when topic changes. Fujiwara, Reis.

408/508 Workshop: [Topic] (1–16R)

409 Practicum: [Topic] (1–5R)

410/510 Experimental Course: [Topic] (1–4R)

411/511 Feminist Praxis (4) Combined internship and seminar explores the history and politics of community agencies and the relationship of feminist theory to practice. Prereq: any WGS or other approved course. Fujiwara, Raiskin.

413/513 Feminist Pedagogy (1) Surveys strategies for facilitating discussions in women’s and gender studies classes and the special problems of teaching about gender, race, and sexuality. Prereq: one WGS course or equivalent.

415/515 Advanced Feminist Theory: [Topic] (4R) Topics address contemporary issues including queer theory, sexualities and genders, feminism and race, and global feminist theory. Prereq: one upper-division WGS course. R twice for a maximum of 12 credits.

422/522 Sexuality Studies: [Topic] (4R) Various topics in sexuality studies, including the relationship between gender and sexuality and between queer studies and women’s and gender studies. R twice when topic changes for maximum of 12 credits. Prereq: WGS 101 or 201.

431/531 Global Feminisms (4) Surveys political, economic, and cultural strategies of women around the world with attention to feminist theory outside the United States. Prereq: WGS 101.

601 Research: [Topic] (1–16R)

602 Supervised College Teaching (1–16R)

605 Reading and Conference: [Topic] (1–5R)

607 Seminar: [Topic] (1–5R)

608 Workshop: [Topic] (1–16R)

609 Practicum: [Topic] (1–5R)

610 Experimental Course: [Topic] (1–4R)

Approved Courses in Other Departments

See descriptions under named departments. Other courses may qualify; inquire at the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies office.

Anthropology. Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective (ANTH 314), Gender, Folklore, Inequality (ANTH 315), Anthropology of Gender (ANTH 421/521), Feminism and Ethnography (ANTH 439/539)

Classics. Gender and Sexuality in Antiquity (CLAS 314)

East Asian Languages and Literatures: Chinese. Gender and Sexuality in Traditional Chinese Literature (CHN 350)

English. Women Writers’ Cultures (ENG 315), Women Writers’ Forms (ENG 316), Film Directors and Genres: Women and Melodrama, Women Filmmakers (ENG 490/590), Feminist Film Criticism (ENG 496/596), Studies in Women and Literature (ENG 498/598)

Ethnic Studies. Women of Color: Issues and Concerns (ES 330)

History. History of Women in the United States I,II (HIST 308, 309), Early Modern Women (HIST 310)

International Studies. Gender and International Development (INTL 421/521)

Journalism and Communication. Women, Minorities, and Media (J 320)

Political Science. Women and Politics (PS 348)

Sociology. Sociology of Women (SOC 355), Issues in Sociology of Gender (SOC 455/555), Feminist Theory (SOC 456/556), Sex and Society (SOC 457/557)