The Gender Studies minor offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the lives of women and men, especially on the nature of social and cultural constructs that give meaning to the biological difference of sex. The fact that persons are male and female takes on a complex of meanings that can be explored through the study of literature and the arts, religion, history, society and social institutions, the professions, human psychology and development, and life sciences.

This program, by including courses that study women in culture, society, and history, and that include the best of a growing body of feminist theory and research, also intends to help correct a tradition of scholarship and teaching that has ignored the contributions and concerns of women. Overall, the program will give both men and women a better sense of identity and possibility, and will foster greater understanding of the complex ways in which we, for good and for ill, are influenced by culture and society.

Requirements for Minor

A minimum of 15 credit hours constitutes a minor. The course, Introduction to Gender Studies, is required as is at least one course from the Social and Life Sciences group and one course from the Humanities and Fine Arts group. The remaining six credits may be taken from the following courses or other courses approved by the administrative committee supervising the minor.

Core Requirement

• GNST 201 Introduction to Gender Studies 3 Cr.
• Social and Life Sciences (must take at least one of the following)
• ECON 233 Economics of Race and Gender 3 Cr.
• PSY 390 Topics: Psychology of Women 3 Cr.
• SOCW 390 Women: Social Support and Developmental States 3 Cr.
• SOC 220 The Family 3 Cr.
• NUR 322 Women and Their Health 3 Cr.

Humanities and Fine Arts (must take at least one of the following)

• ART 311 Art History and Feminism 3 Cr.
• ART 318 Nineteenth Century European Art 3 Cr.
• ENGL 390 Women's Writing/Women's Lives 3 Cr.
• HIST 316 The Great Witchcraft Delusion 3 Cr.
• THEO 317 The New Testament in Its Cultural Environment 3 Cr.
• THEO 326 History of Women in the Church 3 Cr.
• THEO 343 Theology of Marriage and Sexuality 3 Cr.
• CC 300 Love and Friendship 3 Cr.
• CC 300 Inventing the Body 3 Cr.

Electives - 6 credits

Gender Studies Administrative Committee

Chair: Dr. Nandini Bhattacharya
Associate Professor of English
Huegli 304, Tel: 219.464.6744