Women's Studies Graduate Minor
The Women's Studies Interdisciplinary Graduate Minor at Iowa State University is available for masters and doctoral students seeking to integrate interdisciplinary work on women and gender into their programs of study. The graduate minor is designed to provide students with knowledge of theories and methods within a variety of approaches in feminist scholarship. The program seeks to integrate and synthesize knowledge from many disciplines and to offer students opportunities for systematic study of gender and women's experiences and perspectives in all knowledge fields.
Program requirements
a) Official acceptance into any ISU masters or doctoral degree program.
b) Completion of at least 12 credits in Women's Studies core or cross-listed courses including:
-- Three credits of either W S 510 Contemporary Feminist Theories OR W S 620 Advanced Seminar in Feminist Research Methods (taking both courses is strongly recommended)
-- Two to three electives selected from among available core and cross-listed Women's Studies courses.
c) Indication on the student's Program of Study (POS) form that s/he is pursuing the Women's Studies minor. No additional paperwork is necessary. At least one member of the Women's Studies faculty must serve on the student's POS committee. A current list of Women's Studies faculty is available from the Women's Studies Program office.
Courses and seminars in Women's Studies
W S 510 - Contemporary Feminist Theories (3 credit hours)
This course will provide an advanced study of current theoretical developments in women's studies in the U.S. and around the world, and examine the epistemological bases of feminist research. (Dual-listed with W S 401)
W S 525 - Intersections of Race, Class, and Gender (3 credit hours)
Race, ethnicity, class, and gender distinctions and intersections lead to inequitable distributions of power, social well-being, and resources. Explores how inequities are institutionalized and how multiple identities are experienced by women in daily life. (Dual-listed with W S 425)
W S 535 - Women and Development (3 credit hours)
Cross cultural study of development utilizing both case studies and theoretical works. Explores the nature of women's roles in developing countries, and the ways women and their needs have been excluded/included in development approaches, policies and projects. (Dual-listed with W S 435)
W S 550 - Topics in Women's Studies (3 credit hours)
Special and/or experimental topics in a discipline or in a specific area of Women's Studies. (Dual-listed with W S 450).
W S 620 - Advanced Seminar in Feminist Research Methods (3 credit hours)
Focus on feminist interdisciplinary research methods. Analysis of contemporary issues facing feminist scholars. Students conduct original research in their disciplinary areas. (Dual-listed with W S 402)
In addition, students can take 300 and 400-level core and cross-listed Women's Studies courses for nonmajor graduate credit, including the following core courses:
W S 301 - International Perspectives on Women and Gender (3 credit hours)
Study of women and gender in a range of cultures, depending on faculty expertise. Special emphasis on women in development in postcolonial context.
W S 302 Women's Health and Reproduction (3 credit hours)
Current feminist scholarship in the social sciences and humanities on women's health, health care, and reproduction. Intersections of gender, race, class and sexuality are emphasized.
Cross-listed graduate level courses:
W S/Ex Sp 523 - Gender Roles and Sport
Analysis of the influence of sport on female and male sex role development. Surveyof literature related to sport and sex role socialization, stereotyping, and conflict.
W S/Soc 528 - Sociology of Gender
Examination of the social construction of gender and the social organization ofgender inequality. Investigation of the intersection of gender, race, and class.
WS/Anthr 544 - Gender in Cross-cultural Perspective
Cross-cultural examination of the social construction of genders out of the biologicalfact of sex. Emphasis on non-western societies.
W S/ Engl 545 - Women's Literature
Primary texts by women writers; historical, thematic, formal or theoretical approaches; secondary readings; e.g., Nineteenth Century Women Writers; AmericanWomen's Personal Narratives; Southern Women Writers of the U.S.
W S/Hist 586 - Proseminar in Women's History and Feminist Theory
Feminist theory from the 1960s to the present as it relates to the writings of women's history. Analysis of interpretations of U.S. women's history from patriarchal to postmodern perspectives.
W S/Art H 594 - Women in Art
Lives, careers, and achievements of women artists and the related cultural environment from the Middle Ages to contemporary times in Europe and America.Feminist movement beginning in the 1970s and specifically feminist issues in art thatare becoming widespread in the artistic culture.
In addition, every department has a graduate level topics course that can be used to offer cross-listed courses that focus on women and gender. For example:
W S/Engl 611 - Topics in History of Rhetorical Theory: Women's Voices, Women's Power
Women's struggle to gain access to the public platform is examined as the story of women's rise to political power.
