You are in the official 2005-2006 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Women's Studies Program
The College of Social Sciences
LORETTA KENSINGER, Director
Social Science Building, Room 226
559.278.5721
ELIZABETH SWIFT, Department Administrative Assistant
Social Science Building, Room 211
559.278.2858
Social Science Building, Room 226
559.278.5721
ELIZABETH SWIFT, Department Administrative Assistant
Social Science Building, Room 211
559.278.2858
Women's Studies
Classes in the Women's Studies Program encourage students to
develop critical and analytical thinking skills and the ability
to communicate new ideas to a general public. Women's studies
students frequently say that women's studies classes enhanced
their self-esteem and enabled them to more clearly define their
special skills and talents. Therefore, all fields open to most
social sciences and humanities graduates are open to Women's Studies
Program graduates.
Career Opportunities
A recent survey of graduates from the Women's Studies Program indicates the following fields of employment: health and human services, education, research, law and government, and criminology. Double majors say one major defines the field in which they work; women's studies defines the focus within that field. Postgraduate education in the arts and sciences and in business, law, medicine, social welfare, psychology, and education has provided many women's studies students with satisfying and challenging career opportunities.
Program Faculty
The Women's Studies Program has its own full-time and part-time faculty who come from a variety of disciplines: anthropology, history, sociology, political science, English, and philosophy. In addition to this core faculty, cooperating faculty members teach women's studies courses in their home departments: American studies, anthropology education, art, Chicano and Latin American studies, criminology, drama, education, English, ethnic studies, health sciences, history, philosophy, psychology, recreation, and sociology. Saturday School faculty are most often chosen from the community-at-large on the basis of their particular area of expertise.
Faculty
Loretta Kensinger, Director
Susan Arpad, Emerita
Kathryn Forbes
Ednie Garrison
Lenore Kuo
Janet Slagter
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Women's Studies Major
Major requirements (36 units)
Core: WS 103, 143, 153, 175 (12 units)
Approved electives (24 units)
General Education requirements (51 units)
Electives and remaining degree requirements (33-42 units)*
Total units (120)
_________
*This total indicates that three courses (9 units) in General
Education also may be applied to fulfill WS major requirements.
These courses are WS 12 in G.E. Foundation A3, WS 10 in G.E. Breadth
D3, and WS 18 in G.E. Breadth E1. Consult the program coordinator
or faculty adviser for additional details.
Advising Notes
- The 24 units of electives must be selected from a list of
approved courses available in the Women's Studies Program office.
At least one course must be selected from each of the following
three clusters:
Cluster 1, Gender and Diversity - WS 125, 134, 136T (with adviser approval), 150T (with adviser approval), 151T (with adviser approval); ASAM 138; CLS 162; WS/AAIS 137.
Cluster 2, Women and the Arts and Humanities -WS 136T (with adviser approval), 148, 150T (with adviser approval), 151T (with adviser approval), 165; WS/ENGL 168T; WS/ENGL 194T; WS/HIST 102T; LING 130; PHIL 110.
Cluster 3, Women and the Social, Natural, and Applied Sciences -WS 105,
114, 134, 136T (with adviser approval), 150T (with adviser approval), 151T (with adviser approval), 160; WS/CRIM 126; WS 127/HS 126; WS/HS 130; WS/SOC 132; MGT 189T; SWRK 271T. - No more than 3 units may be selected from the 1-unit Saturday courses: WS 108, 109, 112, 116, and 150T.
- CR/NC grading is not permitted in the women's studies major, except for courses offered only under CR/NC grading.
- General Education and elective units may be used toward a double major or minor (see double major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for further information.
- No General Education Multicultural/International course offered by the Women's Studies Program may be used to satisfy the General Education requirements for majors in the department.
- Majors are urged to fulfill the upper-division writing skills requirement during the first semester of their junior year. See Degree Requirements.
Women's Studies Minor
An interdisciplinary minor in Women Studies is available to
any Fresno State student.
The minor in women's studies requires a minimum of 20 units, including
WS 103, 143, 153, and 175. The other 8 units must be selected
from a list of approved courses. Courses from this list also may
satisfy General Education requirements as appropriate.
Note: The Women's Studies Minor also requires a 2.0
GPA and 6 upper-division units in residence.
Certificate in Alcohol/Drug Studies
The Women's Studies Program participates in a certificate of special study awarded to those students who successfully complete a minimum of 12 units of interdisciplinary academic coursework in the area of alcohol and drug abuse. (For complete details, see Health and Social Work Interdisciplinary Courses in this catalog.)
Victim Services Certificate
The Women's Studies Program participates in a certificate of
special study awarded to those students who successfully complete
a minimum of12 units of interdisciplinary academic coursework
in the area of victim services. (For complete details, see Criminology Department or School
of Education and Human Development.)
COURSES
WS 10. Introduction to Women's Studies (3)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. Interdisciplinary course designed
to introduce students to the major social, cultural, economic,
and political forces which define gender in society. G.E. Breadth
D3.
WS 12. Critical Thinking: Gender Issues (3)
Theory and practice in basic skills of critical thinking using
examples about the intersections of gender with race and class.
Skills will be demonstrated and assessed through oral and written
performance. G.E. Foundation A3.
WS 18. Women
and Aging (3)
(Same as GERON 18.) Interdisciplinary course designed to facilitate
the understanding of older women and the physiological, psychological,
and social aspects of the aging process. G.E. Breadth E1.
WS 50T. Studies
in Literature (4)
(See ENGL 50T section.)
Women in Novels section.
WS 55T. Topics in Women's Studies (1-4;
max total 12)
Topics of current interest in the Women's Movement, covering a
wide variety of issues. (See Class Schedule for specific topics.)
WS 101. Women in History (3)
(See HIST 101.)
WS 102T. Topics
in Women's History
(3; max total 6; repeatable with different topics)
(Same as HIST 102T.) (See Class Schedule for specific
topics.)
WS 103. History of Feminism (3)
Survey of history of feminist thought and action from Middle Ages
to present, with emphasis on nineteenth and twentieth centuries
and major actors and debates.
WS 105. Education and Sex Role Stereotypes
(3)
Designed to meet the needs of parents, teachers, counselors,
administrators. How sex role stereotypes affect the educational
system, pre-K through higher education.
WS 108. Rape (1)
An inquiry into the phenomenon of rape, myths about rape and
rapists, treatment of rape victims, discussion of physical and
psychological preparation for possibility of attack. Lecture,
film, paper, speakers. An all-day workshop held on two consecutive
Saturdays. CR/NC grading only.
WS 109. Incest (1)
An exploration of the victim, the victimizer, and the family
dynamics of incest, as well as the psychological and sociological
implications of the family secret. An all-day workshop held on
two consecutive Saturdays. CR/NC grading only.
WS 110. Representations of Women (3)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. Interdisciplinary
course focusing on representations of women; how representations
vary by class, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation; and how
these representations affect social, political, and economic behaviors
and institutions. G.E. Multicultural/International MI.
WS 112. Assertiveness Training (1)
Women's special needs in becoming assertive; blocks preventing
assertion and methods of getting around them. An all-day workshop
held on two consecutive Saturdays. CR/NC grading
only.
WS 114. Women in Family Contexts (3)
Women in diverse family settings; the gendered division of
labor; domestic violence; female-headed households; power relations
in families; diversity of race, class, and sexual orientation;
and conflicting family ideologies in society.
WS 115. Women, Children, and Alcohol (1)
Covers impact of addiction on women and children using a systems
perspective. (Formerly WS 150T)
WS 116. Domestic Violence (1)
An historical and cultural overview of the battered and battering
spouse syndromes; the marriage contract as a license to abuse;
the status of remedial legislation; and, the effect of parental
battering on children. An all-day workshop held on two consecutive
Saturdays. CR/NC grading only.
WS 118. Women and
Aging (3)
(Same as Gerontology 118.) An exploration into the myths and
realities of the aging process, with a focus on women. Confronts
the issues of aging in order to stimulate constructive change
and positive alternatives for women.
WS 120. Women of Color in the United States
(3)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. Examines
the role and status of U.S. women of color within the larger social
structure. Women in varying family structures and cultural settings
will be examined, with an emphasis on how social systems shape
the roles of women and affect larger U.S. institutions. G.E. Multicultural/International
MI.
WS 125. Introduction to Lesbian/Gay Studies
(3)
Introduction to theory, questions, and topics in interdisciplinary
lesbian and gay studies.
WS 126. Women and
Violence: Public Policy and the Law (3)
(Same as CRIM 126.) Historical and contemporary issues
in public policy responses to violence against women. Gender bias
in the legal system and policing violence against women. Theory
and research on problems in government policy and enforcement
of the law.
WS 127. Female Sexuality (3)
(See HS 126.)
WS 130. Women's Health (3)
(See HS 130.)
WS 132. Women and Work (3)
(See SOC 132.)
WS 134. Health Issues, Women of Color (3)
Examines major health issues as they affect U.S. minority
women: AIDS/HIV, substance abuse, cancer incidence and prevention,
reproductive health, and mental health. Comparisons of white,
Asian, Native American, African American, and Mexican American
women are made. Addresses the role of race, class and gender as
they affect health outcomes for women of color.
WS 135. Women in Other Cultures (3)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. Examines
economic, social, political, and cultural roles as well as current
status of women in one or more of the following: China, Southeast
Asia, South Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Latin America. Prepares
students to function in an international, multicultural world.
G.E. Multicultural/International MI.
WS 136T. Topics in International Women's
Studies (3; max total 9)
Examines how global economic and cultural processes affect women.
Investigates the interconnections between "first" and
"third" worlds through topics such as international
division of labor, work and gender ideologies, and women's organized
resistance to changes in local economics. (Formerly WS 150T)
WS 137. African American Women (3)
(See AAIS 137.)
WS 143. Feminist Theory (3)
Review of major feminist theories of the twentieth century, analysis
of assumptions underlying each, evaluation of strengths and weaknesses
of each, and examination of relationship of various theories to
various women's life experiences.
WS 148. Women and Religion (3)
Seminar to explore many facets of women's religious experience,
including history of women in institutional churches, theologies
of liberation and oppression, women's religious experience, and
feminist spirituality.
WS 150T. Topics in Women's Studies (1-4; max
total 12)
Topics of current interest in the women's movement, covering
a wide variety of issues. (See Class Schedule for specific
topics.)
WS 151T. Topics in Lesbian/Gay Studies
(1-3; max total 6)
Topics in lesbian and gay studies, drawing upon areas such as
history, sociology, literature, psychology, or interdisciplinary
fields.
WS 152. The Chicano Family (3)
(See CLS 152.)
WS 153. Feminist Research Methods (3)
Introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods.
Hands-on practice of designing and conducting a research project
and writing a grant.
WS 160. Feminist Issues in Counseling (3)
Prerequisite: WS 10 or permission of instructor. Evaluates
counseling theories; individual and group counseling techniques;
examines ethical issues and power structure in therapeutic settings;
surveys community resources; and explores innovative and feminist
perspectives concerning the effective treatment of women.
WS 161T. Peer Education (1; max total 4; repeatable
with different topics)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. May be taken up to
four times if no topic repeated. Topics: sexual assault, sexual
harassment, alcohol and drug abuse, or eating disorders. Students
learn curriculum content, develop teaching and group facilitation
skills, and make presentations to campus peer groups. CR/NC
grading only.
WS 162. Community Service in Women's Studies
(1-3; max total 6)
Prerequisite: 9 hours of WS courses and permission of instructor
and sponsoring agency. Individual experience relating student's
classroom studies to experience in a women's community service
agency. CR/NC grading only. (Minimum of 3 field hours per unit.)
WS 163. Consciousness Raising:
Group Leader (1; max total 2)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Students learn skills
in facilitating group discussion of women's issues through training
and practicum. CR/NC grading only.
WS 165. Women and Media (3)
Historical perspectives, contemporary issues, and future alternatives
for women as producers and consumers of media, with particular
emphasis on visual media.
WS 168T. Women and Literature (4)
(See ENGL 168T.)
WS 170. Women: Culture and Biology (3)
(See ANTH 170.)
WS 175. Seminar in Women's Studies (3)
Primarily for women's studies majors and minors. Prerequisite:
15 units in women's studies or permission of instructor. A synthesis
of objective and subjective experience in women's studies. Culminating
experience required.
WS 176T. Genre Film: Form and Function (1-4;
max total 8)
(See ENGL 176T.)
WS 190. Independent Study (1-3; max total
6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent
Study. Approved for RP grading.
WS 194T. Seminar in Women and Literature
(4; max total 8; repeatable with different topics)
(See ENGL 194T.)
Courses
Menu