You are in the official 2007-2008 General Catalog for California State University, Fresno.
Women's Studies Program
The College of Social Sciences
LORETTA KENSINGER, Director
McKee Fisk Building, Room 244
559.278.5721
To be announced, Department Administrative Assistant
McKee Fisk Building, Room 244
559.278.2858
Certificate in Alcohol/Drug Studies
Women's Studies
Women's Studies is an approach that places women in the center of inquiry.
The primary mission of Women's Studies is to analyze gender. Students acquire
both a local and global perspective on gender. Attentiveness to diversity,
privilege and power, and women's unique creative contributions to human
experience are central aspects of this training. More than simply a body
of knowledge, Women's Studies encourages students to apply their learning
to transform their lives and their communities. Women's Studies offers a
vital perspective everywhere gender impacts our world.
Career Opportunities
Women's Studies is open to all who want to know more about the impact of gender on their lives and the world. Students find the field valuable to a variety of educational and career goals. Many Women's Studies students report their classes enhanced their self-esteem and confidence. Nationally, Women's Studies students have established successful careers in a variety of fields from diversity studies to law, K-12 to graduate studies, biology to nursing, the creative arts to telecommunications, criminology to victim services, business and management to social change organizing, history to philosophy, and health to social services.
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
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 120, 125, 136T (with adviser approval), 150T (with adviser approval), 151T (with adviser approval); ASAM 138; CLAS 162; WS/AAIS 137.
Cluster 2, Women and the Arts and Humanities -WS 110, 136T (with adviser approval), 148, 150T (with adviser approval), 151T (with adviser approval); WS/ENGL 168T; WS/ENGL 194T; WS/HIST 102T; LING 130; PHIL 110.
Cluster 3, Women and the Social, Natural, and Applied Sciences -WS 114, 135, 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.
Double Major in Women's Studies
Many students choose Women's Studies as a second major to complement their first, or primary, major. Double majors say their first major defines the field in which they work. Women's Studies gives them a special focus within that field. Women's Studies requirements are designed to make a dual major possible. All majors take the four core courses. Since in a dual major some courses may double count toward their degree, students pursuing Women's Studies as a double major should speak to an adviser in the Women's Studies program as soon as possible.
Women's Studies Minor
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.) G.E. Integration
ID.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 135. Women in Cross-Cultural Perspective (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.
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 CLAS 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 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
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