You are in the official 1998-99 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
You are in the official 1998-99 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Women's Studies classes 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 graduates.
Students with a strong academic background in information about women find a growing number of career opportunities such as women's service agencies: displaced homemaker centers, rape counseling service, battered women's shelters. Students majoring in fields like gerontology, mass communications, nursing, recreation, criminology, economics, health sciences and social work, say that their major defines the field in which they will work; women's studies defines their special interest within that field. Postgraduate education in business, law, medicine, social welfare, psychology, and education has provided many women's studies students with satisfying and challenging career opportunities.
Women's studies has its own full-time and part-time faculty, who come from a variety of disciplines: history, humanities, economics, sociology, and psychology. In addition to this core faculty, many individuals teach women's studies courses in their home departments: anthropology, 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.
Major requirements (36 units)
Core: W S 103, 143, 153, 175 (12 units)
Upper-division electives (24 units)
General Education (51 units)
Electives and remaining degree requirements* (28-37 units)
Total requirements (124 units)
_________
* This figure takes into consideration the fact that a General Education CORE Critical Thinking course (W S 12) and a maximum of two breadth courses may be applied to satisfy the women's studies major requirements (see General Education). Consult the women's studies program coordinator or faculty adviser for additional details.
Minor Requirements
An interdisciplinary minor is available to any Fresno State student. Each
student's minor program is individually planned by the student in consultation
with the women's studies program coordinator.
The Minor in Women's Studies requires a minimum of 20 units, including W
S 10 and W S 175. At least 6 units must be upper division. The other 14
units shall be selected from at least two different disciplines. In addition
to the courses listed as regular offerings, electives may be chosen from
special topics courses on women offered periodically by certain departments.
Certificate of Alcohol/Drug Studies
The Women's Studies Program is participating 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 is participating 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 abuse.
(For complete details, see Criminology Department
or School of Education and Human Development.)
10. Introduction to Women's Studies (3)
Introductory interdisciplinary course designed to provide a foundation for
Women's Studies; focus on women in the areas of sociology, psychology, history,
economics, politics, and the arts. General Education BREADTH, Division 9.
12. Critical Thinking: Gender Issues (3)
An introductory course for students who may not have had any formal coursework
in either critical thinking or women's studies. Designed to teach critical
thinking and communication skills, using topics of sex and gender as subject
matter. General Education Core, Critical Thinking.
50T. Studies in Literature (4)
(See Engl 50T section.) Women
in Novels section.
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 Schedule of Courses for specific topics.)
101. Women in History (3)
(See Hist 101.) General Education
BREADTH, Division 9.
102T. Topics in Women's History
(3; max total 6; repeatable with different topics)
(Same as Hist 102T.) Prerequisite: W S 101 or permission of instructor.
(See Schedule of Courses for specific topics.)
103. History of Feminism (3)
Survey of history of feminist thought and action from Middle Ages to present,
with emphasis on nineteenth and twentieth circumstances and major actors
and debates.
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.
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.
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.
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.
114. Women in Family Contexts (3)
Prerequisite: W S 10 or W S 131 or permission of instructor. 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.
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.
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.
120. Women of Color in the United States (3)
The situation of racial ethnic women is examined and analyzed. Topics
include: family, work, history, health, and literature, as well as the place
of women of color in the Women's Movement and the development of distinct
feminism(s) in racial ethnic communities.
125. Introduction to Lesbian/Gay Studies (3)
Introduction to theory, questions, and topics in interdisciplinary lesbian
and gay studies.
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.
127. Female Sexuality (3)
(See H S 126.)
130. Women's Health (3)
(See H S 130.)
131. Sociology of Sex Roles (3)
(See Soc 131.) General Education
BREADTH, Division 9.
132. Women and Work (3)
(See Soc 132.)
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. (Formerly W S
150T section)
135. Women in Other Cultures (3)
Examines the religious, economic, and social roles of women in the world,
including their current status in at least one of the following areas: China,
Southeast Asia, India, Africa, Middle East, Latin America. General Education
BREADTH, Division 9.
137. African American Women (3)
(See Af Am 137.) General Education
CAPSTONE Cluster course.
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.
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.
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 Schedule of Courses for specific topics.)
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.
152. The Chicano Family (3)
(See CLS 152.) General Education
CAPSTONE Cluster course.
153. Feminist Research Methods (3)
Introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods. Hands-on
practice of designing and conducting a research project and grant writing.
160. Feminist Issues in Counseling (3)
Prerequisite: W S 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.
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.
162. Community Service (1-3; max total 6; repeatable with different topics)
Prerequisite: 9 hours of W S courses and permission of instructor and
sponsoring agency. Individually planned experience which relates student's
classroom studies to practical experience in a women's community service
agency. CR/NC grading only. (Minimum of 3 field hours per
unit.)
163. Consciousness Raising: Group Leader (1; max total 2)
Prerequisite: W S 10 and permission of instructor. Students learn skills
in facilitating group discussion and review content of W S 10 course; students
lead a consciousness raising discussion group of students currently taking
W S 10. CR/NC grading only. (2 lab hours)
165. Women and the Media (3)
Historical perspectives, contemporary issues, and future alternatives
for women as mass media professionals and for consumers of sexist media
messages.
168T. Women and Literature (4)
(See Engl 168T.)
170. Women: Culture and Biology (3)
(See Anth 170.) General Education
CAPSTONE Cluster course.
172. Psychology of Women (3)
(See Psych 172.)
175. Seminar in Women's Studies (3)
Primarily for women's studies minors. Prerequisite: 15 units in women's
studies (including W S 10). A synthesis of objective and subjective experience
in women's studies. In-depth research project required.
176T. Genre Film: Form and Function (1-4; max total 8)
(See Engl 176T.)
190. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent
Study. Approved for SP grading.
194T. Seminar in Women and Literature
(4; max total 8; repeatable with different topics)
(See Engl 194T.)
195. Diversity in the United States: Race and Gender Issues (3)
(See CLS 195.)
