Gender and Women's Studies

Alexandra M. Hill, Ph.D., German, and Vail Fletcher, Ph.D., communication studies, co-directors

The gender and women’s studies minor is a truly interdisciplinary academic experience designed to foster dialogue between the arts, humanities, and social sciences with the ultimate goal of greater understanding surrounding issues of identity and sexuality in their historical, ethical, theological, and socio-cultural contexts. The gender and women’s studies minor incorporates content reflecting both the study of women's experience specifically and the intersection of gender and culture more generally and encompasses all areas of human inquiry: the liberal arts, the social and natural sciences, engineering, nursing, education, law, business, medicine, and ministry.

Learning Outcomes for the Gender and Women’s Studies Minor

Students completing the gender and women’s studies minor should be able to: 

1. Demonstrate knowledge of how different disciplines understand and study gender.
   1. Articulate orally or in writing the lenses through which at least two disciplines understand gender.
   2. Articulate orally or in writing the methods used by at least two disciplines to study gender.
2. Demonstrate an awareness of the intersections between gender and variables such as sex, sexuality, race, class, age, ethnicity, religion, and nationality.
   1. Identify at least two variables that affect or are affected by gender.
   2. Articulate orally or in writing how at least two variables affect or are affected by gender.
3. Demonstrate the ability, using feminist scholarship, to critique ideological assumptions underlying social institutions and systems.
   1. Identify and explain gender-related assumptions underlying social institutions and systems.
   2. Critique orally or in writing societal assumptions underlying gender from a feminist lens. 

Capstone Experience

Students pursing the gender and women’s studies minor will end their study with a one-credit capstone experience. The departmental designation of this course will vary, but the number will always be 492. See each semester's course offerings or the minor’s two-year course schedule to find the upcoming capstone courses.