Women's Studies

• Faculty
• Description
• Minor Requirements
• Program Policies
• Course Descriptions

Faculty

Jamey Piland, Associate Professor of Communication (Program Chair)
Faculty members from various disciplines contribute to the program.

Description

Trinity offers an interdisciplinary minor in women's studies designed to support the academic life and scholarship of both students and faculty as they investigate and research the status of women in every field of academic inquiry.

The discipline of women's studies was founded upon the integration of intellectual inquiry and social practice. Students in the program are strongly urged to combine feminist theory with practical applications of their scholarship. The Women's Studies Program strives for a broad and complex understanding of the female experience in a global context.

Trinity has been committed to the advancement of women since its founding. The university's general education curriculum expresses this commitment and emphasizes the value of an interdisciplinary, collaborative education. Using cross-cultural and multi-racial perspectives, the Women's Studies Program explores women's lives, labor, and arts; it examines the politics of gender, and it studies the history of gender roles as well as representations of those roles in different media. Focusing on the interaction of class, race, gender, and sexuality, it analyzes the relations of power in various cultures, and it provides students with a basic structure of ideas, a framework for analyzing the fundamental shift in understanding arising from a systematic retrieval of history and from women's changing awareness; the program also investigates strategies for social change.

The program offers a minor in women's studies to students in the College of Arts and Sciences and supports all of Trinity's undergraduate majors as well as individualized and interdisciplinary majors. Courses that meet general education requirements may also count toward the minor. The introductory course should be taken in the spring of the student's second year or the fall of the third year.

The Women's Studies curriculum offers students skills such as critical thinking, writing, research, and social activism. Students will find these skills are necessary for a wide range of academic disciplines. A minor in Women's Studies prepares students for careers in many fields, including research, policy, government and nonprofit agencies, publishing, international affairs, education, and advocacy.

Minor Requirements

Required Courses (6 credits)

BOTH of the following courses:

WST 240 Introduction to Women's Studies WST 240 Introduction to Women's Studies

Provides a basic structure of ideas for examining questions of gender differences in history, culture, and contemporary society. Students learn central concepts and research methods in women's studies and use them to examine such topics as family, religion, work, gender, sexuality, and social change.

3 credits 

WST 440 Senior Seminar in Women's Studies WST 440 Senior Seminar in Women's Studies

Creates a synthesis of the student's studies in the field and deepens skills in women's studies research, critically presenting, analyzing, and assessing concepts, methods, and data. The topics reflect the most current research in the field. Students take a central role in conducting the seminar, and each one is responsible for an independent research project.

3 credits

Prerequisite: WST 240  

Elective Courses (12 credits)

TWO courses chosen from among:

WST 250 Women in Popular Culture WST 250 Women in Popular Culture

Explores the cultural images and realities of contemporary women and their lives. Print, film, television, short fiction, and artifact will be used to document cultural rates.

3 credits

WST 301 Women, Peacemaking, and Nonviolence WST 301 Women, Peacemaking, and Nonviolence

Considers the theoretical foundations of non-violence and explores the application of these principles with reference to the experiences and history of women. 

3 credits 

WST 368 Women and Leadership WST 368 Women and Leadership

Explores women's leadership issues at the intersection of race, class, and gender. Key themes include the relational aspects of leadership, authenticity, identity and power, and the voice of leadership.

3 credits

WST 369 Women and Community Change WST 369 Women and Community Change

Explores women's roles in U.S. history from the perspectives of women activists. Examines women's impact on social, political, and cultural change in the U.S. including movements for economic justice, race relations, sexual identity, peace, gender equality, public health, and social welfare. Formerly WST 369 Women and Community Change

3 credits

WST 400 Internship in Women's Studies WST 400 Internship in Women's Studies

Requires students to perform nine hours of volunteer work each week in an internship in advocacy groups, non-profit organizations, and federal or D.C. government agencies that advance women's interests. Studies include required readings, journal writing, construction of an ethnography, and compiling and annotating a bibliography.

3 credits

Prerequisite: WST 240 

TWO courses chosen from among:

COM 388 Gender and Communication COM 388 Gender and Communication

Explores theory and methods for examining communication and gender roles. Topics include gendered communication, gender and media, family communication, gendered violence, gender and education, and gender and institutions. 

3 credits

FLC Seminar II

Gen Ed Capstone Seminar

Prerequisite: Com 201 or permission of the instructor

COM 450 Women In Organizations COM 450 Women In Organizations

Focuses on the dynamic relationship among gender, power, race, sexuality and class in women's organizational lives. Provides an in-depth exploration of critical feminist theory and research in organizational communication. Emphasis is on the perspectives of diverse women in multiple contexts. Topics include Women in Leadership, Sexual Harassment and Feminist Organizational Theory.

3 credits

FLC Seminar II

ECON 223 Women in the Economy ECON 223 Women in the Economy

Applies the theory of the household and investment in human resources to female labor force participation, marriage, family formation, sex discrimination, women's education choices, and government policies affecting the economic status of women. Formerly ECO 375 Women in the Economy.

3 credits

Prerequisites: ECON 101 and ECON 102 or permission of the instructor

FLC Area V

ENGL 277 Women Warriors in Film and Fiction ENGL 277 Women Warriors in Film and Fiction

Examines representations of the figure of the female warrior, from the Amazons to G.I. Jane, in fiction, film, drama, and television. Formerly ENG 218 Women Warriors in Film and Fiction.

3 credits

ENGL 371 Women in Fiction ENGL 371 Women in Fiction

Studies the representation of women in fiction by women writers of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Formerly ENG 362 Women in Fiction.

3 credits

ENGL 373 African American Women Writers ENGL 373 African American Women Writers

Examines the history and images of African Americans, especially women, in selected works by African American women writers ranging from Zora Neale Hurston to Toni Morrison. Formerly ENG 363 African American Women Writers.

3 credits

ENGL 377 Women in Contemporary American Film ENGL 377 Women in Contemporary American Film

Examines the stereotypical images of women in contemporary American film, including images of the Madonna, the temptress, the witch, and the virgin. Formerly ENG 365 Women in Contemporary American Film.

3 credits

ENGL 378 African American Women in Film ENGL 378 African American Women in Film

Considers the images of African Americans presented in film and especially in the work of African American actors, directors, screenwriters, and producers. Formerly ENG 369 African American Women in Film.

3 credits

ENGL 434 Novels of Jane Austen ENGL 434 Novels of Jane Austen

Analyzes the novels of Jane Austen and selected filmed adaptations to evaluate the ways in which the novels comment on gender and ideology and contribute to the evolution of the novel as a genre. Formerly ENG 347 Novels of Jane Austen.

3 credits

ENGL 435 The Bronte Sisters ENGL 435 The Bronte Sisters

Analyzes the novels of Anne Bronte, Charlotte Bronte, and Emily Bronte; their links to biography; and their exploration of women's lives and roles, with consideration of intertextuality as evidenced in the works of film directors, poets, and novelists which turn on the Bronte sisters themselves and their works, such as Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea. Formerly ENG 447 The Brontë Sisters.

3 credits

ENGL 477 Seminar on Alice Walker ENGL 477 Seminar on Alice Walker

Considers the literary works of Alice Walker. Formerly ENG 326 Seminar on Alice Walker.

3 credits

FNAR 247 Women in Music History FNAR 247 Women in Music History

Explores the history of women in music from the Middle Ages through the 20th century. The course includes reading in primary sources and study of recent research on women as performers, composers, publishers, producers, educators, and patronesses. Students explore both recorded and live performances of music by women. Formerly MUS 252 Women in Music History.

3 credits

General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area

FLC Area II

FNAR 321 Women Artists FNAR 321 Women Artists

Examines the history of women in the arts from the Middle Ages to the present day and the social conditions which influenced their art. Artists included are: A. Gentileschi, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Georgia O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago and others.

3 credits

General Education Capstone Seminar

HIS 245 Women, Work, and Family in Medieval and Early Modern Europe HIS 245 Women, Work, and Family in Medieval and Early Modern Europe

Examines the contrast between the images of women, both positive and negative, and the reality of women's lives in medieval and early modern Europe. Topics include women's role in the family, women's work, women and medicine, women's legal standing, life in the convent, the role of noble women, the education of women, and women's spirituality. 

3 credits

HIS 344A African American Women's History HIS 344A African American Women's History

Explores the history of African American Women from the years of slavery to the present, emphasizing their influence in the creation of African American culture. Topics include the experience of African American women as workers, as individuals in their communities, as intellectuals, and as leaders in reform movements and political organizations.

3 credits

HIS 393 Women in US History to 1900 HIS 393 Women in US History to 1900

Explores women's experience in United States culture from the colonial period to 1900. Topics include the diversity of women's cultures and the impact of this diversity on family, work, and socialization; women's legal and political standing; and the conflicts among women exemplified in religious, ethnic, class and racial difference. 

3 credits

HUMR 301 Seminar: Perspectives on Gender HUMR 301 Seminar: Perspectives on Gender

Approaches the concept of gender from the standpoints of psychology and sociology. Specifically, the topics of socialization, language and communication, sexuality and the media, and work and the family will be addressed in an interdisciplinary fashion. Emphasis will be placed on synthesis and integration, while applying course material to real-world events. Note: This may count as a PSYC, SOCY, or HUMR course. Formerly HRE 301. 

3 credits

FLC Seminar II

Prerequisites PSYC 101 and SOCY 100

PHIL 237 Women and Philosophy PHIL 237 Women and Philosophy

Presents a theoretical framework for examining the significance of gendered perspectives on history, culture, and contemporary society and examines the philosophical voice of woman in the classical, medieval, and modern accounts of human nature. Formerly PHI 250 Women and Philosophy: A Critique.

3 credits

FLC Area III - Philosophy Cluster

POLS 211 Women and the Law POLS 211 Women and the Law

Examines Supreme Court rulings, as well as federal and state statutes and court decisions affecting women. Topics include women and employment, sexual harassment, and legal issues involving pregnancy and privacy rights. Formerly PSC 328 Women and the Law.

3 credits

General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area

FLC Area V

POLS 299 Honors Seminar: The Political Lives of Women POLS 299 Honors Seminar: The Political Lives of Women

Explores the interaction of women and the political system through a variety of life story forms, including biographical and autobiographical writing and film. Particular focus is placed on the cultural, ethical, and gender contexts of women's political lives. Formerly PSC 310 The Political Lives of Women.

3 credits

FLC Area V

Prerequisites: Admission to the Honors Program and POLS 120 or higher level political science course

PSYC 161 Women: Developmental and Multicultural Perspectives PSYC 161 Women: Developmental and Multicultural Perspectives

Emphasizes the experiences of women in theories and research which provide a framework for examining adult development. An interdisciplinary and multicultural approach is used which stresses the interrelatedness of psychological, sociocultural, and biological factors in human growth. Central issues of identity, interpersonal relationships, productivity, gender roles, self-concept, and adaptation to transition are explored. Formerly PSY 241 Women: Developmental and Multicultural Perspectives

3 credits

FLC Area V

PSYC 261 Psychology of Gender Roles PSYC 261 Psychology of Gender Roles

Studies theories and relevant research on the development of gender roles and the impact of gender roles on self-impression formation, achievement, interpersonal relations, and sexuality. Other topics include an analysis of gender stereotyping, the influence of biology, the concept of androgyny, and the reciprocal qualities of gender roles. Formerly PSY 205 Psychology of Gender Roles.

3 credits

Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or permission of instructor

SOCY 333 Women and Third World Development SOCY 333 Women and Third World Development

Examines insights that the feminist perspective brings to the issues of development, challenging the assumption that ""integrating women into development"" will solve problems caused by plans and policies that neglect women. This course is meant to be a guide to recent thinking and literature about women and development, and to the feminist critique of these. The course focuses on multinationals, rural development, and food production, including appropriate technology and income generation, health, migration, education, and communication. Formerly SOC 310 Women and Third World Development.

3 credits

SOCY 341 Women, Men, and Complex Organizations SOCY 341 Women, Men, and Complex Organizations

Develops the student's understanding of sex and gender as organizational variables: the ways in which the structure and processes of organization reflect power relations that are interlaced with dominant forms of gender relations. Attention is given to a broad range of personal, social, and organizational influences that shape gender identity and behavior and the way in which gender behavior affects organizational behavior. Formerly SOC 368 Women, Men, and Complex Organizations.

3 credits

RST 225 Religion and Women RST 225 Religion and Women

Examines the nature of the feminist critique of religion, but especially as this relates to the Christian tradition. The course looks at the way classic symbols (e.g., God, Christ, redemption/salvation) have traditionally been construed and studies the creative new meanings being found in these symbols that originate in theological reflection on women's experience. Special attention is given to the most recent contributions of African American and Hispanic women theologians as well as women theologians from the developing world.

3 credits

General Education Curriculum: Values and Beliefs Area

FLC Area III 

* Other courses may be approved by the Program Chair. The Women's Studies Program usually publishes a list of approved courses offered each semester.

Program Policies

Advanced Placement:
Credits earned through AP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the minor.

CLEP Policy:
Credits earned through CLEP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the minor.

Grades in Required Courses:
Students are required to earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the minor.

Pass/No Pass:
With the exception of internships, courses fulfilling minor requirements may not be taken pass/no pass.

Senior Assessment:
In order to complete a minor in women's studies, students must take WST 440 Senior Seminar in Women's Studies WST 440 Senior Seminar in Women's Studies

Creates a synthesis of the student's studies in the field and deepens skills in women's studies research, critically presenting, analyzing, and assessing concepts, methods, and data. The topics reflect the most current research in the field. Students take a central role in conducting the seminar, and each one is responsible for an independent research project.

3 credits

Prerequisite: WST 240  

that includes a comprehensive assessment.

Study Abroad:
Students may meet minor requirements with courses taken during study abroad.

TELL Policy:
The Women's Studies Program supports and encourages Trinity's TELL Program. Students applying for experiential learning credit should consult with the program faculty.

Transfer Credits:
Transfer credit from appropriately accredited institutions of higher learning may be counted for minor requirements, dependent on program review and approval.

Course Descriptions

WST 210 Gender, Creativity and Music WST 211 Rockin' Women: American Popular Song WST 240 Introduction to Women's Studies WST 250 Women in Popular Culture WST 252 Women in Television WST 301 Women, Peacemaking, and Nonviolence WST 330 Questioning the Archetypes WST 350 Women's Studies: Independent Study WST 365 Seminar on Human Sexuality WST 368 Women and Leadership WST 369 Women and Community Change WST 400 Internship in Women's Studies WST 403 Feminist Criticism WST 410 Public Ldership Educ Network WST 440 Senior Seminar in Women's Studies