Washington and Lee University
Courses relevant to the Program in Women's and Gender Studies are as follows; for course descriptions, see the appropriate departmental listings:
The following courses may also meet program requirements when the topic is appropriate:
WGS 120: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies and Feminist Theory (3)
This course introduces students to the fields of feminist theory and women's and gender studies by focusing on key theoretical concepts and surveying a range of topics that have been central to the academic study of women and gender. Such topics are likely to include the family as a social institution, gender in the workplace, beauty norms, violence against women, the history of feminist activism, and/or women's achievements in traditionally male-dominated fields such as sports, art, science, or literature. Students learn to approach such topics using gender as an analytical tool that intersects in complex ways with other categories of power, such as race, class, and sexuality. The course is interdisciplinary in approach and presents a plurality of feminist perspectives in order to offer a rich understanding of the development of feminist thought over the past several decades. Course assignments encourage students to use such thought to analyze their other academic pursuits, as well as the non-academic environments in which they live, including thinking critically about their own experiences as women and men in contemporary society. (HU, GE4: as credits only, not an area)
WGS 295: Humanities Topics in Women's and Gender Studies (3)
Prerequisite: Depending on the topic, WGS 120 or permission of the instructor.
A topical seminar that focuses on an interdisciplinary examination of a singular theme and/or geographic region relevant to the overall understanding of Women's and Gender Studies, such as Hispanic Feminisms. May be repeated for degree credit
with permission and if the topics are different.
WGS 296: Social Science Topics in Women's and Gender Studies (3)
Prerequisite: Depending on the topic, WGS 120 or permission of the instructor.
A topical seminar that focuses on an interdisciplinary examination of a singular theme and/or geographic region relevant to the overall understanding of Women's and Gender Studies, such as Men and Masculinities. May be repeated for degree credit with permission and if the topics are different.
WGS 396: Advanced Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies (3)
Prerequisites: WGS 120, junior or senior standing, or permission of the instructor.
This course provides an opportunity for advanced students to explore in detail some aspect of women's studies. Specific topics may vary and may be determined, in part, by student interest. May be repeated for degree credit with permission and
if the topics are different.
