Women's and Gender Studies, an interdisciplinary program founded in 1990, encourages the production, discussion, and dissemination of knowledge about women's experiences, oppressions, and achievements, in Montana, the U.S., and the world. In the last decade this focus has broadened to include study of the social and cultural construction of gender, sex, and sexualities. By fostering awareness of cultural and international diversity, as well as of the circulations of power mediated by race, class, age, and sexual orientation, Women's and Gender Studies encourages students to think critically and to envision justice for all peoples.
The Women's and Gender Studies program is administered by the director, with assistance from the program coordinator, in consultation with the Women's and Gender Studies Steering Committee, an interdisciplinary group of faculty and professional associates with teaching, research, and scholarly interests in women and gender.
Students may include Women's and Gender Studies in their studies in two ways. They can major in Liberal Studies with an option in Women's and Gender Studies, or they can complete the Women's and Gender Studies minor. Students may select coursework from a wide variety of courses offered in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, law, education and other disciplines. Women's and Gender Studies offers scholarships, and sponsors or co-sponsors a variety of events including lectures, discussions, and performances that make a vibrant contribution to both the campus and the Missoula community life.
To be admitted, students must register with the Women's and Gender Studies directors, who will explain option or minor requirements and supervise their program.
For the Women's and Gender Studies option under the Liberal Studies major, the following requirements must be met (not necessarily in sequence):
*These are generic courses. The specific course focus must be on women, as listed here. Check with the Women's and Gender Studies directors before enrolling.
Other courses not listed here may be applied toward the option or the minor if approved by the Women's and Gender Studies directors.
The Women's and Gender Studies minor is available to students in all majors. It consists of 20 credits. Students must complete four required courses or approved alternatives: (1) WGS 119H, Philosophical Perspectives on Women in the Western Hemisphere, or WGS 263S, Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies, (2) WGS 275, Gender and Society, (3) WGS 363, Feminist Theories and Methods, and (4) WGS 463, Women's Studies Capstone (2 credits). In addition, students must complete three upper-division (300- or 400-level) elective courses (nine credits) from the list of Women's and Gender Studies "content" and "focus" courses. Students may apply WGS 398, Cooperative Education (internships), toward their elective credits. All requests for substitutions or equivalency must be approved by the director(s) of the Women's and Gender Studies Program.
U=for undergraduate credit only, UG=for undergraduate or graduate credit, G=for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R. Credits beyond this maximum do not count toward a degree.
U 119H Philosophical Perspectives on Women in the Western Hemisphere 3 cr. Offered spring. Same as LS and PHIL 119H. Introduction to the discipline and scope of Western philosophy focusing on women as the subject rather than men. A chronological study following the ideological development in the West of social attitudes and scientific theses.
U 263S Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies 3 cr. Offered autumn. Broad overview of gender and women's issues from a social science perspective. Relevant topics related to the sociological and psychological aspects of gender across culture are explored, including masculinity, femininity, violence, reproductive health, cultural diversity in the expression of gender, issues in sexual orientation, and media contributions to these issues.
U 275S Gender and Society 3 cr. Offered annually. Same as SOCI 275S. Exploration of the social construction of gender, especially in western, post-industrial societies such as the U.S. How gender ideologies affect the social definition and position of men and women in work, family, sexual relationship, sexual divisions of labor, and social movements.
U 294 Seminar 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.
U 295 Special Topics 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 320 Women in Antiquity 3 cr.Offered intermittently. Same as MCLG and LS 320. Examination of varied sources from Ancient Greece, the Hellenistic World, and republican and imperial Rome to clarify the place of women in communities. Women's contribution to community and the mechanisms by which communities attempted to socialize female populations.
U 323 Women and Social Action in the Americas 3 cr.Offered intermittently. Prereq., one of SW 100, SOCI 101S (SOC 110S), or ANTH 101H or consent of instr. Same as SW 323. Focus on women's experiences of and contributions to social change in North, South and Central America in the mid- to late-20th century. Through case studies, testimonials, discussions with activists and Internet connections examine social constructions of gender, compare forms of social action in diverse cultural, political and historical contexts, link practice to theories of social participation, and reflect on lessons learned from women's experiences.
U 324 Gender and the Politics of Welfare 3 cr.Offered intermittently. Prereq., SW 100 or consent of instr. Same as SW 324. Exploration of the relationship between gender ideologies and the development of social welfare policies. Examination of historic and contemporary social welfare policies, practices and debates in the United States through a gender lens.
UG 327 Anthropology of Gender 3 cr.Offered spring even-numbered years. Same as ANTH 327. Prereq., ANTH 201 or consent of instructor. Comparative study of the history and significance of gender in social life.
U 336 American Women Writers 3 cr.Offered spring odd-numbered years. Prereq., LIT 300 (ENLT 301) or consent of instr. Same as LIT 335 (ENLT 336). Consideration of political and aesthetic purposes in women's fiction through a progression of 19th century literary forms: a cautionary seduction novel, sentimental and domestic novels, realism, naturalism, and utopianism.
UG 342 Gender Studies in Native American Studies 3 cr.Offered intermittently. Same as NAS 342. Focus on American Indian gender relations and their cultural continuity and historical evolution. National in scope with concentration on certain tribes. Group analysis of contemporary gender issues relevant to Native American peoples.
U 363 Theories and Methods of Feminist Inquiry 3 cr. Offered spring. In-depth exposure to feminist views and critique of the ethics and methods of scientific, social, and literary inquiry. Includes exposure to primary sources and current societal and global issues and movements, research finding, and literature exemplifying these methods of inquiry and the gendered dimensions of such inquiry.
UG 370 Women in America: to the Civil War 3 cr.Offered autumn. Same as HSTA 387 (HIST 370). Interpretive overview of women's experiences in America before the Civil War. Exploration of new definitions of womanhood and "women's sphere" emerging from women's varied experiences in the American colonies and the American Revolution; how immigrant, poor, slave, and western women transgressed the boundaries of their sphere; and how women-from both inside and outside their assigned sphere-reshaped their roles in American society.
UG 371 Women in America: from the Civil War 3 cr.Offered spring. Same as HSTA 388 (HIST 371). Interpretive overview of women's experiences in America after the Civil War. Exploration of such topics as women's associations, the battle for suffrage, organized feminism and its opponents, the industrialization of housework, women in the workforce, reproductive rights, and welfare. Particular attention to women's experiences shaped by class and race as well as by gender.
U 372L Gay and Lesbian Studies 3 cr.Offered intermittently. Prereq., LIT 300 (ENLT 301) or consent of instr. Same as LIT 378L (ENLT 372). Review of the history of the gay and lesbian movement in the twentieth century as a basis for understanding the political, social, and sexual issues that influenced homoerotic cultural representation in plays, films, and novels.
U 379L Gender and Sexuality in English Fiction 3 cr. Offered yearly. Same as LIT 379L (ENLT 375L) and LS 379. Major 19th or 20th century novels and short stories written in English in different parts of the world and how these texts explore changing concepts of gender and sexuality.
U 380 Gender and Communication 3 cr. Offered autumn. Same as COMM 380. The meaning of gender in our culture and how gender is displayed and perpetuated through our private and public verbal and nonverbal interactions.
U 396 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-12) Offered intermittently.
U 397 Research Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.
U 395 Special Topics 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 398 Internship Variable cr.(R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of director. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.
U 463 Women's and Gender Studies Capstone 2 cr.Offered spring. Prereq., WGS 119H, WGS 263S,WS 275S. Capstone course for the Women's and Gender Studies minor.
U 493 Omnibus Variable cr.(R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Independent work under University omnibus option. See index.
U 495 Special Topics 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 496 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently.
U 497 Research Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.
G 595 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-12) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
G 596 Independent Study 1-6 cr.(R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr.
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Lommasson Center 201
Phone: (406) 243-2995
Fax: (406) 243-4807
