Coordinator: Tina Parke-Sutherland, Ph.D.
Women's
studies at Stephens is an interdisciplinary program drawing upon
the expertise of faculty and student-life professionals across the
campus and focusing on the construction of knowledge about women,
both in the United States and in the rest of the world. In women's
studies classes students and faculty work together to illuminate
women's distinct experiences, perspectives, and concerns, as well
as to explore the liberatory strategies women have employed and
continue to employ throughout the world. More than 50 faculty members,
representing all areas of academic life, have taught in the program
since its beginning in the early 1970s when Stephens College first
demonstrated national leadership in the field.
The Women's Studies Program offers a minor. But women's studies
is also an excellent choice for students who wish to combine study
in the discipline with another discipline in a student-initiated
major. As well as completing the liberal arts requirements and the
courses listed below for the women's studies minor, the student
works with her advisor to plan a course of study that combines additional
women's studies courses and a sequence of courses from one or more
of the academic disciplines complementary to women's studies.
Requirements for a Women's Studies Minor
A minor in women's studies requires the completion of 15 semester hours, including at least 6 hours at or above the 300 level, as listed below.
Required Courses
WST 210: Introduction to Women's Studies (3 hrs.)
WST 311: Development of Feminist Thought (3 hrs.)
WST 312: Contemporary Feminist Thought (3 hrs.)
WST electives (6 hrs.)
Women's Studies and the
Liberal Studies Major
In the residential program, the women's studies minor is available as an option to include in the liberal studies major. In addition, the program co-sponsors a concentration in English and women's studies that is also available for the liberal studies major. See the liberal studies section of the catalog for complete information about the major.
WST
110: Women, Law and Justice
(3 hrs.)
(Open to all students; cross-listed as LGS 110.)
Criminal and civil law, feminist legal theory and jurisprudence,
legal reasoning, current issues in the courts, torts and case briefs
figure in this introductory course. Legal and allied professionals
serve as guest speakers. Students write weekly reaction papers.
WST 210: Introduction to Women's Studies
(3 hrs.)
(Open to all students)
This course introduces the major areas and methods of inquiry in
the academic discipline of women's studies. Contemporary issues
that impact women's lives are examined in the contexts of work,
education, the family, health systems, economics, government, politics,
etc. The status of women in many cultures is explored historically
and comparatively with emphasis on historical precedents of women's
studies and international women's rights movements of the 20th century.
WST 280: Women's Studies Topics
(1-3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: dependent upon topic)
Study of specific topics that relate to women's issues and women's
experience. Topics include: "Addicted Women: Substance Abuse" and
"Compulsive Behaviors."
WST 308: Women Writers
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG102, 206 or LBA 108, 208 and one 3-hour 200-level
ENG or WST course, or permission of the instructor; cross-listed
as ENG 308)
This course analyzes women's literatures in English of various cultures
and periods considering the history of critical attention given
to them. In addition to standard genres of poetry, fiction and drama,
this course includes reading in nontraditional genres: essays, diaries
and letters, and performance art.
WST 310: Gender Across Cultures
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: WST 210 and junior or senior standing or permission
of the instructor)
Biography, autobiography, literature and social science texts provide
cross-cultural perspectives on the lives of girls and women in the
20th century. The focus of the course is on social, economic, legal
and ideological aspects of women's position in selected developing
societies compared with industrialized societies. Students explore
ways in which attitudes about women have influenced women's material
and cultural contributions to their respective societies. Both differences
and connections will be shown to exist among women separated by
cultural, racial and national boundaries.
WST 311: Development of Feminist Thought
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: WST 210 or permission of instructor)
The evolution of feminist theory in its cultural and historical
contexts, examined through early writings of women's movements.
Emphasis is on the writing of American, English and European women
of the 19th and 20th centuries and the impact of their thought and
action on American women and American society.
WST 312: Contemporary Feminist Thought
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: WST 210 or permission of instructor)
Examination of theories of the post-World War II wave of international
women's movements, including the works of North and South American,
African, British, Australian and French writers. Diversity of feminist
perspectives is considered as the student develops a theoretical
base of her own.
WST 355: Women in Art
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: ARH101 or permission of instructor; cross-listed
as ARH355)
This course explores the contributions women have made to painting,
sculpture and architecture from the Renaissance to the present time
in Europe and America.
WST 365: Women, Science and Society
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: junior or senior standing or permission of instructor;
cross-listed as NSC 365)
This course will broaden the student's understanding of the far-reaching
impact that feminist analysis has had on all fields of knowledge,
including the field of science. Contemporary women in science are
changing the way people think about science and practice it. Students
in the course will benefit from exposure to cross-cultural analysis
of science and some of the ways that people from various cultures
understand the human relationship to the world.
WST 380: Topics in Women's Studies
(1-3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: dependent upon topic)
A study of specific topics that relate to women's issues and women's
experience. Topics include: "Images of Women in Film," "Reproductive
Rights and Freedom," "Re-Vision: Female Perspectives on the European
Encounter with the Americas," "Women's Health Across the Lifespan,"
"Women and the Law," "Picturing the Future Sustainable Society,"
and "Women in the History of European and American Art."
WST 464: Women and Communication
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: MCO 101 or WST 210 and senior standing; cross-listed
as MCO 464)
An examination (through both qualitative and quantitative analysis)
of women's image and power in the mass communication industry today—in
publishing, broadcasting and advertising—and a study of remarkable
women pioneers in 20th century media. This is a capstone course
for majors in mass communication and is also appropriate for seniors
in the women's studies minor. Offered spring semester only.
Independent
Study
Independent studies (special studies,
tutorials, readings, projects) may be proposed by students who wish
to investigate a subject not otherwise available. Information about
independent study may be obtained in the department offices or in
the Office of the Registrar.
