Women’s and Gender Studies

253.535.7397

www.plu.edu/womens-studies

marcusls@plu.edu

At the core of the Women’s and Gender Studies (WMGS) program at PLU is a vibrant, diverse, and supportive community of feminist women and men, working to enhance and reinforce the individual goals and strengths of each student. This multiplicity of resources and talents allow our courses to draw upon many different academic areas, explore themes, such as gender and sexual identity, emphasize critical examination of racism, classism, and other forms of inequity and discrimination, and focus on the pursuit of social justice.

The Women’s and Gender Studies major is a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary complementary major. Conferral of a baccalaureate degree with a major in Women’s and Gender Studies requires completion of a second major from any discipline in the university. Students are encouraged to declare both majors simultaneously and to plan a program aware of the possibilities for applying individual courses to both majors. The Women’s and Gender Studies major allows application of courses from the second major and for general university requirements to the Women’s and Gender Studies major.

MAJOR
32 semester hours, including:

• WMGS 201 (4 semester hours)
• Two courses each from the Women/Feminism approved program core course list (8 semester hours)
• Two courses each from the Gender/Sexuality approved program core course list (8 semester hours)
• Two elective courses approved by the WMGS program chair or from the list of approved WMGS courses
• Completion of the Women’s and Gender Studies and Vocation Capstone Experience (WMGS 495 or WMGS 491, 4 semester hours)
• Students are required to complete a minimum of 4 upper-division courses in the program core and electives.

1. WMGS 201: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
   4 semester hours
2. Program Core Courses
   16 semester hours
   Students must take one class each from the following four areas (one each from Group A and Group B under both Women & Feminism and Gender & Sexuality):

• Women and Feminism
  • Group A:
    • ENGL 232: Women’s Literature (4)
    • ENGL 341: Feminist Approaches to Literature (4)
    • RELI 368: Feminist & Womanist Theologies (4)
  • Group B:
    • HIST 359: History of Women in the U.S. (4)
    • PHIL 220: Women and Philosophy (4)
    • PSYC 375: Psychology of Women (4)
• Gender & Sexuality
  • Group C:
    • ANTH 350: Women & Men in World Cultures (4)
    • PSYC 370: Gender and Sexuality (4)
    • SOCI 440: Sex, Gender & Society
  • Group D:
    • COMA 303: Gender & Communication (4)
    • PHED 315: Body Image (4)
• Electives
  8 semester hours
  Students must complete two additional courses beyond the core courses required. These may be selected from:
  • Additional WMGS core courses not taken to satisfy the Program Core Courses requirement
  • Courses from an approved list published in the Women’s & Gender Studies section in class schedules
  • Courses from any discipline for which at least 60% of the assignments center on women, feminism, gender, and/or sexuality. This allows the integration of Women’s and Gender Studies perspectives into courses that are not explicitly or entirely structured around those perspectives. Consent of the instructor is required. Students should consult the Women’s and Gender Studies chair about this option before the course begins (when possible) and will be assignments to the Women’s and Gender Studies Executive Committee for approval upon completion of the course.
• Capstone Experience: Women’s and Gender Studies and Vocation
  4 semester hours
  • WMGS 499: Senior Capstone

MINOR
20 semester hours, including:

• WMGS 201(4 semester hours)
• 8 semester hours from the Program Core (as listed above in the WMGS major):
  • 4 semester hours from Group A or B: Women and Feminism
  • 4 semester hours from Group C or D: Gender and Sexuality
• 2 elective courses (4 semester hours) approved by the WMGS program chair or from the list of approved WMGS courses.
• Students must complete two additional courses beyond the core courses required. These may be selected from:
  • Additional WMGS core courses not taken to satisfy the Program Core courses requirement.
  • Courses from any discipline for which at least 60% of the assignments center on women, feminism, gender, and/or sexuality. This allows for the integration of Women’s and Gender Studies perspectives into courses that are not explicitly or entirely structured around those perspectives.
  • Consent of the instructor is required. Students should consult with the Women’s and Gender Studies chair about this option before the course begins (when possible) and will be required to submit the syllabus and relevant assignments to the Women’s and Gender Studies Executive Committee for approval upon completion of the course.