Women’s and Gender Studies

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 multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. Conferral of a baccalaureate degree with a major in women’s and gender studies requires completion of a complementary major or minor from any department or program in the University.

PLU hosts a chapter of Iota Iota Iota (Triota) Women’s and Gender Studies Honor Society. Eligible students meet the following criteria: (1) completion of at least 60 semester hours, (2) a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA at the time of initiation, and (3) a demonstrated academic interest in Women’s and Gender Studies, as evidenced by being a declared major or declared minor or having completed at least three courses that meet WMGS major and minor requirements (including courses offered by WMGS and courses offered by other programs that have been approved as WMGS electives).

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Major in Women’s and Gender Studies

36 semester hours, including:

• WMGS 201 (4 semester hours, offered every semester)
• WMGS 301: Feminist and Gender Theories (4 semester hours, offered every Fall Semester)
• WMGS 499: Women’s and Gender Studies Senior Capstone (4 semester hours, offered every Spring Semester)
• 24 additional semester hours
  • must be selected from list of WMGS-approved courses (see list below);
  • must be selected from at least four disciplines,
  • must be selected from at least two different divisions or schools;
  • only one course may be at the 100-level; and
  • at least four of these courses must be at 300 or 400-level.
  • Courses that are not on the approved list, from any discipline, for which at least 60% of the assignments center on women, feminism, gender, and/or sexuality may also count for the WMGS major. This allows the integration of women’s and gender studies perspectives into courses that are not explicitly or entirely structured around those perspectives. Students should consult the women’s and gender studies chair about this option before the course begins (when possible) and provide syllabi and assignments to the Women’s and Gender Studies Executive Committee for approval upon completion of the course.

Minor

20 semester hours, including:

• WMGS 201 (4 semester hours, offered every semester)
• 16 additional semester hours
  • must be selected from WMGS courses or from list of WMGS-approved courses;
  • must be selected from at least two disciplines;
  • must be selected from at least two different divisions or schools;
  • only one course may be at the 100 level, and at least two courses must be at the 300- or 400-level.
  • WMGS 301: Feminist and Gender Theories strongly recommended
  • Courses that are not on the approved list, from any discipline, for which at least 60% of the assignments center on women, feminism, gender, and/or sexuality may also count for the WMGS minor. This allows the integration of Women’s and Gender Studies perspectives into courses that are not explicitly or entirely structured around those perspectives. Students should consult the WMGS chair about this option before the course begins (when possible) and provide syllabi and assignments to the WMGS Executive Committee for approval upon completion of the course.

WMGS Approved Courses

Division of Humanities

• ENGL 232: Women’s Literature
• ENGL 341: Feminist Approaches to Literature
• ENGL 395: Studies in Literature, Gender, and Sexuality
• ENGL 213, 216, 217, 231, 233, 234, 235, 241, 251, 300, 342, 343, 345, 348, 360, 370, 380, 394, 398 when topic is related to women, gender, sexuality, and/or feminism. See chair for more information.
• HISP 433: Special Topics in Latin American Literature and Culture when topic is related to women, gender, sexuality, and/or feminism. See chair for more information.
• NORD 363: Culture, Gender and the Wild
• PHIL 220: Philosophy and Gender
• PHIL 239: Philosophy of Love and Sex
• RELI 368: Feminist and Womanist Theologies
• RELI 226, 330, 341, 344, 351, 354, 361, 364, 390 when topic is related to women, gender, sexuality, and/or feminism. See chair for more information.

Division of Social Sciences

• ANTH 350: Women and Men in World Cultures
• ANTH 352: Anthropology and Age
• ANTH 353: Clothing and Material Culture
• HIST 359: History of Women in the U.S.
• PSYC 370: Gender and Sexuality
• PSYC 375: Psychology of Women
• SOCI 210: Gender and Society
• SOCI 494: Gender and Violence

School of Arts and Communication

• ARTD 490: Gender and Art
• COMA 303: Gender and Communication

School of Education and Kinesiology

• KINS 315: Body Image