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Catalog Year 2025-2026

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Gender and Women's StudiesCredits

In this course, students will learn about health disparities and the social determinants of health in the United States. We will analyze how gender, race, class, ability, and sexuality impact access to health resources (including the environment, food, and medical care) as well as health outcomes. In addition to individual barriers to health, we will analyze how institutions and structural factors impact health in America. Topics may include health disparities by race and ethnicity, barriers to LGBT health care, weight discrimination, reproductive justice, and environmental effects on health.

Graduation Requirements:
Goal Area 5 - History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences | Goal Area 9 - Ethical and Civic Responsibility | Diverse Cultures - Purple
Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

Offered according to student demand and instructor availability/expertise, topics courses provide curriculum enrichment on an ongoing basis.

Concentrated study and research in areas of student's special interests/expertise under supervision of a faculty member. Prereq: Women's Studies major/minor

Prerequisites:
Women's Studies major/minor
Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures

Topics to be announced. May be retaken for credit.

This course will introduce you to major theories of feminism as well as key issues in contemporary feminist thought. Students will have an opportunity to advance their own feminist thinking through engagement with a diversity of theoretical perspectives on gender.Fall

Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

Students in this course will learn concrete examples of feminist and other social justice activism. Students will conceptualize, plan, and implement their own feminist activism project, and use research skills to contextualize their action within feminist scholarship. This course will give students a deeper introduction to contemporary feminist activism and its connections to other social justice movements in the United States.

Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

This course explores an advanced topic in women's and gender studies.Spring

Prerequisites:
GWS 110 or GWS 220 or consent
Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

Students will learn about the legal, cultural, and political factors that contribute to sexual assault and gendered violence. This course will combine hands-on training in activism from course instructors and community members in the field of sexual assault advocacy, as well as a background in theories of gender and sexual assault. Sexual assault advocates provide confidential services to victims of sexual violence, including hospital and legal advocacy, crisis counseling, and emotional support. Students who satisfactorily complete 40 hours of training will be certified as sexual assault advocates at the end of the semester.

Graduation Requirements:
Diverse Cultures - Purple
Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

Applies sociological theories of identity to the experiences of women being released from prison. Taught at a women's prison in Minnesota, and integrates MSU students with students drawn from the educational program located within the women's prison. Same course as SOC 420. Credit allowed for only one of these courses.

We explore key philosophical and methodological issues in feminist teaching with an emphasis on application of the material.

This course explores the interconnections between sex, gender, and sexuality, with special attention to how institutions and communities shape experience and identity.

Offered according to student demand and instructor availability/expertise, topics courses provide curriculum enrichment on an ongoing basis.

Concentrated study and research in areas of student's special interests/expertise under supervision of a faculty member. Prereq: Must be department major/minor

Prerequisites:
Must be department major/minor
Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures

Topics to be announced. May be retaken for credit.

Students assist a faculty member in teaching a 100 or 200 level GWS course.

Prerequisites:
GWS 110 or GWS 220 and consent.
Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

The Gender and Women's Studies internship provides students with the opportunity to gain experience within an on-campus, off-campus private, public or community organization. This internship provides a means for pursuing an interest in a field of work, or within a particular organization; gaining work and/or activist experience and practical skills; making appropriate contacts which might be useful in establishing a future career.

Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

Students will learn about the legal, cultural, and political factors that contribute to sexual assault and gendered violence. This course will combine hands-on training in activism from course instructors and community members in the field of sexual assault advocacy, as well as a background in theories of gender and sexual assault. Sexual assault advocates provide confidential services to victims of sexual violence, including hospital and legal advocacy, crisis counseling, and emotional support. Students who satisfactorily complete 40 hours of training will be certified as sexual assault advocates at the end of the semester.

Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

Applies sociological theories of identity to the experiences of women being released from prison. Taught at a women's prison in Minnesota, and integrates MSU students with students drawn from the educational program located within the women's prison. Same course as SOC 520. Credit allowed for only one of these courses.

We explore the key philosophical and methodological issues in feminist pedagogy with an emphasis on application of the material learned. In addition to readings, discussions, and lectures, students develop a teaching philosophy, design a course, write a syllabus, prepare a lesson plan, teach a session, design evaluations, and develop a curriculum vitae.

Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

An exploration and overview of lesbian/bisexual/transgender identities. Possible topics include historical and cross-cultural perspectives; lesbian/bisexual/transgender identities in relation to class, race, age, ethnicity, and disability; lesbian feminism, images and stereotypes; legal status and lesbian/bisexual/transgender cultures.

Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

Offered according to student demand and instructor availability/expertise, topics courses provide curriculum enrichment on an ongoing basis.

Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

Topics to be announced. May be retaken for credit.

Emphasis is on analytical skills and group dynamics as well as subject content including collective action strategies.

Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

This seminar serves as a critique/work group for class members' thesis and publication goals. We examine the formation of critical consciousness.

Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs:

We explore theoretical and epistemological issues in feminist research, as well as developing the practical nuts and bolts skills needed to conduct our own research. Research skill workshops include Internet and WEB resources in research and constructing a research design. Class members organize and participate in a research conference.

Areas of Interest:
People and Cultures
Programs: