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Undergraduate Student Handbook
2007-2008

This Undergraduate Student Handbook was developed to provide information, procedures, and policies specific to students in Women’s Studies. It is designed for both students and faculty to use as the primary point of reference for questions concerning a program of study in Women’s Studies or policies in Women’s Studies.

Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Women’s Studies is to generate and transmit knowledge about women's lives and relationships to culture and society by coordinating programs of instruction, research, and service in the interdisciplinary field of women's studies. Its faculty is committed to analyzing the intersections between gender and other social categories in diverse cultural contexts. We seek to make visible the experiences and contributions of women and the complex social arrangements that depend on assumptions about and definitions of gender in a vast range of historical and social locations. We strive to enhance the Department's national leadership role in the growing field of women's studies through continued excellence in all endeavors.

Women’s Studies at The Ohio State University
Ohio State is one of the oldest and largest Women’s Studies programs in the country. Women’s Studies was first recognized at Ohio State in 1972 and established as an office in 1975. It became a Center with full academic status as a unit of the College of Humanities in 1980. In the Fall of 1995, the Center became a Department. The purpose of the Department is to promote teaching, research, and academic programming on women's issues, feminist perspectives, and gender studies.

The Department offers an undergraduate major and minor in Women's Studies, as well as a master's degree and a doctoral degree in Women’s Studies. The interdisciplinary field of Women’s Studies examines diverse perspectives, experiences, and contributions of women; consequently, it expands our world view and offers a more inclusive approach to teaching and research than that traditionally taken. Women’s Studies courses at Ohio State use innovative teaching methods to disseminate new scholarship on women and to stimulate critical approaches to established knowledge. We encourage our students to develop their analytical skills and creative potential, and become advocates for increased opportunities for all women.

A Women’s Studies program of study enhances both individual and career development and proves beneficial in fields such as law, social work, education, the health professions, government service, business, counseling, journalism, and library science. Additionally, the interdisciplinary training and analytical skills our students acquire through course work in Women’s Studies prepare them well for graduate work in a number of fields.

Faculty and Staff

Office Personnel

Jill Bystydzienski, Department Chair and Professor, Women’s Studies (bystydzienski.1@osu.edu) 292-1021
Ada Draughon, Administrative Assistant, Clerical Supervisor, Fiscal Officer (draughon.1@osu.edu) 688-4712
Pat Drillien, Graduate Program Coordinator, Assistant to the Department Chair (drillien.1@osu.edu) 292-1021
Linda O’Brien, Undergraduate Program Coordinator (obrien.32@osu.edu) 202-1021
Valora Blackson, Departmental Advisor and Doctoral Student (blackson.1@osu.edu) 688-3397

Faculty

Linda Bernhard, Associate Professor, Women’s Studies; Nursing (bernhard.3@osu.edu) 292-8336
Cynthia Burack, Associate Professor, Women’s Studies (burack.1@osu.edu) 292-2210
Christine Keating, Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies (keating.60@osu.edu) 688-3827
Adriane Livingston, Senior Lecturer, Women’s Studies; African-American and African Studies (livingston.24@osu.edu) 292-1697
Linda Mizejewski, Professor, Women’s Studies (mizejewski.1@osu.edu) 292-2467
Terry Moore, Undergraduate Studies Chair and Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies (moore.29@osu.edu) 688-4715
Cathy Rakowski, Associate Professor, Women’s Studies; Rural Sociology (rakowski.1@osu.edu) 292-6447
Claire Robertson, Graduate Studies Chair and Professor, Women’s Studies; History (robertson.8@osu.edu) 292-2174
Jennifer Shaw, Visiting Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies (shaw.392@osu.edu) 247-6848
Wendy Smooth, Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies (smooth.1@osu.edu) 247-8449
Mytheli Sreenivas, Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies; History (sreenivas.2@osu.edu) 292-2674
Ruby Tapia, Assistant Professor, Comparative Studies (tapia.14@osu.edu) 292-2559
Mary Thomas, Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies; Geography (thomas.1672@osu.edu) 292-8222
Rebecca Wanzo, Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies; African-American and African Studies (wanzo.1@osu.edu) 292-5364

Academic Planning & Advising

Declaring a Major
Students may declare a Women’s Studies Major in the College of Arts and Sciences (ASC) office or in the Women’s Studies department; however, if a student declares in ASC, s/he will be referred to the department. Students should come to the Women’s Studies Department for intake and initial advising to develop a program of study and to set up their file.

Students are encouraged to visit their advisor at least once quarterly. Students must seek advising to plan quarterly schedules, revise the Major program form, seek advice about career opportunities or graduate school, change from a Minor to a Major, to obtain “final approval” for the application to graduate, or for other issues they wish to discuss with a Women’s Studies advisor.

Honors students: A slightly different process for honors students is described on page (5).
Double majors: Students who wish to Double Major can have Women’s Studies as either a first or second Major. Ten (10) credits may count toward both Majors.

Declaring a Minor
Students may also declare a Minor in the ASC office or in the department. The department advisor will assist all Minors to develop their course plans. The advisor will complete the necessary paperwork and give it to the Undergraduate Coordinator who will maintain the database and files in the department office.

Honors students who want to minor in Women’s Studies follow the process described on page (5).

Undergraduate Options
The Women's Studies Undergraduate Program at The Ohio State University offers both a Major leading to a BA degree and a Minor designed to complement studies in other academic fields.

Women's Studies undergraduate Majors complete 45 credits of required course work, in addition to meeting general education and elective category requirements, for a minimum total of 191 hours.

Women's Studies undergraduate Minors complete 25 credits of required course work. The Minor is a perfect complement for any Major and will give students a competitive edge in their professional and personal lives.

Honors Program
The Honors program in Women’s Studies gives students the opportunity to experience an enriched education through access to a number of special programs, honors courses, and upper-division courses. Students who complete a research thesis are eligible for graduation with distinction.

Honors students typically begin their university experience via the Honors Office (292-5104) and then are referred to Women’s Studies. Honors students are advised by the Undergraduate Chair, the departmental contact for the ASC Honors Office. The Undergraduate Chair does the initial intake for students to plan their academic program to assure meeting departmental requirements, and to assist with decisions about an honors contract or thesis. If students wish to pursue an honors thesis, the Undergraduate Chair will assist students in identifying a faculty member to advise them and supervise the thesis.

The Women's Studies Major

Requirements: 45 credit hours in approved courses.

WS 101 or WS 110 is a prerequisite and does not count towards the 45 hours required.

30 credits must be at the 300-level or above; 15 must be at the 400-level or above.

No more than 10 credit hours of combined special topics (294, 494) and/or individual studies (693) may be used to fulfill major requirements. Of those 10, no more than 5 may be in 693.

A minimum course grade of C- in any course used to fulfill major requirements, and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in all courses used for the minor must be maintained.

Core Courses: 20 credit hours: Electives: 25 credit hours, including 15 credits in one of three concentration areas. Open Elective hours may be chosen from Women's Studies courses and/or approved discipline-related courses; however, no more than 10 credit hours of electives can be chosen outside of Women's Studies.

Difference and Diversity: Theoretical and practical issues associated with the concepts of "difference" and "diversity" from many feminist perspectives.

Culture and Representation: Analysis of gender in particular representational forms such as film, narrative, art and media. Political Contexts and Social Change: Explores how political, social and economic factors shape policy and women's lives in local and global contexts.

The Women's Studies Minor

Requirements: 25 credit hours in approved courses.

15 hours must be at the 300-level or above; 5 hours must be at the 500-level or above.

No more than 5 credit hours from among 294, 494, or 693 may be used to fulfill minor requirements.

Core Courses: 10 credit hours
At least one of the following: At least one of the following courses that addresses women of color: Electives: 15 credit hours
Electives may be chosen from Women's Studies and/or approved discipline-related courses; however, no more than 5 credit hours of electives can be chosen outside of Women's Studies. **If WS 300 is not used as a requirement, it is strongly encouraged to be taken as an elective, and it is prerequisite to most 500 level courses.

General Education Curriculum Requirements (GEC’s)

Arts and Sciences maintains lists of current GEC approved courses, and students should seek theassistance of an Arts and Sciences advisor to be sure they have met all GEC requirements prior to applying for graduation. Several Women’s Studies courses fulfill GEC requirements, and many students will take Woman’s Studies courses to fulfill GEC requirements, but they must decide whether they are taking the courses for GEC or major credit.

Academic Opportunities

WS 389 Peer Power offers students the opportunity to learn by doing. In class they learn the necessary skills, including presentation development, facilitation of discussion, and activity design, to giveinteractive and dynamic presentations to middle school and high school students in the greater Columbus area, and occasionally to college students as well. Topics for presentations may include gender issues, sexuality, and other topics of interest to students in the class, and/or requested by the schools. Students give at least two presentations during the course, and many continue to participate in presentations after they have completed the course.

WS 589 Internship is available to all majors and minors as an elective. Internships provide students with a way to connect their Women’s Studies education to social action and to obtain experience in an organization that may help with a job search later. Students work in human service agencies, rape education and prevention programs, arts institutions, health care organizations, shelters, counseling centers or other venues. In addition, the student participates in a 2 hour weekly seminar with other students doing internships in which they read feminist theory, and analyze and evaluate their experiences in light of feminist organizational theory.

Internships usually occur in the Columbus area, but may be elsewhere; they provide students with opportunities to build resumes, and obtain volunteer and job experience. The department maintains a binder that describes briefly a variety of options for internships. A supervisor in the organization must be identified. This person must have a baccalaureate degree, or equivalent experience, and must assure that the student will have opportunities for learning and will be supervised. A contract must also be signed by the student and supervisor.

Internships usually occur during the final year of study. If a student wants to participate in an internship,s/he initiates contact with an organization to determine whether a position and a supervisor are available and what s/he would be doing. Internships are approved by the faculty member teaching the course, the advisor, or the Undergraduate Studies chairperson.

If a student wants to do some (s/he may not do all of the internship hours) during a quarter other than the one in which WS 589 is taught (e.g., Summer), the advisor gives approval for the internship placement, and the student must register for WS 693 (or WS 697 for an international placement) during that quarter.

Study Abroad
Ohio State offers study abroad opportunities in more than 70 programs and 53 countries. Women’s Studies students who would like a study abroad experience are encouraged to contact a counselor in the Office of International Education (292-6101). Students may register for WS697 Study at a Foreign Institution to obtain Ohio State credit for coursework in a study abroad program.

Academic Policies

Petitions

Any student who wishes to modify the standard requirements for a major or minor must prepare a written petition to the chairperson of the Undergraduate Studies committee. This includes requests to have any course, not currently on the list of Approved Related courses, count toward the major or minor. These requests should ordinarily be made prior to taking the course.

Petitions concerning GEC courses must go to the Arts and Sciences office.

Progression and Graduation Requirements

If a student wishes to change any courses on a major or minor that has been filed in Arts & Sciences, s/he must get permission from the advisor, who must complete a new form. The form should be marked “Revision,” and should be signed and dated by the advisor, then taken by the student to Linda O’Brien, in the Women’s Studies office, who will make a copy for the departmental file, and finally taken by the student to the ASC office or her/his College office if other than ASC.

To graduate with either a Women’s Studies major or minor, a student must have completed the course requirements, as specified above, with no grade lower than a C- in any course used to fulfill major or minor requirements, and a cumulative grade point of at least 2.0 in the courses used to complete the major or minor. Students must apply to graduate at least one quarter prior to the expected date of graduation.

Prior to graduation the advisor must review the student’s record to be sure that all requirements have been met. The advisor should sign and date the graduation form, and the student should take it to Linda who will make a copy for the file. Then the student will take the original form to the ASC office or her/his College office.

Grievance Procedure

A student who has a grievance with someone in the department should first attempt to resolve the grievance with that person. If that is not satisfactory, the student should take the grievance through the appropriate channels. (Call the Women’s Studies office (292-1021) to identify the appropriate channels.) If a student believes there has been a procedural error in determining a course grade, a formal grade grievance procedure, based on Faculty Rule 3335-7-23 can be initiated.

The Women’s Studies Library

The Women’s Studies Library was an integral part of the department. It was located on the west end of he second floor of the Thompson (Main) Library. The library was staffed by a full-time head librarian, Linda Krikos and several student employees. With 17,000 volumes, more than 100 serial titles, and a large microfilm collection of special materials, the Women's Studies Library was one of the largest of its kind in the country. With the renovation of the Main Library, starting Autumn, 2006, the Women’s Studies Library materials were moved to the Sullivant Library located at 110 Sullivant Hall, 1813 N. High Street, Phone # 292-2075. Go to http://library.osu.edu/sites/sullivant for more information. Also, Professor Linda Krikos may be contacted at krikos.1@osu.edu. The renovations to the Main Library are expected to be completed by Autumn, 2009.

Student Life

Students can keep in touch with the department and each other via the Women’s Studies undergraduate listserv, and the Women’s Studies Monthly email newsletter. Majors/Minors are added to the listserv automatically; others who want to belong should request to the Undergraduate Coordinator that they be added. The Department webpage (http://womens-studies.osu.edu/) is also a source of current information and activities in the department.

Women’s Studies Student Organizations and Volunteer Opportunities

Women's Studies offers many opportunities for students to become part of the Department’s vital academic and social community. The Ohio State University Women’s Studies Honor Society, Iota, Iota, Iota (aka, TRIOTA) is the academic honor society for the field of Women’s Studies.

Students have the opportunity to be involved in departmental and college governance and policy making by serving on several committees, including the Department’s Undergraduate Studies Committee and the College Student Advisory Committee and Senior Gift Committee. Additionally, students are encouraged to volunteer for special programs such as academic speakers, “brown bag” discussion sessions, The Women's Studies Lecture Series, and the Department’s Spring Reception.

A number of other university students’ organizations, such as the Association of Women Students, the Women’s Studies Film Forum, or VOX (Voices for Planned Parenthood at Ohio State University), may also be of interest to women’s studies students.

Women’s Studies Awards

Each spring the department makes a number of awards to students. All students are encouraged to submit papers written between spring quarter of one year and winter quarter of the following year for these awards:
The Robin Wiehm Award was named posthumously for one of the first Women's Studies students at Ohio State. It is presented annually for the outstanding undergraduate paper written for a women's studies class. The award consists of a gift certificate currently for $75.

The Common Differences Awards are given for the best student papers written about the perspectives, experiences, and contributions of women of color in the United States, including Black, Latina, Native American, Asian and Pacific Islander women; or about women of color in other parts of the world. One award is given to an undergraduate student and one to a graduate student in any discipline at the Ohio State University. The award consists of a gift certificate ($75).

The Joellen Thomas Award is named posthumously for a 1998 graduate of the Women's Studies MA program. It is presented annually for the outstanding undergraduate or graduate paper about women and illness or women and disability written for a women's studies class or an approved elective. The award consists of a gift certificate ($75).

A new award, The Virginia Reynolds Book Award, started in 2007 is listed below:
The Virginia Reynolds Book Award is presented to two graduating Women’s Studies Majors or Minors who demonstrate outstanding service and commitment to the Department of Women’s Studies, The Ohio State University campus or community in the advancement of women’s issues. The award is presented in honor of the long term service and commitment of former Women’s Studies librarian, Virginia Reynolds, who dedicated over 37 years to The Ohio State University. Virginia retired in 2006. The recipient of this award will receive a plaque celebrating their commitment to advancing and improving women’s lives, along with a book honoring their activism.

Women’s Studies Scholarships

The Mildred Munday Scholarship is named posthumously for Dr. Munday, who was instrumental in the establishment of The Department of Women's Studies at The Ohio State University. The annual scholarship provides $3000 for tuition at The Ohio State University. Applicants must be Women's Studies Majors with at least a Sophomore standing, excellence in scholarship, and commitment to Women's Studies. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is early in spring quarter. Contact the department office for the specific date.

Spring reception

The department holds an annual reception at which time majors, minors, and graduate students, who have graduated within the past year, are recognized. It is also where the departmental awards and scholarship are presented, and when faculty and staff are also recognized for their achievements. Family and friends are invited and a buffet is provided.

Women’s Studies Course Descriptions

Introductory Courses

WS 101 and H101 Introduction to Women's Studies in the Humanities (undergrad, 5 credit hours, GEC)
An examination of feminist viewpoints through interdisciplinary studies in the humanities; the relationship of feminist concepts, methods, and analyses to traditional academic disciplines in the humanities. Not open to students with credit for WS 110. (Used to be WS 201 - Number Change Only)

WS 110 and H110 Women, Culture, and Society (undergrad, 5 credit hours, GEC)
An interdisciplinary analysis of women, culture, and society. Topics include cultural images, socialization, media, sexuality, sexual orientation, work, family, politics, violence, inequality, and racial diversity. Not open to students with credit for WS 101. (Used to be WS 210 - Number Change Only)

WS 215 Reading Women Writers (undergrad, 5 credit hours, GEC)
A study of women writers' strategies for articulating experiences and using literature as a lens for social reality and catalyst for social and political change.

WS 230 Gender, Sexuality, and Race in Popular Culture (undergrad, 5 credit hours, GEC) This course is based on the premise that popular culture provides us with the stories, images, and scripts that enable us to imagine and practice femininities, masculinities, and sexualities. Our texts for study will include film, television, advertising, music, and stardom.

WS 294 and H296 Group Studies (undergrad, 1-5 credit hours)
Special studies not otherwise offered; the topic for this course varies and a full description is available from the Department. (Repeatable to a maximum of 15 credit hours.)

Intermediate Courses

WS 300 Introduction to Feminist Analysis (undergrad, 5 credit hours)
This course is an Introduction to principles of feminist analysis as it applies to a range of contemporary issues and institutions. (This course should be taken as early as possible after declaring a major in Women's Studies, since it is prerequisite to most WS 500 level courses).

WS 305 Gender, Culture & Power in International Perspective (undergrad, 5 credit hours)
Investigates women cross-culturally by exploring gender issues in the non-Western world.

WS 317 Women and Film (undergrad, 5 credit hours, GEC)
A critical survey of the representation of women in Hollywood cinema, with examples drawn from the 1930s to the present. Learn how film has functioned in its representations of women and how and why women filmmakers have created alternative visions of women in film.

WS 320 Topics in Women’s Studies (undergrad, 5 credit hours)
This course will provide in depth analyses of specific topics in the areas of difference and diversity, culture and representation, and political contexts and social change.

WS 325 Issues in Women's Health (undergrad, 5 credit hours)
An interdisciplinary inquiry into the issues affecting women's health and the politics of gender in the medical health care profession.

WS 326 Women and Addiction: A Feminist Perspective (undergrad, 5 credit hours)
An interdisciplinary analysis of women and addiction, with a focus on the addictive consequences of sex-role socialization, substance abuse, addiction in intimate relationships, eating disorders, and the medical and social consequences of addiction among women.

WS 340 Latina Experience in the U.S. (undergrad, 5 credit hours)
Introduces the important and far reaching issues of Latinas today, recognizing the contributions of these women to U.S. history, the women’s movement and feminism.

WS 350 Feminist Perspectives on Women and Violence (undergrad, 5 credit hours)
This course uses a feminist, interdisciplinary approach to analyze selected national or international issues of interpersonal and institutionalized violence in which women are victims and perpetrators.

WS 367.01 U.S. Women Writers: Text and Context (undergrad, 5 credit hours GEC)
A course on the representation of female experiences in U.S. literature written by women, with emphasis on interdisciplinary relationships between literature and U.S. women's socio-political history. Fulfills second level writing requirement for BA.

WS 367.02 U.S. Latina Writers: Text and Context (undergrad, 5 credit hours GEC)
This writing course will focus on novels and short stories by US Latina writers, including Sandra Cisneros, Julia Alvarez, Norma Cantu, and Patricia Preciado Martin. Students will write analytical essays on the topics of racial memory, political desire, and women of color literary criticism. This course focuses on the process of writing, especially revision. Students will have the opportunity to workshop their writing in small groups. Fulfills second level writing requirement for BA.

WS 367.03 U.S. Lesbian Writers: Text and Context (undergrad, 5 credit hours GEC)
A course in writing and analysis of U.S. Lesbian experiences with emphasis on interdisciplinary relationships between literature and U.S. Lesbian socio-political history. Fulfills second level writing requirement for BA.

WS 367.04 Black Women Writers: Text and Context (undergrad, 5 credit hours GEC)
A course in writing and analysis of black women's literature representations of issues in U.S. social history. Fulfills second level writing requirement for BA.

WS 370 Varieties of Female Experience: Lesbian Cultures (undergrad, 5 credit hours GEC)
This course is designed as a survey of cultural, social, and political issues related to historical and contemporary lesbian experiences in the United States.

WS 372 Modern Arabic Literature in Translation (undergrad, 5 credit hours GEC)
Reading and analysis of 19th and 20th centuries; discussion of development of major movements and genres in modern Arabic literature.

WS 375 Women and Visual Culture (undergrad, 5 credit hours)
Analysis of visual images of women in historical, racial and class contexts.

WS 389 The Theory and Practice of Peer Outreach in Women's Studies (undergrad, 5 credit hours)
Designed to prepare undergraduate students with the theoretical and practical skills necessary to present women's studies topics to middle and high school youth.

WS 494 Group Studies (undergrad, 2-5 credit hours)
Special studies not otherwise offered. Interdisciplinary topics vary from quarter to quarter; students should consult Women's Studies quarterly listings. (Repeatable to a maximum of 15 credit hours.)

Advanced Courses

WS 505 Feminist Analysis in Global Perspective (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
An exploration of the global dimensions of feminist research and politics with particular attention to feminism in the nonwestern world.

WS 510 and H510 American Women's Movements (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours GEC)
An interdisciplinary analysis of American women's movements, including historical, literary, sociological and theoretical perspectives. Not open to students with credit for WS 400.

WS 513 Women, Government, and Public Policy (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
An examination of policy making on gender related issues and the impact of women in government.

WS 517 Women Film Directors (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
Examines the works of women film directors from the 1940s to the present, with particular attention to the ways their works embody preoccupations with the representation of women's experience and a female point of view.

WS 520 Women of Color and Social Activism (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours GEC)
This course examines multiple forms of social activism among women of color from various parts of the world concerning local, national and international issues.

WS 524 Women and Work (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
This course examines the social, cultural, and historical factors that influence women's work in the U.S. and the multiple ways in which gender affects the nature and quality of work.

WS 527 Studies in Gender and Cinema (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
An analysis of different film types focused on women to help students understand historical scope, theoretical frameworks, and reading strategies for understanding these films. Topics Vary.

WS 535 Gender and Science (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
Examination of relations between gender and science; topics include gendering of "science" and "nature", biological theories of sexual inequality, feminist critiques of science and technology. Cross-listed in Comparative Studies.

WS 540 Studies in Women of Color Writing Culture (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
Interdisciplinary feminist study of selected historical and cultural movements through writings by Women of Color. Topics vary by genre and by era.

WS 545 Intersections: Approaches to Race, Gender, Class and Sexuality (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
Examines intersections of race, gender, class, and sexuality in various sites within American culture (e.g., legal system, civil rights discourse, social justice movements).

WS 550 History of Western Feminist Thought (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
An introduction to and analysis of major texts of Western feminist theories as they have developed and changed since the Enlightenment.

WS 575 Issues in Contemporary Feminist Theory (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
This course explores, through close examination of key theoretical texts, a particular contemporary issue that has crucial implications for humanistic inquiry.

WS 576 Women and Visual Cultures of Latin America (undergrad/graduate 5 credit hours)
Analysis of Latin American women, visual artists of 20th and 21st centuries, with emphasis on contemporary feminist theories of visual culture.

WS 589 Internship in Feminist Theory and Collective Action (undergrad 5 credit hours)
Field-based learning experience to explore the relationship between feminist theory and collective action. Use of field work and class discussion to relate theory to practice. Prerequisites are WS 300 and 15 hours of course work.

WS 620 Topics in Feminist Studies (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
Interdisciplinary in-depth analysis of selected topics in feminist research and interpretation. Topic varies quarterly; contact the Department of Women's Studies for specific course descriptions. (Repeatable to a maximum of 15 credit hours.)

WS 623 African Women (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
This course uses a cross-cultural approach to examine the cultures and roles of African women in the 20th century. Particular attention is given to the voices of African women as they confront and work to overcome the complex problems they encounter in their everyday lives.

WS 624 Women and Social Change in Latin America (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
Feminist perspectives to introduce students to Latin American women's experiences and reality as perceived by those who study women and women themselves.

WS 670 Gender Discrimination (undergrad/graduate, 5 credit hours)
Legal, social, and public policy trends; analysis of gender-related constitutional laws and its relationship to social, political, and economic developments; the meaning and significance of sex discrimination.

WS 693 Individual Studies (undergrad/graduate, 1-5 credit hours)
Students may register for individual directed study in subjects not covered in regular course work. For names of faculty members who are available to work with students on individual women's studies projects and information about their area of expertise, contact the Department. Enrollment is limited to Women's Studies majors and minors; no more than 5 hours of 693 may be applied toward a Women's Studies major.

WS 697 Study at a Foreign Institution (undergrad/graduate, 1-15 credit hours)
An opportunity for students to study at a foreign institution and receive Ohio State credit for that work. Written permission of the department chairperson is required. Students will pay Ohio State fees and any fees in excess of Ohio State tuition, as well as all travel and subsistence costs. Student should contact the Office of International Education at 292-6101 to see what is available each quarter.

WS 699 Undergrad Research in Women’s Studies (undergrad, 1-15 credit hours) Undergraduate research or creative activities in variable topics.

WS 783 honors Research (undergrad, 3-5 credit hours)
A program of individual study for undergraduate honors students; may include individual conferences and reports; requires presentation and oral defense of an honors thesis.

WS 792 Interdepartmental Studies in Humanities (undergrad/graduate, 3-5 credit hours)
Two or more departments offer courses on subjects of mutual interest.

Approved Related Course Descriptions

These courses have been approved to meet elective requirements for Women's Studies degrees. In the case of "Topics In," "Studies In," or "Group Studies" courses, only the specific course listed here can apply. Any course listed as “Topics Vary” may not meet Women’s Studies requirements from quarter to quarter, depending on the topic. If in doubt, contact a Women’s Studies advisor. All courses are subject to change and may not be offered every quarter. Contact the department offering the course to see when it is being offered.

African-American and African Studies

AAAS 230 The Black Woman: Her Role in the Liberation Struggle U 5
The political role of the Black woman in the struggle for Black freedom; examination of changing laws and customs affecting the status of Black women.

Anthropology

ANTHROP 597.02 Women, Culture, and Development U 5
An analysis of the dramatic changes occurring in women's lives in response to development and modernization; developing and developed countries are contrasted.

ANTHROP 601.04 Global Perspectives on Women’s Health U G 5
A cross-cultural comparison of the political, economic, social and biological issues surrounding women’s health.

ANTHROP 620.02 The Anthropology of Women U G 5
Detailed examination of topics of special interest in contemporary cultural anthropology.

Biology

BIOLOGY 597 Biology of Human Diversity: Race, Gender, & Ethnicity U 5
Historical perspectives on contemporary issues in human biology and biocultural problems

Classics

CLASSICS 508 Gender and Sexuality in Antiquity U G 5
Constructions of gender & sexuality in Greece and Rome.

Comparative Studies

COMP STD 242 Introduction to Latino/a Studies U 5
Introduction to Latino/a studies; history, politics and cultural production of Latino/a communities in the U.S. and its borderlands.

COMP STD 314 Women in East Asian and Asian-American Literature U 5
Critical analysis of East Asian and Asian-American women’s’ experience which examines the gender and sexual differences in the distribution of political power and discourse.

COMP STD 315 Women and Religion U 5
Modern women writers search for feminist alternatives to traditional and patriarchal religious beliefs.

COMP STD 544 Latino/a Literature and Culture U G 5
Focused study of a topic in Latino/a literary and cultural studies.

COMP STD 651 Topics in Comparative Studies U G 5 Selected Topics Vary
(Such As: Gender and Technoculture)
This seminar examines the ways in which gender produces technologies and technologies produce gender, paying attention to feminist and social constructivist debates about the desires and phobias engendered by machines in modern and postmodern culture.

COMP STD 678 Studies in Chinese-American Literature U G 5 Selected Topics Vary
Critical study of modern Chinese-American literature in historical and cultural contexts. Topics such as gender issues, genre studies and women's writing.

Educational Policy and Leadership

ED P&L 414 Gender and Education U 5
Examination of the education of females in schools through the lenses of history, psychology, sociology, policy analysis, and curriculum.

ED P&L 610 Women's Sport History U G 4
An examination of women's sporting experience from primitive cultures to contemporary societies: investigates influence of class economics, power, relationships, education and views of the body.

ED P&L 626.02 Sport and Popular Culture – Race and Gender U G 5
A variety of themes present in selected popular cultural forms dealing with a variety of sports such as football, basketball, baseball, and track and field.

ED P&L 658 Sport in Western Culture U G 5
Examines sport in North American, South American, and European countries with emphasis on influences of political ideology, economics, gender, race and nationalism.

English

ENG 575 Special Topics in Literary Forms & Theory U G 5 Selected Topics Vary
Topics vary. Examples: Women’s Voices in Native American Writing; the Trojan War in English literature; the hero and the anti-hero; pastoralism and romance.

ENG 576.03 Issues and Movements in Critical Theory U G 5 Selected Topics Vary
Study of selected issues or movements in critical theory: topics may include feminist theory, postmodernism, narrative theory, mass culture and queer theory.

ENG 577.01 Folk Groups and Communities U G 5 Selected Topics Vary
Study of group identities, group concerns, expressive strategies of particular groups; African-American folklore; folklore and the elderly; women and folklore, ethnicity, identify, heritage.

ENG 578 Studies in Film U G 5 Selected Topics Vary
Examination of particular topics, themes, genres, or movements in cinema or in the relationship between cinema and literary texts.

ENG 580 Special Topics in Gay and Lesbian Language and Literature U 5
Issues in the representation of gay and lesbian desires, identities, and cultures, through the study of literature, film, folklore, or language.

ENG 592 Special Topics in Women in Literature U 5
Close examination, from feminist perspectives, of literature by or about women. Central topic varies; past topics include biography or autobiography, women as artists, images and stereotypes.

ENG 681.03 Studies in Chinese-American Literature U G 5 Selected Topics Vary
Critical study of modern Chinese-American literature in historical and cultural context; topics vary: gender issues, genre studies, women’s studies.

French

FRENCH 663 Women in French Literature U G 5
Examination of representation of women in selected works of French literature from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

Hebrew

HEB 374 Women in Biblical and Post-Biblical Hebrew Literature U 5 GEC
An examination of the social, legal, and religious positions of women as they appear in ancient Hebrew scriptures and Rabbinic writings. Taught in English. Not open to students with credit for 274.

History

HIST 325 Introduction to Women’s History: The American Experience U 5 GEC
American women and the economic, social, and political factors responsible for women's status in society from the colonial period to the present.

HIST 523 Women in the Western World: Ancient Civilization to the Industrial Revolution U G 5
Women and the economic, social, and political factors responsible for their status in society.

HIST 524 Women in the Western World: The Industrial Revolution to the Present U G 5
Women and the economic, social, and political factors responsible for their status in society. This course is a continuation of History 523.

HIST 525 Topics in Women's History U G 5
In-depth analysis of selected topics in American, European, and/or Third World women's history; topic varies.

HIST 526 Historical Perspectives of Sexuality: Same-Sex Sexuality in the Western World U G 5
History of same-sex love and sexuality from ancient times to the present.

HIST 546 Topics in Chinese History U G 5
Selected thematic topics in Chinese history (when the topics pertain to women only).

History of Art

HIST ART 400 Women Artists of the Western World (undergrad, 5 credit hours)
A chronological, socio-historical examination of women artists and their contributions to Western art.

Japanese

JAPANESE 665 Studies in Japanese-American Literature U G 5 Selected Topics Vary
Critical study of modern Japanese-American literature in historical and cultural context; topics vary: literature of the internment, gender and identity politics, genre studies, women’s writing.

Journalism and Communication

J COM 662 Communication and Gender U G 5
An examination of contemporary communication theory, method and practice relevant to women's communication.

Linguistics

LING 367 Language, Sex, and Gender in American Culture U 5
Discussing and writing about ways that views about sex and gender affect language and how it is used, in speech communities in the U.S.

Music

MUSIC 685 Women and Music U G 3
A consideration of the roles of women in Western music, building upon current scholarship in the areas of women in music and of gender studies.

Near Eastern Languages (NELC)

NELC 345 Women in the Muslim Middle East U G 5
Examination of position of women in the contemporary Middle East; impact of regional environment on gender identity; gender bias studies in various Middle Eastern countries.

NELC 360 Sheherazade and Company: Sex, Gender, & Power in Middle Eastern Story Telling U G 5
Oral storytelling by adults in recent practice; its depiction in Middle Eastern literature from medieval to modern; how storytellers, male and female, treat gender relations.

Philosophy

PHILOS 625 Topics in Feminist Theory U G 5
An analytical study of selected philosophical issues arising out of feminist theory, such as the nature of autonomy, or the relation between gender and knowledge.

Political Science

POLI SCI 512 Women and Politics U G 5
An examination of women's participation in political activity, including changes over time in women's political roles and comparisons with the roles of men.

POLI SCI 514 Women and the Law U G 5
An examination of the legal status of women and the ways in which law affects the situation of women in American society.

Psychology

PSYCH 543 Psychology of Women U G 5
Exploration of the nature and causes of sex differences in behavior patterns, and factors influencing the development of women through psychological theory and research.

Rural Sociology

RURAL SOC 678 Women in Rural Sociology U G 5
Women’s role in rural society from a comparative perspective, focusing on agriculture, the environment, informal sector and household production, both in developing and developed countries.

Slavic Languages and Literatures

SLAVIC H583 Cinderella’s Fantasy: Gender and Women in West and East Europe U G 05
The course pursues the complementary nature of feminists’ notions in West and East European societies and cultures via literature and film.

Sociology

SOC 435 Sociology of Women U 5 GEC
Analysis of sex roles and social structure, with emphasis on modern social movements concerned with redefining sex-role relationships.

SOC 510 Women, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System U 5
Analysis of females as participants in and victims of crime, the treatment of women in the criminal justice system, women as workers in criminal justice fields.

SOC 605 Sociology of Sexuality U G 5
A social and institutional approach to the study of sexuality with a focus on sexual identities, practices, institutions, communities, and sexuality movements.

SOC 608 Gender, Race & Class in Mass Communication U G 5
Sociological aspects of mass communications; emphasis on relationships among media, audience and social structure; examination of media culture and depiction of race, class and gender.

Background Art: "You Can Make Statistics Look Like Whatever You Want" by fiber artist Carol Phillips Whitt