The Women's Studies Major
General Requirements
The Women's Studies major requires a minimum of 45 credit hours in approved courses.- Students must have completed WS 101 or WS 110 as a prerequisite to the major. This does not count towards the 45 hours required.
- 30 credit hours must be at the 300-level or above; 15 hours must be at the 400-level or above.
- A minimum course grade of C- and an average grade of C (2.0) in all courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be maintained.
- No more than 10 credit hours of combined special topics (WS 294, WS 494),and/or individual studies (WS 693) may be used to fulfill major requirements. Of those 10, no more than 5 may be in WS 693.
- Major courses may not be used to meet other curricular requirements, except as specified in the General Education Curriculum (GEC) and ASC Handbook.
Core Courses
All majors must complete 20 credit hours of core courses.-
WS 300 Introduction to Feminist Analysis (5 cr. hr.)
This course should be taken as early as possible after declaring a major, since it is prerequisite to most WS 500 level courses. - WS 550 History of Western Feminist Thought (5 cr. hr.)
- At least ONE of the following courses that addresses women of color; this course may not be applied to the concentration requirement (5 cr. hr.)
-
Senior Experience (5 cr. hr.)
Majors must select ONE of the following:
Electives
Majors must complete 25 credit hours of elective courses, 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.Concentration Areas
The concentration areas are developed to provide in-depth knowledge in a particular area of interest. Majors must select at least THREE courses from ONE of these three concentrations (the full 25 credit hours may be taken in one area).Difference and Diversity
Theoretical and practical issues associated with the concepts of "difference" and "diversity" from many feminist perspectives.- WS 305 Gender, Culture & Power in International Perspective
- WS 340 Latina Experience in the U.S.
- WS 367.02 U.S. Latina Writers
- WS 367.03 U.S. Lesbian Writers
- WS 367.04 Black Women Writers
- WS 370 Varieties of Female Experience: Lesbian Cultures
- WS 389 Theory and Practice of Peer Outreach in Women's Studies
- WS 505 Feminist Analysis in Global Perspective
- WS 520 Women of Color and Social Activism
- WS 540 Studies in Women of Color Writing Culture
- WS 545 Intersections: Approaches to Race, Gender, Class, and Sexuality
- WS 589 Internship in Feminist Theory and Collective Action
- WS 623 African Women
- WS 624 Woman and Social Change in Latin America
Culture and Representation
Analysis of gender in particular representational forms such as film, narrative, art and media.- WS 215 Reading Women Writers
- WS 305 Gender, Culture & Power in International Perspective
- WS 317 Women and Film
- WS 340 Latina Experience in the U.S.
- WS 367.01 U.S. Women Writers
- WS 367.02 U.S. Latina Writers
- WS 367.03 U.S. Lesbian Writers
- WS 367.04 Black Women Writers
- WS 372 Modern Arabic Literature in Translation
- WS 375 Women and Visual Culture
- WS 517 Women Film Directors
- WS 527 Studies in Gender and Cinema
- WS 540 Studies in Women of Color Writing Culture
- WS 576 Women and Visual Cultures of Latin America
- WS 589 Internship in Feminist Theory and Collective Action
Political Contexts and Social Change
Explores how political, social and economic factors shape policy and women's lives in local and global contexts.- WS 305 Gender, Culture & Power in International Perspective
- WS 325 Women's Health Issues
- WS 326 Women and Addiction
- WS 350 Women and Violence
- WS 389 Theory and Practice of Peer Outreach in Women's Studies
- WS 505 Feminist Analysis in Global Perspective
- WS 513 Women, Government, and Public Policy
- WS 510 American Women's Movements
- WS 520 Women of Color and Social Activism
- WS 524 Women and Work
- WS 589 Internship in Feminist Theory and Collective Action
- WS 623 African Women
- WS 624 Women and Social Change in Latin America
- WS 670 Gender Discrimination
Open Electives
The remaining elective hours may be chosen from Women's Studies and/or approved discipline-related courses. No more than 10 credit hours of electives can be chosen outside of Women's Studies.Note: "Topics In" and "Studies In" courses vary by quarter. Only those courses listed as approved related courses may be used for the major. For courses not listed in official OSU Women's Studies documents, students must obtain written approval from the department before enrolling in the course.
For more information
To ask more detailed questions, please contact the Undergraduate Studies Coordinator, Linda O'Brien, at obrien.32@osu.edu or (614) 292-1021.Top of Page
