Chair: Sara Diaz
Associate Professors: S. Diaz, N. Rodriguez-Coss
Lecturer: A. Dame-Griff
The department offers one major and one minor:
Major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Gonzaga’s Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department is an inter- and multi- disciplinary program that employs critical feminist theories and methodologies to foster transformative understanding of the intersections of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, and class among other socially defined identities. Using gender as a central analytic, we examine and question systems of power, inequality, and injustice and their role in shaping lived experiences of persons, locally, nationally, and transnationally. We foster an ethical and intellectual commitment to dismantle sexism, heterosexism, and other dimensions of intersecting oppressions such as racism and classism. Our faculty empower students to imagine a more just future and equip them with the tools to collectively enact it.
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies offers stand-alone interdisciplinary courses and cross-listed elective courses in many different disciplines (Sociology, English, Philosophy, History, and many others). Faculty members trained in feminist scholarship and pedagogy teach WGST courses, and they seek to create a community of learners in which both professors and students take responsibility for the educational experience. Many courses use projects that invite students to put their knowledge to practical use solving problems, promoting social justice, lifting up the poor and vulnerable or otherwise serving the common good.
Students studying WGST learn about a host of gender-based social inequalities as well as the history of feminist movements for justice. In particular, students will develop their ability to think critically, intersectionally, and transnationally about gender and power in relation to both theory and practice. The skills developed in WGST coursework are applicable to many careers. Gonzaga WGST graduates work in business, education, journalism, government, international development, law, public relations, social services, and research. WGST graduates have also entered graduate programs in art history, counseling, critical race and ethnic studies, literature, media studies, political science, social work, sociology, theology and women’s and gender studies.
The department offers a thirty-three credit major in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies which consists of a sequence of five, three-credit required courses, including a capstone. To encourage students to self-direct their study, elective options making up the remaining 18 credits may be chosen from our large list of cross-listed and standalone courses. With the exception of your theory course, a maximum of nine credits may be taken in any one discipline outside of WGST.
The department also offers a twenty-one credit minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. There are three required standalone courses. The remaining 12 credits may be chosen from our large list of cross-listed and standalone courses. With the exception of your theory course, a maximum of nine credits may be taken in any one discipline outside of WGST.
Major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: 33 credits |
|
Lower Division |
|
WGST100 Intro to WGST |
3 credits |
WGST 200 Gender, Difference, & Power |
3 credits |
Upper Division |
|
WGST 300 Feminism & Intersectionality |
3 credits |
One of the following Theory courses: |
3 credits |
WGST 401 Feminist Political Thought |
|
WGST 402 Feminist Geneaolgies |
|
WGST 403 Crit Theory: Lit & Cltrl Stdy |
|
Electives* |
18 credits |
WGST 499 Capstone |
3 credits |
*6 other 3 credit elective WGST classes (standalone or cross-listed) of the student's choice. With the exception of your theory course, a maximum of nine credits may be taken in any one discipline outside of WGST.
Minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: 21 credits |
|
Lower Division | |
WGST 100 Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | 3 credits |
200 or 300-level required course | |
Select one of the following two courses |
3 credits |
WGST 200 Gender, Difference, and Power
|
|
WGST 300 Feminism & Intersectionality
|
|
Theory Course |
|
Select one of the following theory courses: |
3 credits |
WGST 401 Feminist Political Thought
|
|
WGST 402 Feminist Genealogies
|
|
WGST 403 Crit Theory: Lit & Cltrl Stdy
|
|
Electives^ |
12 credits |
|
^4 other 3 cr. elective WGST classes (standalone OR cross-listed) of the student's choice. With the exception of your theory course, a maximum of nine credits may be taken in any one discipline outside of WGST.
SOCI 283 - OK if taken since Fall 2023
SOSJ 221 - OK if taken since Fall 2023
SOSJ 342 - OK if taken since Fall 2015
POLS 363 - Successful completion
RELI 376 - OK if taken since Fall 2023
In addition to their major and minor areas of study, all undergraduate students follow a common program designed to complete their education in those areas that the University considers essential for a Catholic, Jesuit, liberal, and humanistic education. The University Core Curriculum consists of forty-five credits of course work, with additional designation requirements that can be met through core, major, or elective courses.
The University Core Curriculum is a four-year program, organized around one overarching question, which is progressively addressed through yearly themes and questions. Hence, core courses are best taken within the year for which they are designated. First year core courses encourage intellectual engagement and provide a broad foundation of fundamental skills. Second and third year courses examine central issues and questions in philosophy and religious studies. The fourth year course, the Core Integration Seminar, offers a culminating core experience. Taken at any time throughout the four years, broadening courses intersect with the core themes and extend students’ appreciation for the humanities, arts, and social and behavioral sciences. Finally, the designation requirements (writing enriched, global studies, and social justice) reflect important values and reinforce students’ knowledge and competencies.
Overarching Core Question: As students of a Catholic, Jesuit, and Humanistic University, how do we educate ourselves to become women and men for a more just and humane global community?
Year 1 Theme and Question: Understanding and Creating: How do we pursue knowledge and cultivate understanding?
- The First-Year Seminar (DEPT 193, 3 credits): The First-Year Seminar (FYS), taken in the fall or spring of the first year, is designed to promote an intellectual shift in students as they transition to college academic life. Each small seminar is organized around an engaging topic, which students explore from multiple perspectives. The FYS is offered by many departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of FYS courses).
- Writing (ENGL 101, 3 credits) and Reasoning (PHIL 101, 3 credits): The Writing and Reasoning courses are designed to help students develop the foundational skills of critical reading, thinking, analysis, and writing. They may be taken as linked sections. Writing (ENGL 101) carries one of the three required writing-enriched designations (see below).
- Communication & Speech (COMM 100, 3 credits): This course introduces students to interpersonal and small group communication and requires the application of critical thinking, reasoning, and research skills necessary to organize, write, and present several speeches.
- Scientific Inquiry (BIOL 104/104L, CHEM 104/104L, or PHYS 104/104L, 3 credits): This course explores the scientific process in the natural world through evidence-based logic and includes significant laboratory experience. Students pursuing majors that require science courses will satisfy this requirement through their major.
- Mathematics (above Math 100, 3 credits): Mathematics courses promote thinking according to the modes of the discipline—abstractly, symbolically, logically, and computationally. One course in mathematics, above Math 100, including any math course required for a major or minor, will fulfill this requirement. MATH 100 (College Algebra) and courses without the MATH prefix do not fulfill this requirement.
Year 2 Theme and Question: Being and Becoming: Who are we and what does it mean to be human?
- Philosophy of Human Nature (PHIL 201, 3 credits): This course provides students with a philosophical study of key figures, theories, and intellectual traditions that contribute to understanding the human condition; the meaning and dignity of human life; and the human relationship to ultimate reality.
- Christianity and Catholic Traditions (RELI, 3 credits). Religious Studies core courses approved for this requirement explore diverse topics including Christian scriptures, history, theology, and practices as well as major contributions from the Catholic intellectual and theological traditions (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses) .
Year 3 Theme and Question: Caring and Doing: What principles characterize a well lived life?
- Ethics (PHIL 301 or RELI, 3 credits): The Ethics courses are designed to help students develop their moral imagination by exploring and explaining the reasons humans should care about the needs and interests of others. This requirement is satisfied by an approved ethics course in either Philosophy (PHIL 301) or Religious Studies (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- World/Comparative Religion (RELI, 3 credits): Religious Studies courses approved for this core requirement draw attention to the diversity that exists within and among traditions and encourage students to bring critical, analytical thinking to bear on the traditions and questions considered. These courses carries one of the required two global-studies designations (see below) (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
Year 4 Theme and Question: Imagining the Possible: What is our role in the world?”
- Core Integration Seminar (DEPT 432, 3 credits). The Core Integration Seminar (CIS) offers students a culminating core experience in which they integrate the principles of Jesuit education, prior components of the core, and their disciplinary expertise. Some CIS courses may also count toward a student’s major or minor. The CIS is offered by several departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of CIS courses).
The Broadening Courses
- Fine Arts & Design (VART, MUSC, THEA, 3 credits): Arts courses explore multiple ways the human experience can be expressed through creativity, including across different cultures and societies. One approved course in fine arts, music, theatre, or dance will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- History (HIST, 3 credits): History courses are intended to develop students’ awareness of the historical context of both the individual and the collective human experience. One course in History (HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 112, HIST 201, HIST 202) will fulfill this requirement.
- Literature (3 credits): Literature courses foster reflection on how literature engages with a range of human experience. One approved course in Literature (offered by English, Classics, or Modern Languages) will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 credits): Courses in the social and behavioral sciences engage students in studying human behavior, social systems, and social issues. One approved course offered by Criminal Justice, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Women and Gender Studies will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
The Designations
Designations are embedded within already existing core, major, minor, and elective courses. Students are encouraged to meet designation requirements within elective courses as their schedule allows; however, with careful planning students should be able to complete most of the designation requirements within other core, major, or minor courses.
- Writing Enriched (WE; 3 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the WE designation are designed to promote the humanistic and Jesuit pedagogical ideal of clear, effective communication. In addition to the required core course, Writing (ENGL 101), which carries one of the WE designations, students must take two other WE-designated courses (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Global-Studies (GS; 2 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the GS designation are designed to challenge students to perceive and understand human diversity by exploring diversity within a context of constantly changing global systems. In addition to the required core course, World/Comparative Religion (RELI 300-level), which carries one of the GS designations, students must take one other GS-designated course (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Social-Justice (SJ; 1 course meeting this designation): Courses carrying the SJ designation are designed to introduce students to one or more social justice concerns. Students must take one course that meets the SJ designation (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
Major-specific adaptations to the University Core Curriculum
All Gonzaga students, regardless of their major, will complete the University Core Curriculum requirements. However some Gonzaga students will satisfy certain core requirements through major-specific programs or courses. Any major-specific adaptations to the core are described with the requirements for the majors to which they apply.