Program Faculty: Cavallaro*,Carroll, Doherty, Konchar Farr, Wygal (*coordinator)
Program Description:
Students may elect either a minor or a consortial major (courses available in cooperation with three other ACTC colleges, Augsburg, Hamline and St. Thomas).
This interdisciplinary program draws on the extensive body of research on women to help students understand women's experiences in the past and analyze women's situations today, nationally and globally. Since feminist theory addresses not only gender but also race/ethnicity, class and other differences, the Women's Studies program helps students understand and respect cultural diversity and develop their awareness of social transformation processes. The program includes theoretical, practical and research components; it is flexible by design.
A major or minor in women's studies supports career choices in human services, education, business, public policy and other fields calling for critical thinking and engagement with human diversity.
Major Requirements: Ten courses:
WOST 205W Foundations in Women's Studies
WOST 364 Feminist Theory
WOST 460 Internship
WOST 485W Senior Seminar
Two women's studies courses in each of the following areas (a total of four courses): 1) arts and humanities, and 2) social sciences and sciences
One WOST course with race/ethnicity component
One elective
Three of these courses, in addition to WOST 364 (Feminist Theory), 460 (Internship) and 485W (seminar), must be upper-division courses.
Courses other than WOST 205W, 364, 460, and 485W are cross-listed for women's studies within the originating department (see list below); a schedule of courses offered on the consortial campuses is published online annually and is available from the coordinator of women's studies.
Cross-listed women's studies courses at the College of St. Catherine (see originating department listings for descriptions):
ART 363 Art History: Women in Art
BIOL 112 Biology of Women
COMM 307W Gender and Rhetoric
COMM 310 Intercultural Communication
COMM 360 Leadership Communication
ENGL 230W Literature in Translation
ENGL 245W Language in Society
ENGL 290W Women and Literature
ENGL 310W Language as Power
HIST 325 History of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights in the U.S.
HIST 356 Women in America
HIST 365 Since Suffrage: U.S. Women Since 1920
HIST 370 History of Feminism in Western Society
INDI 291 The Anatomy of Violence
PHIL 240 Philosophy and Women
PHIL 390 Feminist Philosophy
PSYC 305 Psychology of Gender
SOCI 270 Social Movements and Social Change
SOCI 321 Marriage and Family
SOCI 325 Cultural Anthropology
SOCI 345 Women in Society
SOCI 351 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
THEO 200 Stages of Christian Life
THEO 338W Women and the Bible
THEO 345W Women in American Christianity
THEO 385W Spirituality and Sexuality
THEO 393W Christian Women Mystics
Other cross-listed courses include selected sections of topics courses, selected senior seminars and selected independent studies. Consult campus coordinator for current list of cross-listed courses.
Because courses are offered on several campuses, there is a potential for duplication of material. Credit will not be given toward the major for two courses that overlap substantially in content. Students should consult with the women's studies coordinator to avoid duplicating courses. Course descriptions are listed in originating departments in the catalogs of the individual ACTC colleges.
Minor Requirements: Five courses:
WOST 205W Foundations in Women's Studies
WOST 364 Feminist Theory
Three other courses from three disciplines, chosen from the published list of approved courses.
With the approval of the coordinator, a maximum of two courses may be transferred from a non-ACTC institution.
In the annual schedule, courses are cross-listed in the originating department as well as in women's studies.
Women's studies majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing WOST 205W and 485W. They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with two other writing-intensive courses (CORE 100W and CORE 399W).
