Catalog Course Descriptions
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Women and Gender Studies Courses
Undergraduate
WMST 100: Global Representations of Women (3 Credits)
Explores ways women are portrayed around the world in advertising, film, TV, cartoons, and news media; literature and religious texts; as well as photography, and the visual and performing arts. Through interdisciplinary study, students evaluate the powerful effects these representations have on the political, economic, and social lives of women throughout the world. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. Limited to three attempts.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
WMST 200: Introduction to Women and Gender Studies (3 Credits)
Interdisciplinary introduction to women’s, gender and sexuality studies, encompassing key concepts in the field, history of women’s movements and women’s studies in America, cross-cultural constructions of gender, and a thematic emphasis on the diversity of women’s experience across class, race, and cultural lines. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core, Social/Behavioral Sciences
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
WMST 300: Current Issues in Women and Gender Studies (1-6 Credits)
Study of selected topics central to contemporary women and gender studies. Topics vary but include subjects such as women and violence, women and international development, women's myth and ritual, LGBTQ topics, the history and politics of sexuality, psychoanalysis, and religion. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. May be repeated within the term.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Recommended Prerequisite: WMST 200 or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
WMST 307: Women and Work (3 Credits)
Historical and contemporary accounts of women's participation in paid and unpaid labor. Analyzes the nature of women's work through the divisions in the labor market due to gender, race, nationality, ethnicity, and class. Provides a detailed look at occupational sex segregation, sexual harassment, the glass ceiling, and the role of religion, culture, and education in determining women's opportunities and their value as workers and as family providers. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. Limited to three attempts.
Recommended Prerequisite: 30 credits.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
WMST 309: Black Social Movements: Gendering of Violence and Activism (3 Credits)
Examines racialized gendered conceptions of popular culture, violence, and the legal system and their role in structuring systems of segregation, discrimination and exclusion. Looks at the gendered strategies and conflicts of organizations that arose to combat racial violence and overturn legal and social barriers to equal opportunity and citizenship rights. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. Limited to three attempts.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
WMST 399: Current Topics in LGBTQ Studies (3 Credits)
Examines contemporary issues and policies within LGBTQ issues. Explores the intersections of race, gender, age, class, disability, and national identity in relation to LGBTQ identities. May be repeated for credit when the topic is different. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 18 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
WMST 408: Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights (3 Credits)
Explores the globalization of women’s and LGBTQ human rights discourses from transnational and global perspectives. Issues include: women’s human rights and the war on terrorism; rape and sexual violence; HIV/AIDS; sex work and sex trafficking; girls’ human rights; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex rights; and disability rights for women and sexual minorities. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. Limited to three attempts.
Specialized Designation: Mason Impact.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
WMST 450: Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies (1-3 Credits)
Studies selected topics central to contemporary women and gender studies. Includes topics such as women and violence, women and international development, women's myth and ritual, LGBTQ topics, the history and politics of sexuality, disability, transnational issues and religion. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 18 credits.
Specialized Designation: Mason Impact., Topic Varies
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
WMST 300: Current Issues in Women and Gender Studies (1-6 Credits)
Study of selected topics central to contemporary women and gender studies. Topics vary but include subjects such as women and violence, women and international development, women's myth and ritual, LGBTQ topics, the history and politics of sexuality, psychoanalysis, and religion. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. May be repeated within the term.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Recommended Prerequisite: WMST 200 or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Graduate
WMST 550: Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies (1-3 Credits)
Studies selected topics central to contemporary women and gender studies. Includes topics such as women and violence, women and international development, women's myth and ritual, LGBTQ topics, the history and politics of sexuality, disability, disability, transnational issues and religion. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 18 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Registration Restrictions:
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
WMST 600: Special Topics (3 Credits)
Study of selected topics central to contemporary women and gender studies. Topics vary but include representation and images, violence, public policy, international development, transmigration of labor, myth and ritual, history and politics of sexuality, psychoanalysis, and religion. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. May be repeated within the term.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Registration Restrictions:
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
WMST 602: Queer Theory (3 Credits)
Challenges rigid categories and definitions in order to create a space for marginalized voices. Examines the inconsistencies and erasures that often characterize notions of sex, gender, sexuality, and sexual desire. Explores categories that intersect with sexualized identities such as race, ethnicity, class, nationality, location, and age. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. May not be repeated for credit.
Registration Restrictions:
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
WMST 610: Feminist Research Methods (3 Credits)
Introduces feminist approaches to research. Focuses on the techniques for collecting, analyzing, and writing-up research and examines central methodological issues raised by feminist scholars. Emphasizes a learning-by-doing approach to conducting research. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. May not be repeated for credit.
Recommended Prerequisite: 3 credits of 600-level WMST courses, or permission of instructor.
Registration Restrictions:
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
WMST 640: Transnational Issues of Gender and Race (3 Credits)
Multidisciplinary course explores the complex and intersectional issues women face in different regions of the world. Addresses women's diverse and shared transnational and global concerns and provides students with the tools to analyze and understand women in a global context. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. May not be repeated for credit.
Registration Restrictions:
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
WMST 890: Advanced Topics in Feminist Research and Scholarship (1-6 Credits)
Specialized inquiry of topics of contemporary feminist research and scholarship. Content varies. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Registration Restrictions:
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy or Graduate.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
WMST 600: Special Topics (3 Credits)
Study of selected topics central to contemporary women and gender studies. Topics vary but include representation and images, violence, public policy, international development, transmigration of labor, myth and ritual, history and politics of sexuality, psychoanalysis, and religion. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. Offered by Women & Gender Studies. May be repeated within the term.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Registration Restrictions:
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.