Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Fall 2025 Course List

WGS 101 Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

An introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and to its perspectives. The course will use interdisciplinary perspectives to begin to examine the categories of gender and sexuality, as they intersect with race, ethnicity, class, nationality, disability, and other sites of social inequality. General Education Requirements: Ethics, Social Contexts and Institutions, and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives (0001, MW, 2:00 -3:15 pm, Cam McDonnell (0002, MWF, 9:00-9:50 am, Cam McDonnell) (0003, TTH, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm, Qian Zhang)(0004, TTH, 12:30 -1:45 pm, Andrea Laflamme) (0990/0991, Mary Okin, Online) 3 CR.

WGS 103  Introduction to LGBT Studies

Introduces the major perspectives and issues in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer studies, including    histories and institutions, identities and representations, and cultures and subcultures. General Education Requirements: Social Contexts and Institutions, and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives (0001, TTH, 9:30 am-10:45 am, Nancy Lewis)  

WGS 201: Topics:  Sexual and Reproductive Health

The purpose of this course is to explore and analyze historical, political, economic and social factors that influence reproductive health and justice. The course proceeds from a feminist and reproductive justice lens. For the purposes of this course, reproductive justice is maintained as the human right to maintain bodily autonomy, to have children, to not have children, and to parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities (as defined by the Sister Song collection) ( 0001, TTH, 2:00 – 3:15 pm,  Andrea Laflamme) CR 3 

WGS 205  Intro to Feminist & Critical Data Analysis

This course explores data and its role in presenting and obscuring disparities of marginalized groups including but not limited to gender, race, ethnicity, (dis)ability, indigenous, sexuality, and class. The course will use technology to access, analyze and critique data while also reading about and discussing relevant theoretical lenses and the role western traditions of knowing have had in the creation of these data. General Education Requirements: Quantitative Literacy and Social Context and Institutions (0001, TTH, 3:00 – 4:15 pm, Kevin Roberge) 3 CR.

WGS 206 / ENG 296 Topics in Women’s Gender, and Sexuality Studies:  Investigating Equity

 This course seeks to reorient the discussion of “diversity” (in various forms) as a likely outcome of “equity” – taking as its premise that equitable practices and mindsets result in inclusion, and inclusivity leads to diversity.  Students will begin with a survey of contemporary images associated with the term “equity” and move to usefully differentiate between equity and equality through interacting with a series of TedTalks and podcasts. Building on Brenda J. Allen’s work in Difference Matters: communicating social identity (2011), students will consider various forms of privilege through perceptions of gender, race, social class, sexuality, ability, and age. After identifying privileges at work in historical and contemporary contexts through documentary films, students will return to and refine their understanding of equity in light of those privileges. Throughout the term, students will construct multimodal projects to represent the way/s that their everyday choices might shape their own and other’s experiences of equity.  This class is designed to be highly collaborative and participatory. Gen Eds: Artistic and Creative Expression; Ethics (0001, TTH, 9:30 -10:55 pm, Mary Plymale-Larlee) 3CR.

WGS 301  Topics in WGS– Gender and Psychoanalysis

In this era of anxiety, how should we make sense of our gender-related experiences? How can we continue thinking about and discussing gender issues without unconsciously repressing all kinds of emotions, including anxiety, shame, pleasure, guilt, etc.? What if we use those emotions as our vectors to theorize our desire and cultural and societal gender dynamics? This course aims to introduce psychoanalytic gender theories, providing an open space and encouraging refreshed perspectives on exploring gender and gender relations in contemporary societies across different cultures. We will begin by recapping the classic discussions on subjectivity, femininity, and masculinity in psychoanalysis and then, more importantly, expand our discussion on gender relations by further engaging with theories of gender temporality, maternal studies, and memory studies. This course aims to generate an intellectual exploration from our life experience and of encountering various cultural productions—including literature, film, video, videogames, TV shows, and music.  (0001 – MWF, 10:00 am – 10:50 am, Qian Zhang) 3 Cr

WGS 301 Family Systems that Harm and Pathways to Healing

In this course we will examine the various patterns that exist in certain family systems that consciously or unconsciously harm one or more of their own members, such as families where alcoholism is present, where there is physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual abuse. We will examine concepts such as scapegoating in family systems, gaslighting, projection, denial, inter-generational trauma, domestic violence, sexual abuse, sibling abuse, family “rules” as well the way in which family narratives and stories often silence the narrative of abuse and privilege the stories of some family members over others. As a system, the family unit would ideally support and protect all of its members; however, we will explore what happens in families when this is not the case and give voice to the stories of the most vulnerable members in a family system, the targeted individual, scapegoat, “black sheep,” or “identified patient.” We will explore these types of family dynamics across racial, ethnic, class groups and investigate these patterns through the lens of gender as well. We will also examine the various strategies that targeted individuals in families have used to break free from harmful family dynamics, including the role of the first-personal narrative (autobiographical writing), expressive arts as therapy (dance, music, art therapy), as well the role of professional counseling. We will draw on a range of literature in this course, including clinical mental health literature but also anthropological, sociological and literary sources to examine the harms that are sometimes done within the most intimate social system in society, the family, harms that are then frequently silenced. The theoretical models employed in our analysis will include feminist pedagogical, sociological, clinical counseling, and family and systems theories.(0990– Online, Mary Okin) 3CR.

WGS 411: Internship in WGS

Students pursue internships in workplaces such as businesses, non-profits, and other organizations. Course meetings provide students with faculty mentorship, opportunities to troubleshoot their internship work with peers, and related course content. Topics covered may include diversity/equity/justice in the workplace, social justice in the community, correlation between academic courses and the workplace, and career-exploration/preparation. For each topic, strategies for improving work place communication is also covered. Each student will design their internship in consultation with their host organization and the course instructor such that it meets their specific interests/goals. Internship work will vary, but typically includes activities, such as research, ideation, communication, writing, public relations, editing, content development, community organizing, and other related activities.  ( 0001, TTH,11:00 am – 12:15 pm   Kathryn Swacha) CR 3