Women’s Studies
Phone: 703-993-2896
Web: wmst.gmu.edu
Faculty
Amireh, Baker, Beach, Bergoffen, Best, Borkman, Bridge, Bullard, Burr, Carbonneau, Cattaneo, Censer,Cheldelin, Cherubin, Christensen, Cohen, Copelman, Davidson, Deshmukh, Eby, Feit, ffolliot, Fischer, Friedley, Fuchs, Fyfe, Gilbert, Gould, Gould, Gring-Pemble, Hamdani, Hanrahan (director), Harvey, Hodges, Horton, Irvine, Johnsen-Neshati, Jordan, Kaplan, Kirkland, Koch, Lont, Mann, Masters, Michals, Misencik, Mobley, Muir, Oates, Palkovich, Pascarell, Pawloski, Rabin, Regan, Ricouart, Rosenblum, Rosenzweig, Samuelian, Sandole-Staroste, Scott, Seligmann, Shogan, Snyder, Stearns, Tichy, Todd, Tolchin, Travis, Weitzman, Yocom, Zawacki
Course Work
Women’s studies offers all course work designated WMST in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.
By choosing to pursue work in women’s studies, students at all levels engage in an interdisciplinary exploration of women’s roles in social, political, and economic life; women’s roles in history; women and the media; feminist theory; the relationship between sex and gender; the impact of sex, race, class, disability, and sexual orientation on women’s and men’s lives; and the ways in which gender stereotypes influence men’s and women’s ideas of themselves and expectations of each other. Students in many courses have the opportunity to investigate these issues in a cross-cultural perspective, and examine the impact of globalization on women’s lives around the world.
Undergraduate Program
Minor in Women’s Studies
Women’s studies is an interdisciplinary program open to the entire undergraduate student body.
Requirements
Students in this minor complete 21 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.00, distributed as follows:
- Two required courses (6 credits):
- WMST 200 Introduction to Women’s Studies
- WMST 330 Feminist Theories Across the Disciplines
- One course (3 credits) selected from WMST courses:
- WMST 301 Sex and Gender in Contemporary Society
- WMST 302 Cultural Constructions of Sexualities
- WMST 303 Psychology of Women
- WMST 304 Women and Media
- WMST 305 Women and Literature
- WMST 306 Topics in Communication and Gender
- WMST 400 Internship in WMST
- Four courses (12 credits) selected from courses in women’s studies, courses cross-listed with women’s studies, or course offerings in other departments approved by the director. No more than 6 credits may be taken in any one department.
Graduate Program
Certificate in Women’s Studies
The certificate may be taken alone or in conjunction with another graduate program. Courses taken toward the certificate may also be used in a degree program, subject to approval of the graduate coordinator in the respective program.
Admission
The certificate is open to all students who meet university criteria for admission to graduate study. Students must submit an application for graduate study.
Transfer Credit
Students may transfer up to 3 graduate credits earned at another accredited institution, and 9 graduate credits earned at Mason through extended studies toward the certificate, subject to approval of the director and the dean and in accordance with university policy.
Requirements
Students must complete 15 graduate credits, distributed as follows, and a capstone portfolio.
- Two required courses (6 credits)
- WMST 630 Feminist Theories Across the Disciplines
- WMST 640 Women and Global Issues
- Three electives (9 credits) chosen from relevant courses with approval of the director
- These credits may be in departments across the university that address the study of women, courses in the Women’s Studies Program, and in appropriate directed readings or independent study courses. Recently WMST 600 courses have included:
- Global Representations of Women
- Gender and Sexuality in Early America
- Civil Rights and Citizenship
- Bodies in Question
- 19th-Century American Women
- Seminar in Child and Family Welfare
- Conflict and Gender
- Women and the Law
- These credits may be in departments across the university that address the study of women, courses in the Women’s Studies Program, and in appropriate directed readings or independent study courses. Recently WMST 600 courses have included:
- Capstone portfolio
- Students synthesize their work in the certificate program by reflecting on how issues, ideas, and theories raised in the core courses inform their understanding of women’s issues within their area of interest. The portfolio includes three to five items produced in previous course work, and a seven to 10-page essay discussing them. Items selected may include course papers, performance videos, photos of exhibits, tapes of music, or other items as agreed on by the student and advisor. The portfolio must be approved by the advisor and submitted to the Women’s Studies Research and Resource Center where it will be presented, displayed, and archived.