Minor in Women's Studies
The women's studies minor is an interdisciplinary course of study utilizing faculty expertise from many different departments. A women's studies minor is appropriate for students in education, guidance, and counseling, law enforcement, business management, advertising, public relations, communications, liberal arts, and behavioral sciences.
The total number of credit hours for the minor is twenty-four. Required courses are:
WMS 1001 ~ Introduction to Women's Studies
WMS 1650 ~ Women in U. S. History
WMS 2100 ~ Women of Color
WMS 3510 ~ Feminist Theory & Practices I*
WMS 4750 ~ Feminist Theory & Practices II: Senior Seminar*
15 credits total
*Feminist Theory and Practices I and II must be taken in SEQUENCE
In addition to these required classes, the student must take 9 credit hours of electives in women's studies, of which 3 hours must be upper division credit. It is strongly recommended that the student complete an internship in a corporate, private non-profit or government agency that serves women.
If you are interested in becoming a women's studies minor, please set up an appointment to get some preliminary advising by calling 303-556-8441 or by e-mailing Dr. Maurice Hamington.
*Feminist Theory and Senior Seminar are sequential courses. Feminist Theory is only offered during the Fall Semester and Senior Seminar is only offered in the Spring Semester. Feminist Theory is a prerequisite for Senior Seminar.
IDP Minor with an Emphasis in Genders & Sexualities
A Work in Progress...but the time has come
The IDP minor with an emphasis in Genders & Sexualities is part of an international movement to bring the once marginalized study of the diversity and multiplicity of gender and sexuality to the center of critical studies.
A long time in the planning at Metro State, the Genders and Sexualities Minor will be incubated for three years from 2009-10 through 2011-12 in the Center for Individualized Learning as an individually designed minor. After that time it will be submitted for consideration as a permanent minor through the Institute for Women's Studies and Services.
This period of incubation is a time to make adjustments to the program so we hope that students will contact us with suggestions as they participate in the Minor.
Please note that during incubation, students must conform to IDP rules. For more information, attend an IDP Information Session.
The Minor
The Genders and Sexualities Minor is an interdisciplinary course of study. The objective of this curriculum is to advance sexual literacy and social justice by examining how sexual practices, expressions, identities, and representations are shaped by social, historical, psychological, literary, legal, biological, philosophical, and political contexts. As part of the Institute for Women's Studies and Services, the program is committed to community building and focuses on issues of social ethics and sexuality, including the impact of factors of cultural inequality - such as poverty, racism, and homophobia - upon sexual well-being and sexual health.
Among the questions explored in the minor are how we frame and categorize sexual and gender differences, why we fear some and celebrate others, how medical, religious, and political authorities respond to sexual categories? What is the nature of sexual and gender identity and orientation? How and why is sexuality labeled as lesbian, heterosexual, perverse, normal, gay, or queer? How do cultures at different times and places divide the sexual from the non-sexual?
The Courses
Core courses for the IDP minor with an emphasis in Genders and Sexualities provide a framework of understanding for the field of study. This framework begins with introductory courses that offer a foundation of vocabulary and concepts for the discipline. Upper division requirements explore complex theoretical considerations of the field. Current plans for the permanent Genders and Sexualities Minor include 24 credit hours, with 4 required courses. During the development phase, there is greater flexibility through the IDP program but it is strongly recommended that students include the following courses:
WMS 190c ~ Introduction to Sexuality Studies*
PSY 3050 ~ Psychology of Gender
SOC 3460 ~ Sociology of Sexuality
WMS 390X ~ Queer Theory*
Plus 12 credit hours of electives, at least 9 credits of which must be upper division.
Elective Courses
HES 2180 ~ AIDS
HES 3200 ~ Human Diversity: Apps. to Multicultural Education
PSY 2850 ~ Psychology of Sexuality
SWK 3500 ~ Foundations for SWK: Gays & Lesbians
SWK 481E ~ Professional Field Experience: Gay/Lesbian
HIS 3870 ~ History of U.S. Sexual Attitudes
HSP 4250 ~ Counseling the Gay or Lesbian Client
PSY 3030 ~ Multicutural Psychology
PSY 3070 ~ Psychology of Sexual Orientation
SOC 3220 ~ Prejudice and Discrimination in Contemporary Society
SOC 3430 ~ Sociology of Gender Roles
WMS 367Z ~ Queer Sexualities*
WMS 390L ~ Theories of Love and Sex*
Plus special or variable topics courses that focus on sexuality. Approval of Women's Studies Chair required.