Women’s and Gender Studies Minor

Self-defining as a “woman” or a “man” affects nearly every aspect of an individual’s life. A minor in Women’s and Gender Studies will challenge students to examine critically the ordinarily unexamined gendered aspects of their identity. Through in-class discussion and presentations and out-of-class readings and assignments, students in Women’s and Gender Studies courses will consider how gender affects their perceptions of themselves and others, as well as how gender intersects with other aspects of identity, including race/ethnicity, sexuality, and class, and how gender operates within systems of power.

Such a consideration of gender and its effects will benefit students in both their personal and professional lives, as exposure to gender theories will increase awareness of and sensitivity toward societal issues such as domestic violence, health and reproductive rights, religion and spirituality, and family values, and workplace issues such as discrimination, sexual harassment, affirmative action, salary discrepancies, and unfair hiring practices.

The Women’s and Gender Studies minor at Heidelberg, offered for the first time beginning Fall 2007, is an interdisciplinary program that complements a number of majors, including Anthropology, Business Administration, Communication and Theatre Arts, Economics, Education, English, History, Political Science, Psychology, Public Relations, and Religion.

Requirements of the Women’s and Gender Studies Minor

Minors in Women’s and Gender Studies must take the following courses:
WGS 100 – Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
WGS 300 – Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies
WGS 400 – Gender Theory
ANT 200 – Cultural Anthropology
HIS 386 – Women in America

In addition, minors must select 6 semester hours from the following:
ENG 307 – Literature by Women
PSY 309 – Psychology of Women and Gender Development
NDI 112 – Women in Art
NDI 340 – Women’s Voices in Latin America
or other courses as approved by the Women’s and Gender Studies Coordinator

Contact Dr. Julie O’Reilly, Assistant Professor of Communication and Women’s and Gender Studies, at joreilly@heidelberg.edu for more information.