Gender Studies (GEN) Courses
GEN-101 Introduction to Gender Studies
This course introduces students to the
interdisciplinary field of gender studies by
exploring questions about the
meaning of gender in society. The course will
familiarize students with the central issues,
questions and debates in
Gender Studies scholarship by analyzing themes of
gendered performance and power in law, culture,
education,
work, health, social policy and the family. Key
themes may include but are not limited to the
relationship between
sex and gender, the legal and social workings of
the private / public distinction, the way that
disciplinary practices
code certain behaviors as masculine or feminine,
the intersection of gender with race and
ethnicity, the gendered
structure of power, the tension between
difference and equality, the production and
circulation of gender
expectations in the media, and the contested role
of the law in achieving equality. By course end,
students will
understand central themes and debates in the
field of gender studies, demonstrate a facility
with basic terms and
concepts of the field, apply methods of analyzing
gender to society and to their own life
experiences and
communicate effectively about these issues in
writing and speech
Prerequisites: none
Credit: 1
Distribution: Literature/Fine Arts, History/Philosophy/Religion
GEN-102 Human Sexual Behavior
An overview of human sexual anatomy, development,
function, and diversity. Emphasis is on the
psychological aspects of sexuality including the
study of attitudes towards sexuality, sexual
preference, love and marriage, contraception, and
commercial sex. Particular attention is paid to
the development and enactment of sex roles, the
construction of gender, and sex differences.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1
Distribution: Behavioral Science
GEN-103 Seminars in Theater
These seminars focus on specific topics in
theater and film. They are designed to introduce
students to the liberal arts expressed by
noteworthy pioneers and practitioners in theater
and film.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1
Distribution: Literature/Fine Arts
GEN-104 Intro to Philosophy: Nature
This course will serve as an introduction to
philosophy by examining the ways philosophers have
used nature historically to justify the social
order: by identifying essences that prescribe
roles, legitimating social hierarchy by dividing
the world between what is closer to nature and
what overcomes or surpasses nature, distinguishing
between good and natural actions and bad and
unnatural ones, and distinguishing between culture
and the material of culture. This course will
examine the philosophical positions behind these
claims and critiques of these positions. The
course will take up the example of gender at
various places across the semester to think about
the implications of various conceptions of nature
in the history of philosophy.
Students are discouraged from taking more than one
course numbered 109 or below.
Prerequisites: none
Credit: 1
Distribution: History/Philosophy/Religion
Equated Courses: PHI-104
GEN-105 Fatherhood
An introduction to the psychological research
into issues surrounding fatherhood. Topics to be
covered include the role of fathers in children's
development, the effect of being a father on
adult development, men's views on fatherhood, the
effect of fatherhood on romantic relationships,
and balancing work and home life.
Prerequisites: none
Credit: 1
Distribution: Behavioral Science
Equated Courses: PSY-105
GEN-200 Special Topics
Seminar discussion of a topic or area in ethical
theory, applied ethics, or social and political
philosphy. Refer to the Course Descriptions
document on the Registrar's webpage for topics and
descriptions of current offerings.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1
Distribution: History/Philosophy/Religion
GEN-209 Special Topics: Behavioral Sciences
Various topics at the intermediate level
pertaining to economic, political, sociological or
psychological approaches to gender, family,
sexuality ore related issues. Refer to the Course
Descriptions document on the Registrar's web page
for topics and descriptions of current offerings.
Prerequisites: none
Credit: 1
Distribution: Behavioral Science
GEN-210 Topics in American History
Since the content of this course varies from
semester to semester, it may be repeated for
credit upon the instructor's approval
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1
Distribution: History/Philosophy/Religion
GEN-230 Topics in Modern Europe
Various topics on gender, sex and/or sexuality in
modern Europe. Since the
content of this course varies from semester to
semester, it may be repeated upon the instructor's
approval. Refer to the Course Descriptions
document on the Registrar's webpage for topics and
descriptions of current offerings.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1
Distribution: History/Philosophy/Religion
GEN-231 Intermediate Topics in Political Theory
Intermediate course on a topic in political theory
focusing on gender, sex and/or sexuality. Topics
vary from semester to semester. Refer to the
Course Descriptions document on the Registrar's
web page for topics and descriptions of current
offerings.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1
Distribution: Behavioral Science
GEN-270 Special Topics: Lit/Fine Arts
Since the content of this course varies from
semester to semester, it may be repeated for
credit upon the instructor's approval. Refer to
the Course Descriptions document on the
Registrar's webpage for topics and descriptions of
current offerings.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1
Distribution: Literature/Fine Arts
GEN-277 Special Topics
The course provides opportunities for specialized,
innovative material to be made available for
students at the introductory level. Since the
content of this course varies from semester to
semester, it may be repeated for credit upon the
instructor's approval. Refer to the Course
Descriptions document on the Registrar's webpage
for topics and descriptions of current offerings.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1
GEN-300 Studies in Multicult/Nat'l Lit
Toni Morrison and the African American Novel.
This course is about one thing, reading Toni
Morrison's novels and her literary essays. In the
process, we will explore the features of what
Morrison calls the African American novel. We
will also come to see and understand Morrison's
mastery of craft and subject in the production of
amazing stories that speak the "truth in timbre.
The goals are to read, learn and grow in your
understanding of the possibilities and
limitations of rendering a people's lived
experience in language.
Jewish American Literature.
The contributions of Jewish American writers and
filmmakers have been pervasive and significant.
We will read selected fiction, poetry and plays,
and see films that focus on the Jewish American
experience. Authors and filmmakers may include
Philip Roth, Bernard Malamud, Cynthia Ozick,
David Mamet, Allen Ginsberg, and Woody Allen.
African American Literature: Introduction.
This course explores various genres of African
American Literature. Emphasis is placed on works
that reflect the socio-historical development of
African American life. Poetry, Slave narratives,
autobiographies, novels, plays, musical lyrics,
and spoken word form the subject of study in the
course. Special attention is given to works of
fiction that become motion pictures and the
emerging area of audio books. The aim of the
course is to provide students with a sense of the
historical and contemporary developments within
African American literature. Students are
introduced to African American critical theory as
well as African American history.
Pen and Protest: Literature and Civil Rights.
This course takes a literary approach to the
study of the civil rights movement. Students will
examine the autobiographies, plays, novels, and
other various artistic expressions of the
mid-1950s through 1980. The aim of the course is
to explore the use of literature and art as means
of political, cultural, and religious expression.
Students are introduced to critical theory as
well as black studies.
Prerequisites: ENG-105, ENG-106, ENG-107, ENG-109, ENG-160, ENG-214, ENG-215, ENG-216, ENG-217, ENG-218, ENG-219, ENG-220, ENG-260, or
ENG-297
Credits: 0.5-1
Distribution: Literature/Fine Arts
GEN-302 Adv Topics:World&Comp History
This course provides opportunities for small
group and independent work in intensive study of
selected topics in world and comparative history.
Since the content of this course varies from
semester to semester, it may be repeated for
credit upon the instructor's approval. Refer to
the Course Descriptions document on the
Registrar's webpage for topics and descriptions of
current offerings.
Prerequisites: Minimum 0.5 credit from HIS
Credit: 1
Distribution: History/Philosophy/Religion
GEN-303 Gender and Communication
As a culture, we often we take gender for
granted. Yet, we live in a culture where men and
women are molded and shaped by communicative
practices and mass-mediated representations that
generate our ideals of masculinity and
femininity. This class examines this
process-providing a platform for students to
reflect upon gender formation and develop a
theoretical vocabulary for describing this
process. By the end of the semester, class
participants will develop a more sophisticated
understanding of the manner in which gendered
messages and practices have shaped perceptions of
their symbolic universe.
Prerequisites: none
Credit: 1
Distribution: Literature/Fine Arts
GEN-304 Studies in Special Topics
Refer to the Course Descriptions document on the
Registrar's webpage for topics and descriptions of
current offerings.
Prerequisites: ENG-105, ENG-106, ENG-107, ENG-109, ENG-160, ENG-214, ENG-215, ENG-216, ENG-217, ENG-218, ENG-219, ENG-220, ENG-260, or
ENG-297
Credit: 1
Distribution: Literature/Fine Arts
GEN-324 Advanced Topics: American History
This course provides opportunities for small
group and independent work in intensive study of
selected topics in American history. Since the
content of this course varies from semester to
semester, it may be repeated for credit upon the
instructor's approval. Refer to the Course
Descriptions document on the Registrar's webpage
for topics and descriptions of current offerings.
Prerequisites: HIS-240, HIS-241, HIS-242, HIS-244, or HIS-245
Credit: 1
Distribution: History/Philosophy/Religion
GEN-400 Seminar in English Lit
Two sections of ENG 497 are the two Advanced
Courses offered every fall. These are seminars
designed primarily for English majors (although
occasionally English minors enroll in them). The
topics vary depending upon the research and
teaching interests of the faculty. They demand a
high level of student involvement in research and
discussion. Several short papers and a long
critical essay are required. Note: the two
seminars are offered only in the fall semester.
Reading the Black Book.
Read any good Black books lately?" This is a
provocative question on so many different levels.
For one, it takes for granted that there is such
a thing as a "Black book" and, two, should this
be the case, that some of them might actually be
good." What is at stake here is how we think of
race and literary production as well as race as a
critical approach to reading literature. In
short, can we think of race as both a category of
literary production and a tool of literary
interpretation? Nobel Prize Laureate Toni
Morrison admits to writing Black books. As such,
Morrison's readers are expected to understand the
various and varying ways that race matters in her
work. However, scholar Kenneth Warren argues that
African American literature is over. This course
will take a deep dive into the murky waters that
is the meaning and significance of race in
African American letters. Students will be
introduced to Black literary theory and cultural
production. In addition to Morrison and Warren,
students will read scholars like Houston Baker,
Henry L. Gates, John Cullen Gruesser, Arna
Bontemps, Robert Hemenway, and others. Students
will come to understand African American literary
theories such as: Ethiopianism,
Double-Consciousness, New Negro, Blues People,
Signifying, and call-and-response. This course
is meant to help students grapple with the
different ways of reading the Black book.
The Body of the Other in British and Postcolonial
Literature.
How do British and Postcolonial authors write
about colonial power, political violence, and
their effects on the body? We will study authors
from the Caribbean, South Africa, India, Ireland,
and England, and we will focus on gender roles
and race, with a special emphasis on the theory
of the postcolonial body. Corporality has been a
central issue in the dialogue between the center
of the empire (e.g., London) and the "margins
(e.g., British colonies). How do colonial and
postcolonial authors describe colonizing and
colonized bodies? To understand and enjoy the
texts, we will also study the political context
of British imperialism and the anti-imperial
resistance, as well as the major premises of
Neocolonialism. We will discuss the themes of the
exoticized body, the dislocated body, the
traumatized body, and the emasculated body, and
we will focus on the intersections between gender
and postcolonial theory.
Prerequisites: none
Credit: 1
Distribution: Literature/Fine Arts
GEN-487 Independent Study
Individual research projects. The manner of study
will be determined by the student in consultation
with the instructor. Students must receive
written approval of their project proposal from a
department Chair before registering for the
course.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1
GEN-488 Independent Study
Individual research projects. The manner of study
will be determined by the student in consultation
with the instructor. Students must receive
written approval of their project proposal from a
department Chair before registering for the
course.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1
GEN-490 Gender Studies Capstone
Seminar in Gender Studies
Prerequisites: GEN-101, and 2 additional credits from GEN
Credit: 1