Women's Studies is a growing interdisciplinary field that brings the perspective of gender, along with a consideration of class, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, and physical ability to bear on a host of intellectual problems and issues of current concern. Women's Studies questions taken-for-granted ideas about both women and men, and encourages critical thinking across the disciplines, with particular reference to women's contributions to art, history, politics, family life, science, literature, and other cultural domains. Students investigate challenges women face all over the world in areas such as the environment, culture & the media, health, violence, and the economy, and consider the implications of these studies for devising solutions to pressing problems both at home and abroad.

Classes are usually small and encourage discussion. Writing, research, and communication skills that are necessary for students' careers are emphasized.

The Women's Studies Department includes 8 core faculty and 55 affiliated faculty. We provide opportunities for students to work with women's organizations and on women's issues across the campus. Each year we bring an exciting array of scholars to campus to present their work through workshops, seminars and conferences.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN WOMEN'S STUDIES

Women's Studies teaches you skills such as critical thinking, research, writing, activism and advocacy. These skills are required by a range of academic disciplines and professions. Women's Studies majors can work in numerous setting such as research / advocacy / policy & programming / government and nonprofit agencies / human resources / fundraising / counseling / education / publishing / international development / activist work.

With a Women's Studies major you can continue your studies in numerous academic programs or professional schools such as Women's and Gender Studies, History, Anthropology, Area Studies and Schools of Law, Public Health, Business and Journalism.

A Women's Studies major is also personally fulfilling and helps students to understand issues of race, class, gender & sexuality in the US and internationally.

To declare Women's Studies as your first or second major, go to the College of Liberal Arts Academic Programs and Services Office, 120 Schaeffer Hall. Although there is no formal mechanism for declaring a minor, we encourage all those contemplating a minor to meet with the undergraduate advisor or another member of the Core Faculty.

Requirements

The BA in Women's Studies will be awarded on the successful completion of at least 35 semester hours (26 of which must be completed at the University of Iowa) of coursework culminating in the senior research seminar. The senior seminar will also provide a mechanism for Honors students to produce their theses. The modest number of required hours will make the Women's Studies major a reasonable choice for students pursuing double majors or multiple minors and/or certificates, along the lines of other majors in liberal arts fields (e.g., English, history, linguistics, anthropology). New majors may transfer up to 9 credit hours with the approval of the advisor.

Undergraduate Core (17)
131:010 Introduction to Women's Studies (3)
131:055 Gender, Race, & Class in the US (3)
131:151 Feminist Theory (3)
131:xxx Course with international focus (3)
131:105 Practicum (2)
131:199 Senior research seminar (3)

Electives (18)
18 semester hours, 12 of which must be upper-level courses chosen in consultation with your advisor

Although we no longer require all students to formally declare an area of specialization, we do expect all majors, in consultation with their advisor, to pursue a course of study that emphasizes both breadth and depth. Thus, we would encourage a student to take three or four courses in a specialized area in which they would like to gain deeper knowledge. This specialized area may be a specific discipline, such as literature, anthropology, or history, which will be especially useful for double majors. However, the area of specialization need not be limited to a traditional discipline. Thus, students may seek more specialized education in such fields as sexuality studies or international issues. Breadth is also important. For example, a student who has taken several courses in sexuality studies will be asked to take additional electives in a different area.

TOTAL HOURS: 35 semester hours

Important Information for Women's Studies Majors and Minors

The interdisciplinarity of Women's Studies offers intellectual advantages and a wide range of cross-listed courses from which to choose. Many courses that are approved for Women's Studies credit are not actually cross-listed, and there are also new courses taught each semester that are appropriate but not formally approved. Thus, you must take the responsibility of ensuring that these courses will count for your major or minor.

If you wish to take a course for WS credit that has not been previously approved, you must e-mail your advisor the following information: course number, course title, instructor's name, course description. The advisor may request a copy of the syllabus before reaching a decision. Our general guidelines are that 50% or more of the course content must be on gender and that, as much as possible, the student's written work should engage issues of gender. We do not allow students to obtain WS credit for courses without significant gender content by completing a paper on gender.

For the minor, all courses beyond Introduction to Women's Studies (131:010) must be upper-level (generally but not always above 100 level). For the major, most courses beyond Introduction to Women's Studies (131:010) and Gender, Race, and Class in the U.S. (131:055) must be upper-level; we will allow up to two electives (6 credit hours) below the 100 level, provided they are Women's Studies courses listed with a131 department number. Because numbering systems vary across departments, it is not always the case that a course number 100 or higher means "upper-level". This can be confusing. Please consult the Undergraduate Upper Level Courses by Department guide below to determine whether particular courses are upper-level. It is your responsibility to make sure all of your courses are upper-level before taking them.

For double majors, students may count three (3) courses towards credits for both departments.

These new requirements will go into effect August 2004. Students who have declared the major before August 2004 may choose to continue with their previously designed course of study, or to follow the new guidelines. Lower level courses taken prior to August 2004 will NOT count towards the new requirements.

HONORS WORK IN WOMEN'S STUDIES

Qualified students may work toward a bachelor's degree with honors in women's studies. Honors students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.50 in women's studies course work and a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33. During the semester before they enroll in the required 131:198 Honors Senior Thesis, sutdnets must complete an independent research project under a faculty member's supervision. The project provides the basis for their honors thesis. Students interested in this option should speak to their advisor or to the Honors Advisor for Women's Studies (Ellen Lewin).

Undergraduate students may complete a minor in women's studies by taking 15-16 s.h. of course work chosen from courses associated with the department, with a g.p.a. of at least 2.00. The minor must include 131:010 Introduction to Women's Studies. The remaining 12 hours must be 100-level courses at the University of Iowa; or your may take 131:055 Gender, Race, and Class in the U.S. plus 9 s.h. of 100-level course work. It is strongly recommended that students include 131:151 Feminist Theory.

For the minor, students may count only one course that also fulfills the requirements for their major.

Since women's studies is a multidisciplinary department, students contemplating a minor should choose their women's studies course work from several different disciplines. Students are responsible for indicating their intention to receive a minor when they complete their application for degree.

© 2002 The University of Iowa. All rights reserved.

For questions and comments relating to this site, please contact theWomen's Studies webmaster