GUIDE TO MAJORS AND PROGRAMS
College of Arts & Sciences
Women’s Studies
Overview
The Department of Women’s Studies at Kansas
State University explores how and why gender
and related systems of inequality have been
created and are being transformed nationally
and globally. It focuses on the significant
role that gender plays in shaping individual
experiences and social institutions with the goal
of increasing social equity and justice.
In the classroom, women’s studies faculty
members foster an interactive learning
environment and encourage students to
consider their own experiences in relation to
course content. As an academic field, women’s
studies is interdisciplinary. Courses are offered
in the Department of Women’s Studies and in
17 other disciplines throughout the university.
Faculty expertise and course offerings are
especially strong in women and gender in a
global perspective, gender analysis of literature
and culture, and community service and social
change.
Professional options
Careers
With a degree in women’s studies, a graduate
is prepared for a variety of career options
such as administration and work in women’s
organizations and advocacy organizations;
human rights, health and human services
fields; public policy; medicine; business; law; or
education.
Women’s studies also provides a firm foundation
for graduate study. K-State women’s study
majors have gone on to master’s and doctoral
degree programs in women’s studies, law, social
work, business, American studies, English, library
science and more.
Points of pride
Our faculty is actively engaged in community
research, from volunteering at and
fundraising for battered women’s shelters
in Kansas to creating a summer institute
for the advancement of African indiginous
knowledges.
Employers
dvertising agencies, grant-writing
A
agencies, newspapers — anywhere skills in
communication and analysis are valued.
n Advocacy groups, health and human
services organizations — anywhere the
ability to analyze social structures, plan and
implement improvements is critical.
n The U.S. Justice Department, policy think
tanks, economic development councils, law
firms, chambers of commerce — anywhere
understanding of diverse communities is
necessary.
n Schools and universities — anywhere
understanding diverse communities and
the relationship of gender to education is
valued.
n Libraries, archives, museums — anywhere
awareness of cultural diversity and skills
in communication and community
relationships are crucial.
n Corporations, small businesses and
nongovernmental organizations —
anywhere understanding a diverse
workforce and global working conditions
is needed.
n
faculty member to plan course work for degree
completion and to achieve professional goals.
In addition to a student’s faculty advisor, all
women’s studies faculty hold weekly office hours
and teach each semester, offering students
multiple opportunities to get to know the
faculty. Each semester, students meet with an
advisor prior to enrollment in courses.
Preparation
Students who enjoy thinking about how the
world works, the roles of men and women in
society and how societies can become more
equitable should consider a major in women’s
studies. High school students considering
women’s studies should come to K-State as
academically well-rounded individuals.
Activities
Clubs
omen’s studies ambassadors: A group
W
of women’s studies majors who promote
community amongst prospective, current
and former women’s studies students
to allow for professional networking.
A 3.0 GPA within the major is required.
n FIRE: A feminist student organization
devoted to igniting progressive social
change in our communities and creating a
space for and centering the voices of those
who have been marginalized.
n Triota (Iota Iota Iota): K-State’s chapter of
the national honorary society for women’s
studies majors who excel in the discipline
of women’s studies.
n
Job experience
Women’s studies students can earn academic
credit for internships on or off campus. Previous
students have interned at the White House;
K-State’s Center for Advocacy, Response and
Education; Ms. magazine; the Kansas Legislature
and at the Manhattan Crisis Center.
Academics
Degree options
Undergraduates majoring in women’s studies
can earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor
of Science degree. Many of our students also
double major, for example in both women’s
studies and English or sociology. We also offer
two undergraduate minors — one in women’s
studies and one in queer studies.
Faculty
Women’s studies faculty members’ areas
of specialization include literary criticism,
U.S. education reform, global fair trade,
environmental action, global feminism, sexuality
studies and popular culture analysis.
Advising
Women’s studies students — both majors and
minors — receive one-on-one advising from a
k-state.edu/admissions/academics
Speakers
Women’s studies brings speakers of international
acclaim to campus, including environmental
activist Vandana Shiva and IT entreprenuer
Michelle Munson.
Admission
Incoming students apply to K-State through the
university’s general admissions process. When
enrolling in courses, those wishing to declare a
major or minor in women’s studies may enroll
directly in the WOMST curriculum.
Financial assistance
n
Founders Scholarship for Academic Excellence
in Women’s Studies: Awarded annually to a
women’s studies major entering the junior or
senior year. The 2014-2015 award is $1,000.
n
n
N
ichols Scholarship: Awarded annually to
one women’s studies major of freshman or
sophomore standing. Students may apply for
this award. The 2014-2015 award is $1,000.
3
3
E ssay prize: Awarded for the best
undergraduate essay written that year in a
women’s studies course. Student may submit
essays for this $100 award.
Health, science and technology electives
Suggested course work
Required courses
Five core courses are required for all majors
HrsCourses
3
WOMST 305Fundamentals of Women’s Studies
3
WOMST 405 Resistance and Social Movements
3
WOMST 410 Feminist Thought
3
WOMST 510Women’s Studies Research
Methods and Methodologies
3
WOMST 610Capstone Seminar in Women’s
Studies
Elective courses
The remaining 15 hours necessary for the
major can be selected from approved electives.
Electives are divided into five topical clusters.
Students must take at least one course (3 hours)
from three different clusters. One elective must
be numbered 500 or higher.
Arts and representations electives
Hrs.Courses
3
ANTH 523
when: Language and Gender
3
ENGL 285when: African-American Women
Writers
3
ENGL 386
African American Literature
3
ENGL 387
American Indian Literature
3
ENGL 388
Asian-American Literature
3
ENGL 389
Latino/a American Literature
3
ENGL 420when: Gender in Horror Films
3
ENGL 450when: Women in Television
3
ENGL 485when: Girl Talk: Women’s Words
3
ENGL 525
Women in Literature
3
ENGL 605when: The Idea of Work in the
Middle Ages
3
ENGL 625when: Readings 18th Century
Women, Restoration Drama,
Austen, or Ghosts and Goths
3
ENGL 635when: The Bloomsbury Group
3
ENGL 655
when: What is African American Literature?
3
ENGL 660when: Whitman/Dickinson
3
ENGL 680when: Latino/a Literature or TwoSpirit Literature
3
ENGL 685
when: Feminist Rhetorics
3
ENGL 710when: Gender and Sexuality
in American Indian Literature,
Restoration and 18th Century
Drama, or Romances and Saints’
Lives
3
ENGL 720when: Shakespeare, The Brontës,
3
ENGL 725
when: African American Children’s Literature
3
ENGL 730when: Classic Girls in a Modern
Age, or Restoration and 19th
Century Drama
3
ENGL 740
when: African American Literary Theory
3
ENGL 755when: Power and Persuasion
3
GRM 515when: German Fairytales in
Translation: Brothers Grimm and
Beyond
3
MC 612
Gender Issues and the Media
3
MUSIC 220when: Women in Music
3
THTRE 782
Women in Theater
3
WOMST 105 Introduction to Women’s Studies
3
WOMST 300when: World Literature and
Culture by Women
3
WOMST 450 Stories of Young Girls
WOMST 500when: Gender in American Film,
or Global/World Literature by
Women
WOMST 550 Women and Pop Culture
3
WOMST 105
3
WOMST 345
3
PSYCH 540
3
PSYCH 563
Introduction to Women’s Studies
Women and Aging
Psychology of Women
Gender and Issues in the Workplace
Law and the public arena electives
3
AMETH 560 Intersections of Crime
3
COMM 630
when: Gender and Communication
3
COMM 420
Gender Communication
3
FSHS 708when: Legal Rights of Women
3
HIST 551
History of Family Violence
3
POLSC 606
Gender and Politics
3
SOCIO 635
Human Trafficking
3
SOCIO 665
Women and Crime
3
SOCIO 670Diversity Social Interaction in the
Workplace
3
WOMST 105 Introduction to Women’s Studies
3
WOMST 560 Women and Violence
Social change, social justice and education
electives
3
DAS 355Introduction to Nonviolence
Studies
3
DAS 590
Applied Nonviolence
3
EDACE 750
Women, Education and Work
3
HIST 533
when: History of Kansas Women
3
HIST 540Women in America, 1600 to the
Civil War
3
HIST 542Women in America, Civil War to
Present
3
HIST 598
when: Women, Gender and Sexuality in Islam
3
LEAD 430
Women and Leadership
3
SOCIO 633Gender, Power and International
Development
3
SOCWK/SOCIO 510 Social Welfare
3
WOMST 105 Introduction to Women’s Studies
3
WOMST 380 Women and Global Social Change
3
WOMST 480 Gender, Environment and Justice
3 WOMST 500 Topics when: African Feminisms
3
WOMST 590Feminist Practice
3
WOMST 700when: Transnational Feminism
Theory and construction of identity electives
3
3
3
3
ANTH 545
Cultures of South Asia
ANTH 790
Ethnographic Methods
ENGL 315
Cultural Studies
ENGL 705Theory and Practice of Cultural
Studies
3
FSHS 350Family Relations and Gender Roles
3
HIST 538
Women in Sport
3
PHILO 150Introduction to the Philosophy of
Feminism
3
PHILO 590
Philosophy of Feminism
3
SOCIO 545
The Sociology of Women
3
WOMST 105 Intro to Women’s Studies
3
WOMST 321 Latinas’ Life Stories
3
WOMST 325 Queer Studies: Concepts, History and Politics
3
WOMST 460 Coming Out and Sexual Identity
3
WOMST 500when: Women of Color
3
WOMST 580 Women and Religion
3
WOMST 585 Women in Islam
3
WOMST 700when: Sexuality Studies, or
Women of Color
Some electives vary by topic, and will be assigned
individually to the most appropriate cluster:
WOMST 300 Selected Studies
WOMST 500 Issues
WOMST 499 Honors Project
WOMST 505 Independent Study
WOMST 784 Internship
WOMST 799 Advanced Independent Study
Requirements for women’s studies minor
Required courses
HrsCourse
3
WOMST 105Introduction to Women’s Studies,
or
3
WOMST 305Fundamentals of Women’s
Studies
Elective courses
The remaining 12 hours necessary for the minor can
be selected from any of the courses listed above. One
elective must be a WOMST course and one must be
numbered 500 or higher.
Requirements for queer studies minor
Required courses
HrsCourse
3
WOMST 325 Queer Studies: Concepts, History and Politics
Elective courses
The remaining 12 hours necessary for the minor can be
selected from these approved electives:
HrsCourse
3
AMETH 560 when: Intersection of Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Sexual Orientation for LGB students
3
COMM 450
when: Communication and Sexuality
3
ENGL 680
when: Queer Native Literature and Theory
3
HIST 559
History of Aztecs, Inca and Maya
3
LEAD 502
when: Queer Leadership
3
WOMST 460 Coming Out and Sexual Identity
For more information about women’s
studies, contact:
Women’s Studies
Kansas State University
3 Leasure Hall
1128 N 17th St
Manhattan, KS 66505-0506
785-532-5738
womst@k-state.edu
k-state.edu/womst
For more information about
Kansas State University, contact:
Office of Admissions
Kansas State University
119 Anderson Hall
919 Mid-Campus Dr North
Manhattan, KS 66506–0102
1-800-432-8270 (toll free) or
785-532-6250
k-state@k-state.edu
k-state.edu/admissions
Notice of nondiscrimination
Kansas State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color,
ethnicity, national origin, sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence),
sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, ancestry, disability, genetic
information, military status, or veteran status, in the University’s programs and
activities as required by applicable laws and regulations. The person designated
with responsibility for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries
concerning nondiscrimination policies is the University’s Title IX Coordinator: the
Director of the Office of Institutional Equity, equity@k-state.edu, 103 Edwards Hall,
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, (785) 532-6220. The campus
ADA Coordinator is the Director of Employee Relations, charlott@k-state.edu, who
may be reached at 103 Edwards Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
66506, (785) 532-6277.
2016