OAKTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
GENERIC COURSE SYLLABUS
I.
II.
Course
Prefix
Course
Number
Course
Name
HUM
140
Introduction to
Women’s Studies
Credit
Lecture
3
3
Lab
0
Prerequisites
None
III.
Course (Catalog) Description
Course introduces the interdisciplinary field of women’s studies that seeks to
understand and challenge gender inequalities. Course traces the philosophical, literary
and historical emergence of the women’s studies discipline to explore the many ways it
has addressed our cultural experiences. IAI H9 900
IV.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, students will be able to:
A. Describe the historical emergence and basic concepts of competing feminist
theories and apply these theories to contemporary issues.
B. Explain how these theories lead to different strategies for ending the subordination
of women.
C. Critically evaluate these theories and be able to formulate and argue for their own
positions.
D. Analyze a broad selection of feminist literary works.
E. Evaluate the historical relationship between women’s writing and the development
of the women’s studies discipline.
F. Discuss interconnections between gender, race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality.
G. Demonstrate a familiarity with the historical development of the Women’s Studies
discipline and how it has transformed gender discrimination in a number of areas.
H. Exhibit values related to teamwork and collaboration, fostered by the pedagogy of
shared-inquiry and critical dialogue appropriate to the humanities and philosophy.
V.
Academic Integrity
Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate
academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code
prohibits:
Generic Course Syllabus
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cheating,
plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
helping others to cheat,
unauthorized changes on official documents,
pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s
policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against
you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the
assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office
of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
VI.
Outline of Topics
(This is a sample outline of possible topics. Instructors may choose to approach this
class historically or topically. In your own course outline, please specify the dates on
which you will cover specific topics as well as other important dates, such as exams
and paper deadlines.)
A. What is Women’s Studies? Why is it important?
B. An overview of various feminist theories and their applications to contemporary
issues. For example:
1. Liberal feminism
2. Radical feminism
3. Marxist/socialist feminisms
4. Postmodernism and post-structuralism
5. Postcolonial and transnational theories
6. Eco-feminism
C. Historical and literary survey of the development of the women’s movement.
1. Women’s suffrage and the “first wave”.
2. The 1960s and the “second wave”.
3. Post-feminism and the “third wave”.
D. Cultural construction of gender.
E. Gender and women’s bodies.
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F. Women’s mythology and spirituality.
G. Women’s studies methodologies and the transformation of several contemporary
humanities disciplines (possible focus on a contemporary work of philosophy, cultural
theory, literary criticism, art history, media studies or other humanities discipline).
VII.
Methods of Instruction
Course may be taught as face-to-face, media-based, hybrid, or online course.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Lectures and discussion
Small group work
Films and slide shows
Field trips to public forums, galleries, plays, and performances
Guest speakers
VIII. Course Practices Required
Please include information here about all expectations you have for your students
regarding behavior, work, etc. The following are sample course practices you may
wish to cover. Please be aware that you must require students in this course to produce
at least 15 pages of critical written assignments over the course of the semester, which
should account for at least 40% of the final course grade. These may be assigned in a
variety of ways including journals, response papers, field trip projects, etc.
The syllabus should include information regarding:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Standards for written work
Quizzes/Exams
Participation
Individual or group presentations
Essays
Final Project
Special policies about make-up exams, late papers, or other matters of concern
IX.
Instructional Materials
Note: Current textbook information for each course and section is available on
Oakton’s Schedule of Classes.
Below are examples of appropriate texts:
Women’s Worlds: The McGraw-Hill Anthology of Women’s Writing in English Across
the Globe edited by Warhol-Down, et al
The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women edited by Gilbert and Gruber
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Women’s Images and Realities, A Multicultural Anthology edited by Kesselman,
McNair and Schniedewind
Women’s Voices, Feminist Visions edited by Shaw and Lee
Feminist Thought by Rosemary Tong
Feminist Theory Reader: Local and Global Perspectives edited by McCann and Kim
Feminist Theory: A Reader edited by Kolmar and Bartkowski
The Feminist History Reader by Sue Morgan
Individual works of literature including novels, poetry, essays, short stories and films
X.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
(In this section, the instructor will present the percentages or point breakdown for all
the elements of the final grade. Please note that at least 40% of the grade must be based
on written work rather than objective exams, oral presentations, etc.)
For example:
Quizzes/Exams…………………………………………40 points
Journals/Essays…………………………………….......40 points
Oral Presentation of a Final Project……………………10 points
Attendance and Participation…………………………..10 points
Grading Scale. 90% - 100% = A // 80% - 89% = B // 70% - 79% = C // 60% - 69% = D
// below 60 = F
XI.
Other Course Information
A. Disabilities
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may
be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request
accommodations or services contact the Access and Disability Resource Center at
the Des Plaines or Skokie campus. All students are expected to fulfill essential
course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement
of a course or degree program.
B. Discrimination
The Oakton Community College Catalog states:
Oakton Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed,
religion, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status in
admission to and participation in its educational programs, activities and services,
or employment practices. The College does not tolerate sexual harassment or
sexual assault by or of its students or employees.
In keeping with this policy of tolerance and non-discrimination, in this class all of
us (myself included) should strive to listen and give careful consideration to all
ideas expressed in class, especially those that are different from our own, without
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attacking or demeaning the people who have those views. We should also strive to
avoid using insulting terms or telling offensive jokes when talking to or about
individuals or groups.
C. Instructor information
Office number and office hours:
Phone number:
Email and website:
Approval Dates:
(Faculty: Do not include the following information on your individual syllabi created for class
distribution.)
Effective beginning term:
Fall 2013
Ending term:
Syllabus prepared by: Hollace Graff
Date: March 2006
Revised by:
Date: June 2010
Kathleen Carot
Reviewed by Chair:
Hollace Graff
Date: July 2010
Approval by Dean:
Linda Korbel
Date
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June 2013