OAKTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
GENERIC COURSE SYLLABUS
I.
Course
Course
Course
Prefix
Number
Name
HUM
141
Introduction to
Credit
Lecture
Lab
3
3
0
LGBTQ Studies
II. Prerequisite
None
III. Course (Catalog) Description
Course introduces the interdisciplinary field of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
queer studies, which seeks to understand and challenge inequalities related to sexuality and
gender identity. Course traces the philosophical, literary and historical emergence of the
LGBTQ discipline to explore the many ways it has addressed our cultural experiences, as
well as diverse representations of sexuality and gender identity in literature and popular
media.
IV. Learning Objectives
After completing this course, students will be able to:
A. Describe the historical emergence and basic concepts of competing philosophical
theories regarding identity, sexuality and gender and apply these theories to
contemporary issues.
B. Explain how these theories lead to different strategies for ending discrimination
based on sexuality and/or gender identity.
C. Critically evaluate these theories and be able to formulate and argue for their own
positions.
D. Analyze a broad selection of relevant literary works.
E. Evaluate the historical relationship between literature and the development of the
LGBTQ discipline.
F. Discuss interconnections between sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity, and class.
G. Review the history of same-sex relationships and gender variance from ancient times
to the present.
H. Demonstrate a familiarity with the historical development of the gay rights
movement and of the LGBTQ discipline and of how these developments transformed
culture in a number of areas.
I. Evaluate and discuss the historical and philosophical relationships between the
LGBTQ and Feminist movements.
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J. 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:
• 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. Sequence of Topics
A. What is Sexuality? What is LGBTQ Studies? Why is it important?
B. An Overview of Selected Theories Related to LGBTQ Studies and their Applications
to Contemporary Issues. For example:
1. Essentialist Theories/Nature vs. Nurture
2. Natural Law Theory
3. Marxist/Socialist Theory
4. Poststructuralism and Queer Theory
5. Postcolonial and Transnational Theories
6. Intersectionality Theory
7. Feminist Theories and the Politics of Location
C. Historical Overview of Same-sex Relationships
1. Same-sex practices and gender variance in the ancient and medieval worlds
a. Ancient Greece and Rome
b. The Middle East and Far East
c. Pre-Columbian America
d. India
e. Judeo-Christian cultures
2. Desire and identity in the early modern period
a. The status of women, romantic friendships and “passing” women
b. The rise of gay identity and subcultures.
3. Constructing the modern homosexual
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a. Sexuality in the Victorian era
b. Sexology: a new field of study
4. Politics and practices in the 20th century
a. Homosexuality as deviation
b. Women’s liberation and the development of contemporary lesbian identity
c. Urban life and the rise of queer communities
d. World War II and McCarthyism
e. The homophile movement
D. The Rise of the Gay Rights Movement
1. Stonewall and beyond
2. Emerging visibility and activism in the 1960s and 1970s
3. AIDS activism
4. Antigay backlash
5. Gays in the military
6. Same-sex marriage and other contemporary issues
E. LGBTQ Literature
1. Early literary models prior to gay identity
2. Whitman and his descendants
3. Expatriate female literary figures
4. Drama and queer performance
5. Global literary perspectives
6. Censorship and moral panic
F. LGBTQ Models in Contemporary Popular Media and Culture
1. Lesbian pulp novels and gay physique pictorials
2. Queer transgressions and aesthetics
3. Diverse representations in film and television
4. The internet and alternate media
G. Sexuality Studies Methodologies and the Transformation of Several Contemporary
Humanities Disciplines (with possible focus on a contemporary work of philosophy,
cultural theory, literary criticism, media studies or other humanities discipline).
VII. Methods of Instruction
A. Lectures and discussion
B. Small group work
C. Films and Internet resources
D. Field trips to public forums, galleries, plays, and performances
E. Guest speakers
Course may be taught as face-to-face, media-based, hybrid or online course.
VIII. Course Practices Required
(Please include information here about all expectations you have for your students
regarding behavior, work, etc. The following are sample topics you may wish to cover.
Please be aware that you must require students in this course to produce at least 15 pages
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of critical writing over the course of the semester. These may be assigned in a variety of
ways including essays, journals, response papers, etc.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
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
The following text is recommended:
Finding Out: An Introduction to LGBT Studies. Deborah T. Meem, Michelle. A. Gibson
and Jonathon F. Alexander, eds. Sage Publications, 2009.
Additional individual works of literature including novels, poetry, essays, short stories,
plays and films
Note: Current textbook information for each course and section is available on Oakton's
Schedule of Classes.
X.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
Sample Rubric:
Two Exams (100 pts each)
Two Reaction Papers (4-5 pages; 50 pts each)
Research Essay (8-10 pages)
Reading Group Assignment
-Group Participation 25 points
-Presentation 25 points
-Written Report (3-4 pages) 50 points
Ten Pop Quizzes/Assignments (10 pts each)
POSSIBLE TOTAL
SCALE:
200 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
600 points
A = 540 – 600
B = 480 – 539
C = 420 – 479
D = 360 – 419
F = 359 or below
XI. Other Course Information
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be
entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations
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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.
Other Information:
Effective beginning term: _Spring 2015_______________ end term ___________
(term) (year)
(term) (year)
Syllabus prepared by: _Kathleen Carot_______________ Date
_February 2014______
Reviewed by Dept/program chair: ___Hollace Graff_____ Date
__ February 2014 ____
Approved by Dean: ____Linda Korbel________________ Date
_ February 2014_____
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