A major in Women’s & Gender Studies consists of nine credits, with these criteria:

1.  Women’s & Gender Studies 121, Women’s & Gender Studies 399 (to be taken in the spring of the senior year), plus seven additional courses, one of which must be at Level III.  These seven courses shall include at least one course from each of the following areas:

• Theory and Methods Applicable to Studying Gender
• Gender in Historical Contexts
• Gender in a Global, Comparative, or Diverse Contexts

Some courses apply in more than one of these areas. One course may fulfill only one area.

2.  One course must focus on women’s lived experiences.

3.  No more than two courses from other institutions may count toward the major. With the approval of the instructor and the director of Women’s & Gender Studies, majors may apply courses not designated as women’s and gender studies courses. This process requires a completed contract.

Majors who entered St. Olaf College before the fall of 2012 may opt to fulfill the requirements for the Women’s Studies major: Women’s and Gender Studies 121, Women’s and Gender Studies 399, plus seven additional courses, one of which must be at level III. These seven courses shall include at least one course from each of the following areas: (1) social or natural sciences, (2) literature, languages, or the arts, (3) religious, historical, or philosophical traditions. No more than two courses taken elsewhere may be counted toward the major.

Requirements for the Concentration

Many students enhance their work in a major through an interdisciplinary focus on women and gender. A concentration in Women’s and Gender Studies consists of Women’s and Gender Studies 121 and four additional courses, three of which must be at level II or III, drawn from at least three departments.

With the approval of the instructor and the director of Women’s and Gender Studies, concentrators may apply courses not designated as women’s and gender studies courses. This process requires a completed contract. No more than one course taken elsewhere may count toward the concentration. Students who apply partial-credit courses toward the concentration must still complete the minimum number of required credits.

Women’s and Gender Studies Courses

121 Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies

Required for the women’s and gender studies major and concentration, this course introduces students to the concept of gender as a category of analysis. It is designed for students who seek a fuller understanding of themselves as women and men and a wider knowledge of the experiences and achievements of women. Offered each semester. Counts towards American studies major. Required for the women’s and gender studies major and concentration, this course introduces students to the concept of gender as a category of analysis. It is designed for students who seek a fuller understanding of themselves as women and men and a wider knowledge of the experiences and achievements of women. Offered each semester. Counts towards American studies major.

294 Internships

298 Independent Study

394 Internships

396 Directed Undergraduate Research: “Topic Description”

This course provides a comprehensive research opportunity, including an introduction to relevant background material, technical instruction, identification of a meaningful project, and data collection. The topic is determined by the faculty member in charge of the course and may relate to his/her research interests. Prerequisite: Determined by individual instructor. Offered based on department decision. May be offered as a 1.00 credit course or .50 credit course. This course provides a comprehensive research opportunity, including an introduction to relevant background material, technical instruction, identification of a meaningful project, and data collection. The topic is determined by the faculty member in charge of the course and may relate to his/her research interests. Prerequisite: determined by individual instructor. Offered based on department decision. May be offered as a 1.00 credit course or .50 credit course.

398 Independent Research

399 Advanced Topics in Women’s and Gender Studies

The course provides a capstone to the major. Taught as a seminar, it offers an opportunity for students to integrate their studies of women and gender across disciplines and to become more aware of the intricate web of gender, race, culture, and class that informs women’s experiences. Prerequisite: Women’s and Gender Studies 121. Offered annually in the spring semester.