Women’s Studies (B.A.)

Program: B.A.
Women’s Studies Program
Department of Political Science
College of Arts and Sciences

Liberal Arts Building 209 ~ 260-481-6686 ~ www.ipfw.edu/political-science/

The student learning outcomes for the degree are as follows:

The major concepts of feminist critical analysis, including gender, race, class, sexuality, nationality, ability, and age, and the complexities of their intersections
How gender is socially and historically constructed, how it relates to systems of power, privilege, and oppression, and how it impacts women’s lives
A broad range of feminist theories with an appreciation for their cultural and historical contexts
The history and importance of feminist thought and activism in the U.S. and around the globe
The diversity of women’s experiences, roles, and contributions to society and culture
How gender impacts the production of knowledge and how feminist approaches to learning and research have transformed traditional disciplines and other canons of knowledge
The history and status of women’s studies as an academic field of study and the key principles that distinguish it from traditional disciplines, including its interdisciplinarity, its commitment to feminist approaches to teaching and learning, and its development of feminist research methods
Ability to demonstrate effective reading, speaking, writing, and critical thinking skills through the work they complete in women’s studies courses
Ability to apply feminist perspectives to a range of issues and engage critical debates or ares of contention within feminism
Ability to apply feminist perspectives across disciplines
Ability to incorporate feminist theories and scholarship in research methods and problem-solving
Ability to transform knowledge into engagement and articulate effective strategies for change

Women’s Studies is based on the premise that the study of women’s experiences, concerns, social roles, and creativity is essential to our knowledge of humankind and society. Feminist scholarship and theory provide the knowledge and analytical tools necessary for a gender-balanced perspective on our world, both past and present. The Women’s Studies Program affords you the opportunity to pursue feminist scholarship on women and gender through a variety of interdisciplinary courses.

In addition to the B.A. program, a minor and a certificate in Women’s Studies is also available at IPFW. See Program Descriptions for further information.

To earn the Bachelor of Arts with a major in Women’s Studies, you must satisfy the requirements of IPFW (Regulations ) and the College of Arts and Sciences (requirements ), and complete the following courses. Only women’s studies courses in which you have earned a grade of C- or better can be applied to the degree or used to satisfy prerequisites.

IPFW General Education Requirements Credits: 33

General Education Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required in each course used to satisfy the IPFW general education requirements.

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements Credits: 32

English Writing and Speaking

See Arts and Sciences Part A for Speaking requirement

ENG W233 - Intermediate Expository Writing Cr. 3.
(or other approved writing course)

Foreign Language

Requirements in Arts and Sciences Part B Credits: 14

Distribution (not in WOST or cross-listed courses)

Requirements in Arts and Sciences Part C Credits: 9

Cultural Studies

Additional credits in Western tradition Credits: 3

WOST W301 - International Perspectives on Women Cr. 3.
(credits included in Major Requirements, below)

Core and Concentration (Major) Courses Credits: 33

Credits in WOST prefixed or cross-referenced humanities or fine arts Credits: 6
Credits in WOST prefixed or cross-referenced social sciences or sciences Credits: 6
Additional credits in WOST prefixed or cross-referenced courses Credits: 9

WOST W210 - Introduction To Women’s And Gender Studies Cr. 3.
WOST W301 - International Perspectives on Women Cr. 3.
WOST W304 - Feminist Theories Cr. 3.
WOST W400 - Topics in Women’s Studies Cr. 3.

General Elective Courses

Sufficient additional credits to bring the total to 120.

Total Credits: 120

Notes

A thematic focus of at least three courses (9 of the 30 credits in major requirements) must be selected in consultation with your women’s studies advisor. The thematic focus provides coherence within this interdisciplinary major and can be defined in several ways: geographically (e.g., women in America, women in Western Europe); chronologically (e.g., women in antiquity, women of the Renaissance); by a category or issue (e.g., women and peace, women of color), and so on.

If you major in women’s studies, you are also required to have a second major or one or more minors in other arts and sciences disciplines. If you elect to double-major in women’s studies and another arts and sciences discipline, women’s studies may be either your first or second major.

You may count the courses taken to fulfill this major toward arts and sciences distribution requirements wherever possible. However, no more than two courses may be applied to both majors.

If you elect to combine a women’s studies major with one or more minors in other arts and sciences disciplines, you may count only two courses toward both the women’s studies major and College of Arts and Sciences distribution requirements. Only one course may be counted toward both the women’s studies major and any other minor.