Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGS)

College of Liberal Arts
Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
907-474-6249

WGS F201X      Introduction to Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies      (s)
3 Credits

Offered Fall

An interdisciplinary introduction to the field of women, gender and sexuality studies that explores its development, subject matter and methodologies. Readings from studies that have become classic examples of the importance of gender in research in many disciplines are examined.

Attributes: UAF GER Social Sciences Req

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F202      History of Women in America      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

A chronological approach to the history of women in America. Introduction to major issues of concern to historians of women, as well as different approaches used in analysis of women's past. Consideration of multiracial backgrounds of American women.

Cross-listed with HIST F202.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F308      Language and Gender      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Examination of relationships between language and gender, drawing on both ethnographic and linguistic sources. Topics include power, socialization and sexism.

Prerequisites: WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; LING F101X, LING F216X, ANTH F100X, ANTH F101X or WGS F201X.

Cross-listed with ANTH F308; LING F308.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F313      Science & Intersectionality: Race, Gender and Sexuality
3 Credits

Offered Fall Even-numbered Years

This course introduces students to the complex factors that impact our experience in and connection to science and the environment. Using intersectionality as the framework to guide the discussion, students will consider critical aspects of self, including gender, race, sexuality and disability status.

Prerequisites: COM F121X, COM F131X or COM F141X; COM F211.

Crosslisted with COM F313.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F325      The History of Sexuality      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

The history of sexuality from a worldwide comparative perspective. Theories and debates about the history of sexuality in selected times and places, with an emphasis on the modern period.

Prerequisites: HIST F100X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X.

Cross-listed with HIST F325.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F331      Women's Voices in Japanese Literature      (h)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Selected novels, short stories, poems and diaries by Japanese women from the tenth century to the present which reveal the personal, social, aesthetic and intellectual concerns of women in different periods of Japanese history. Focus on the changing role of women in Japanese society and the role of women writers.

Prerequisites: WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; ENGL F200X or FL F200X.

Recommended: HIST F121, HIST F122X, HIST F331.

Cross-listed with JPN F331.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F332      Human Sexualities Across Cultures      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Exploration of how people in a variety of cultures, both contemporary and historical, construct the meaning and experience of sexuality and express themselves as sexual beings. Interdisciplinary study includes psychology, sociology, anthropology, gender studies and related fields, with particular focus determined by which department is offering the course.

Prerequisites: PSY F101X or WGS F201X.

Cross-listed with PSY F333.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F333      Women's Literature      (h)
3 Credits

Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years

Reading, discussing and analyzing literary works dealing with the social, cultural and political implications of patriarchal structures and traditions from the perspective of feminist theory and criticism. Focus may be on a particular theme, period or genre, but readings will include both primary and secondary texts.

Prerequisites: WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; sophomore standing.

Cross-listed with ENGL F333.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F335      Gender and Crime
3 Credits

Offered Fall and Summer

An exploration of gender and crime including the extent of female crime, victimization, masculinity and violence, and women professionals in the justice system.

Prerequisites: JUST F110X; WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; junior standing.

Cross-listed with JUST F335.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F340      Gender, Sex and Politics      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

In-depth examination of the relevance of gender in political thought and action. Topics vary and may include: historical perspective of political ideas on the nature and status of women; women's involvement in national and/or international political movements and organizations; feminist approaches to the social sciences; feminism as a political ideology.

Prerequisites: One political science course.

Recommended: WGS F201X.

Cross-listed with PS F340.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F348      Native North American Women      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Interdisciplinary examination of the relationship between Native American women and their social settings and cross-cultural experiences. Includes issues of political, economic and social solutions as employed by women in a large multi-ethnic nation-state.

Prerequisites: ANS F101; ANTH F100X; WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; SOC F101X.

Cross-listed with ANS F348.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F350      Women's Issues in Social Welfare and Social Work Practices      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Examination of theories and research concerning women's issues in the field of social work and in the social welfare system, with particular emphasis on women in poverty and women of color. Contemporary policy issues and strategies of empowerment will be covered.

Prerequisites: WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; SWK F103X or SOC F101X.

Cross-listed with SWK F350.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F351      Gender and Communication      (s)
3 Credits

Offered Fall

Basic socialization differences exist in the communication practices of women and men in every culture, resulting in differing cultural constructions of male and female gender. Those differences are addressed in interpersonal, organizational and cultural contexts. Explores cultural female/male dichotomy as well as individual similarities.

Cross-listed with COM F356.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F360      Psychology of Women Across Cultures      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Major theories, research and empirical data which describes the psychology of women as a discrete field, philosophical values of feminism and history of women's roles in society. The impact of culture on women interpersonally and intrapsychically examined across cultures.

Prerequisites: COM F131X or COM F141X; PSY F101X or WGS F201X.

Cross-listed with PSY F360.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F362      Feminist Philosophy      (h)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Examination of contemporary feminist philosophical positions. Emphasis on feminist ethics, social and political philosophy, and epistemology.

Cross-listed with PHIL F362.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F380      Women, Minorities and the Media      (h)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Basic socialization differences that exist in the communication practices of women and men in every culture are addressed in the interpersonal organizational and cultural contexts. Examination of how women and minorities are portrayed in the mass media, the employment of women and minorities in the media, as well as how.

Prerequisites: COM F131X or COM F141X; junior standing.

Cross-listed with COM F380.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F403      Theories in Women's and Gender Studies      (h, s)
3 Credits

Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years

This class explores the intellectual history of women's and gender studies. We will start our exploration in the late 18th century, and follow feminist theoretical ideas about women and gender through to the present. The main focus is on Western theory, we will also explore non-Western ideas and critiques.

Prerequisites: WGS F201X.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F410      Women in Music History      (h)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Lives and works of female musicians, composers and performers will be traced from the earliest days of the ancient and mythological periods through the medieval, Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods with special emphasis on composers of the 20th-century.

Prerequisites: WRTG F111X; WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; junior standing.

Cross-listed with MUS F410.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F414      Women and Gender in East Asian History      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

An in-depth seminar on the history of East Asia, with a special emphasis on the experiences of women and on the issue of gender. This seminar will focus on the modern period, and on China and Japan especially, though other regions of East Asia may also be considered.

Prerequisites: WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; HIST F100X.

Recommended: HIST F122X, HIST F275.

Cross-listed with HIST F414.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F424      Topics in Women's History      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

An in-depth seminar on a specific topic of current interest. Topics may change and may cover the history of European or American women from the 18th century to the present.

Prerequisites: Junior standing.

Cross-listed with HIST F424.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

Repeatable for Credit: May be taken unlimited times for up to 15 credits

WGS F433      Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in Language, Literature, and Culture      (h)
3 Credits

Offered Fall Even-numbered Years

Intensive study of variable topics in women, gender and/or sexuality studies with a focus on humanities fields such as literature, writing, rhetoric, theory, film and cultural studies. Topics will be placed in dialogue with current debates within women, gender and/or sexuality studies. Course may be repeated for credit when content varies.

Prerequisites: WRTG F211X, WRTG F212X, WRTG F213X or WRTG F214X; sophomore standing.

Cross-listed with ENGL F433.

Special Notes: Specific content to be announced at the time of registration.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 1 time for up to 6 credits

WGS F440      Gender and Education      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Educational practices and processes and their relation to the changing situation of women in society. Examination of schools as sites of pervasive gender socialization and discrimination as well as offering new possibilities for liberation. Topics include social construction of gender, patterns of access and achievements, gender as an organizing principle in schools and classrooms, and feminist agendas and strategies for change.

Prerequisites: Junior standing.

Cross-listed with ED F440.

Stacked with ED F640.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F445      Gender in Cross-cultural Perspective      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Gender is examined as both cultural construction and social relationship through studies that explore gender diversity, roles, experiences, and expressions in a broad variety of societies and contexts, past and present. Includes a range of theoretical and methodological approaches in anthropology for exploring and understanding gender cross-culturally.

Prerequisites: ANTH F215 or WGS F201X.

Cross-listed with ANTH F445.

Stacked with ANTH F645.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F460      Women and Development      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Explores interrelationships of gender roles and development in the global economy, emphasizing Alaska and the circumpolar north. Examines the historical marginalization of women, women in indigenous communities, and changing socio-economic and cultural gender roles in community development. Examines women’s life histories that illustrate strategies for individual and community empowerment.

Cross-listed with RD F460.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

WGS F492      Seminar
1-3 Credits

Lecture + Lab + Other: 1-3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Letter Grades with option of Plus/Minus

Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 15 times for up to unlimited credits

WGS F492P      Seminar
1-3 Credits

Lecture + Lab + Other: 1-3 + 0 + 0

Grading System: Pass/Fail Grades

Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 15 times for up to unlimited credits