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The Academic Program
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Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Full-Time Faculty: Devavani
Chatterjea (Biology), Beth Cleary (Theatre and Dance), Paula Cooey
(Religious Studies), Andrea Cremer (History), Julie Dolan (Political
Science), Paul Dosh (Latin American Studies), Ruthann Godollei (Art),
Birgitta Hammarberg (German and Russian Studies), Corie Hammers
(Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies), Lynn Hudson (History),
Joanna Inglot (Art), Zornitsa Keremidchieva (Political Science), Mahnaz
Kousha (Sociology), Theresa Krier (Chair, English), Karine Moe (Economics),
Lara Nielsen (Theatre and Dance), Joan Ostrove (Psychology), Peter Rachleff
(History), Jane Rhodes (American Studies), Khaldoun Samman (Sociology),
Sonita Sarker (Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; English),
Christopher Scott (Asian Languages and Cultures), Beth Severy-Hoven
(Classics), Dianna Shandy (Anthropology), Clay Steinman (Humanities and
Media and Cultural Studies), Joëlle Vitiello (French and Francophone
Studies), Wendy Weber (Political Science).
Part-Time Faculty: Elizabeth
Jansen (Biology).
Visiting Faculty: Teresa
Mesa Adamuz (Hispanic and Latin American Studies); Deborah Smith
(Sociology).
In the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Department (WGSS) at Macalester College, students investigate key questions
raised within feminist and queer theories and the fields of women’s,
transgender, bisexual, lesbian, and gay studies. We examine our core topics
in contexts of interlocking systems of cultural and political difference
based on race, nation, class, ethnicity, and ability, including comparative
national and transnational perspectives. Women’s, Gender, and
Sexuality Studies is an interdisciplinary field interlinking the
humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and arts. In addition to a
full sequence of core courses, WGSS affiliated faculty offer a variety of
cross-listed courses. Students may use these courses to fashion a unique
focus for their studies. The department supports students in completing
independent research, internships, study away, and senior and honors
projects. Students in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies develop
practical and theoretical skills for understanding and engaging the social,
cultural, economic, and political contexts shaping our world. The
department encourages students to engage their knowledge with the many
communities that intersect their lives at Macalester and beyond. Our
graduates have applied their work in a wide variety of careers, such as in
academia, literature and the arts, law, politics, business, health and
medicine, and non-profit work. Courses approved for department credit are
listed below. The department may offer additional courses each semester.
Please check with the Registrar or the department office. The following
guidelines are used for inclusion of courses: courses that make use of new
scholarship on women, gender, and sexuality, and in which the primary
perspectives derive from critical frameworks that are generally identified
with feminist theory. Please check the link “Crosslist” on the
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies website at
www.macalester.edu/wgs.
General Distribution Requirement
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 105, 127,
210, 220, 227, 228, 270, 310, 315, and 320 count toward the general
distribution requirement in humanities. Women’s, Gender, and
Sexuality Studies 110, 141, 200, 205, 242, 261, 305 and 405 count toward
the social science distribution requirement. Women’s, Gender, and
Sexuality Studies 252 and 262 count toward the general distribution
requirement in fine arts. Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 117
counts toward the math/natural science distribution requirement. Courses in
the department numbered 100, 300 and 400 will count toward either the
humanities or social science distribution requirement, depending on the
subject matter. Any topics courses (194, 294, 394, 494) require approval by
the department to qualify for general distribution credit. Courses approved
for women’s, gender, and sexuality studies offered through other
departments meet the general distribution requirements of that department.
General Education Requirements
Courses that meet the general education requirements
in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism, and multiculturalism
will be posted on the Registrar’s web page in advance of registration
for each semester.
Additional information regarding the general
distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be
found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog.
Please visit www.macalester.edu/wgs for more
information on courses and faculty.
Major Requirements
The women’s, gender, and sexuality studies
major, planned in consultation with an advisor chosen from the faculty list
above, is comprised of no fewer than 12 courses (48 credits), drawn from
both women’s, gender, and sexuality studies “core
courses” and “courses approved for the women’s, gender,
and sexuality studies ” majors or minors(see below).
1. must include at least one 100-level (introductory)
core course;2. must include Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality
Studies 200 and one other 200-level (intermediate) core course;3. must
include two 300-level (advanced) core courses;4. must fulfill the
capstone requirement through completion of the senior seminar
(Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 400 or, when approved,
405).5. can include up to the equivalent of 4 semester credits from a
study abroad program;6. may consist of no more than 8 credits of
independents and 4 credits of internship;7. may consist of no more than
three required courses (12 credits) from any single instructor, or any
single department other than women’s, gender, and sexuality studies;
and8. should include offerings in at least three separate departments
in at least two divisions (Humanities, Fine Arts, Social Sciences, and
Natural Sciences are the divisions).
Minor Requirements
The women’s, gender, and sexuality studies minor
consists of six courses (24 credits). These courses:
1. must include one Women’s, Gender, and
Sexuality Studies 100-level (introductory) core course;2. must include
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 200 (intermediate);3. must
include one 300-level (advanced) core course;4. must fulfill the
capstone requirement through completion of Women’s, Gender, and
Sexuality Studies 400 or 405, or a 600-number project (excluding
preceptorships) with prior approval from the department; and5. should
be distributed among at least three separate departments and come from more
than one division.
The fit of these courses should be planned with an
advisor who should be familiar with the women’s, gender, and
sexuality studies curriculum.
Honors Program
The women’s, gender, and sexuality studies
program participates in the honors program and strongly encourages its
majors to consider this as part of the senior year. Eligibility
requirements, application procedures, and specific project expectations for
the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies program are available
either from the program office or the Director of Academic Programs.
Topics Courses
194, 294, 394, 494
Examination of special topics of interest to faculty
and students. Occasionally offered. (4 credits)
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