Gender Studies

Program Coordinator
Sandra Sgoutas-Emch, Ph.D., Psychology

The Gender Studies Minor

Gender studies is an interdisciplinary academic minor that takes as its focus the history, development, and consequences of culturally acquired sexual identities. It is a field of study as complex as the many disciplines it weaves together. At USD, those disciplines include anthropology, business, communication, economics, English, French, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology. Gender studies addresses such topics as the acquisition of gender identity across cultures; the influence of gender upon spirituality, moral choice, creativity, and language use; the relationship of gender to a wide spectrum of social problems such as poverty and violence; and the history of various gender-related issues such as family life, marriage, reproduction, divorce, child rearing, sexual behavior, and sexual orientation.

The gender studies minor is an 18 unit program that includes the following requirements:

1. GNDS 101 – Introduction to Gender Studies / 3 units;

2. Two lower- or upper-division elective courses to be selected from a list generated each semester by the program coordinators or from the courses listed below in this Bulletin;

3. Two elective upper-division courses to be selected from a list generated each semester by the program coordinators or from the courses listed below in this bulletin. Thus 3-9 units of lower-division work, and 9-15 units of upper-division coursework are required;

4. Two of the four elective courses listed in items 2 and 3 above must be in the Humanities and two must be in the Social Sciences; and,

5. GNDS 495 – Advanced Gender Studies / 3 UNITS

GENDER STUDIES Courses (GNDS)

101 Introduction to Gender Studies / 3 UNITS
An interdisciplinary introduction to such issues as gender socialization; men, women, and friendship; men, women, and romance; gender and communication; gender and language; gender and the media; gender and morality; gender and economics; gender and ways of knowing; gender and spirituality; etc.

494 Topics in Gender Studies / 3 UNITS
An advanced course focusing on topics of interest and importance to the study of gender. For example, topics might include such subjects as violence against women; the men’s movement; contemporary theories of love relationships; and lesbian, gay, and bi-sexual issues. This course may be repeated for credit when the topic changes. Students must have completed 12 units of coursework in the gender studies minor or have consent of the instructor.

495 Advanced Gender Studies / 3 UNITS
A capstone seminar course devoted to advanced study in the field, supplemented by directed research in students’ areas of primary interest in their majors. When appropriate, it may include an internship component. The research experience will culminate in a symposium.

499 Independent Study / 1-3 UNITS
A program of advanced study in an area of special interest, arranged between the student and the instructor. The independent study must include at a minimum extensive readings, consistent consultations with the sponsoring instructor, and a final report or project. Prerequisite: Approval of one of the gender studies program coordinators.

Interdisciplinary Courses

Courses in this edition of the Undergraduate Bulletin that count toward the Gender Studies minor are listed below. Other courses that will count toward the minor will be provided on a semester-by-semester basis. Students should select their courses in consultation with one of the program coordinators. Please see the full course descriptions under the appropriate departmental listings.

Social Sciences

ANTH 355 Anthropology of Gender / 3 units
COMM 325 Interpersonal Communication / 3 units*
COMM 432 Film and Cultural Politics / 3 units
COMM 445 Gender Communication / 3 units
COMM 482 Children and Media / 3 units
COMM 494 Feminist Rheoteric / 3 units
POLS 316D Sex, Power and Politics / 3 units
PSYC 359 Health Psychology of Women and Ethnic Groups / 3 units
SOCI 101D Intro to Sociology / 3 units*
SOCI 311 Popular Culture / 3 units
SOCI 320 U.S. Society / 3 units
SOCI 353 Marriage and the Family / 3 units
SOCI 357 Inequality and Stratification / 3 units
SOCI 359 Gender thru the Prism of Difference / 3 units
SOCI 369D Sexualities / 3 units
SOCI 388D Sports in Social Context / 3 units
SOCI 464 Community, Consensus, Commitment / 3 units*
SOCI 494 Race and Performance / 3 units
SOCI 494 Women in Poverty / 3 units

Humanities

ENGL 121 Composition and Literature / 3 units*
ENGL 223 Growing-up Fiction / 3 units
ENGL 224 Women’s Literature / 3 units
ENGL 224H Women Writers / 3 units
ENGL 225 Chicano Lives / 3 units
ENGL 228 Literature in Violent Times / 3 units
ENGL 231 Children Literature / 3 units
ENGL 342 Romanticism / 3 units
ENGL 358 US Women of Color / 3 units
ENGL 374 Gender and Literature / 3 units
ETHN 110 Ethnic Identity in the United States / 3 units*
ETHN 494 African Americans Civil Rights / 3 units
ETHN 494 Race and Performance / 3 units
ETHN 494 Race, Gender VS Mex Border / 3 units
FREN 414 French Women Writers / 3 units
HIST 323 Medieval Women / 3 units
HIST 331 Renaissance Europe / 3 units
HIST 346 Modern European Women and Politics / 3 units
HIST 347 Modern European Women and Power / 3 units
HIST 367 Women in East Asia / 3 units
PHIL 111 Philosophy of Human Nature / 3 units*
SPAN 302 Cultural History of Spain / 3 units*
SPAN 426 Spanish Literature of the 18th and 19th Century / 3 units
THRS 114 Foundations in Catholic Theology / 3 units*
THRS 334 Christian Social Ethics* / 3 units
THRS 367 Feminist Theology / 3 units
THRS 370 Gender and Religion in the United States / 3 units

Business Administration

MGMT 306 Women in Management / 3 units
ECON 321 Women and Work / 3 units

Education

EDUC 233 Children’s Literature / 3 units
EDLD 156 Women and Leadership / 3 units

* Students must consult with gender studies advisors to assure enrollment in the appropriate section