WGS-Women's & Gender Studies

WGS 1003. Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies.3 Credit Hours.

Examines women's issues and movements in the U.S. and globally, focusing on the role of gender in people's lives and on the ways it is used to create privilege for some and oppress others. This course challenges traditional, normative notions about gender and sexuality, which are inextricably entwined. Explores how disability, race, and religion intersect with gender and sexual identity. (F, Sp, Su) [IV-WC].

WGS 2033. Introduction to Digital Humanities.3 Credit Hours.

(Crosslisted with LIS, HIST and HSTM 2033) This course introduces students to digital and/or computational methods in the humanities and addresses critical questions about the role of digital technology in society. This is a collaborative, hands-on, project-based course. (Sp) [IV-WC].

WGS 2970. Special Topics in WGS.1-4 Credit Hours.

Special Topics. 1 to 4 hours. May be repeated; Maximum credit eight hours. Special topics course for content not currently offered in regularly scheduled courses. May include library and/or laboratory research, and field projects. (Irreg.)

WGS 3043. Gender/Power/Ldrshp-Politics.3 Credit Hours.

(Crosslisted with P SC 3043) Prerequisite: Political Science 1113. Focuses on the relationship between gender, power, leadership, and government in politics and public administration. Causes of under-representation of women in elected office and the bureaucracy are explored. Historical, social, psychological, and organizational barriers are considered. (Irreg.)

WGS 3063. Topics in United States Women's Movements.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit 9 hours. Content will vary but will cover a particular aspect of women's studies, be it history, art, communication, literature, contemporary social problems, theory, or other appropriate area of study. (Irreg.)

WGS 3123. Social Justice and Social Change.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: W S 1003 or junior standing. Introduces students to the major theories and principles of social justice, including fairness, equality and justice; applies these concepts to contemporary social issues such as poverty, gender equality, racial and ethnic identity and politics, environmentalism, the social role of media, war, and globalization; and suggests strategies for creating social change and social justice. Includes both an analysis of the major cultural and structural causes of inequality and injustice, and an examination of the most effective responses. (Irreg.) [IV-WC].

WGS 3133. Medieval Women.3 Credit Hours.

(Crosslisted with HIST 3133) Prerequisite: History 1113 or History 1613 or junior standing. Covers social history of women in western Europe from late antiquity to the late Middle Ages. Topics include stages of life, marriage, families, occupation, law, power, health, religion, love and education. (F) [IV-WC].

WGS 3203. Rhetoric and Sexuality.3 Credit Hours.

(Crosslisted with ENGL 3203) Prerequisite: ENGL 1213 or EXPO 1213 or the equivalent. Investigates the intersections of rhetoric and sexuality as they function socially, politically, and personally. Development and application of research methods from the field of rhetoric and writing studies with a focus on writing, inquiry and revision. (Irreg.) [I-O].

WGS 3220. WGS Special Topics.1-3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing. 1 to 3 hours. 3220 preceded by the department name will be a junior level interdisciplinary course in women's studies. May be repeated with change of title and content; maximum credit nine hours. Content will be agreed upon by the departments in cooperation with women's studies. (F, Sp, Su)

WGS 3223. WGS Special Topics.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing. 3223 preceded by the department name will be a junior level interdisciplinary course in women's and gender studies. May be repeated with change of title and content; maximum credit twelve hours. (F, Sp, Su)

WGS 3233. Women Creating Social Change.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission of instructor. Overview of how women's organizations developed as part of the women's movement in the 1960's. Examines how women have organized at the local, regional and national levels, both within and across race, class, ethnicity, religion and sexuality. Provides students with a basic understanding of how to create, run and manage a nonprofit organization. (F) [IV-WC].

WGS 3253. Men and Masculinity.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or W S 1003. Designed as an introduction to the literature and theory that focuses on men and masculinity. Masculinity will be opened for critique and critical inquiry in cross-cultural and cross-historical comparison. The performance of masculinity and attendant judgments of this performance change based upon class, race, ethnicity, sexuality, politics, geography, culture, and language. Our readings are designed to analyze this performance from a number of contextual and sociological angles. Particular emphasis will focus on the way that masculinity and concepts of masculinity have been received and engaged in women's and gender studies, feminism and queer theory. (Irreg.)

WGS 3263. LGBTQ Movements.3 Credit Hours.

(Crosslisted with LGBT 3263) Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing. This course will focus on the mainstream gay and lesbian movement in US history, and how that movement shifted from radical to mainstream and the important debates therein. The course will also consider the impact of systems of oppression from colonialism to the US justice system on LGBTQ identity. (Irreg.)

WGS 3273. Queer Theory.3 Credit Hours.

(Crosslisted with LGBT 3273) Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing. This interdisciplinary course is an introduction to the academic fields and debates within queer theory, specifically, normalization, resistance, and the practice of queering. The central focus is to examine, challenge, critique, and destabilize normative conceptions and representations of not just gender and sexuality but of other categories of being as well. (Irreg.)

WGS 3283. Human Trafficking.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing. Introduces the trafficking of persons in different areas, included, but not limited to, bonded labor, forced migration, and sex trafficking. Human trafficking from a historical and also modern perspective, both in the United States and in the global context, will be studied. Human trafficking is modern day slavery. There are more slaves in the world today than before the time of abolition. Estimates show there are about 27-30 million people are enslaved in the world today. Human trafficking is a 32 billion dollar industry worldwide and is second only to drug trafficking with 36 billion dollar revenue. Explores the different kinds of trafficking, effects of globalization, the demand, and what the governments can do in order to combat human trafficking. (F)

WGS 3353. Race, Class & Gender.3 Credit Hours.

(Crosslisted with SOC 3353) Prerequisite: junior standing or permission of instructor. Explores the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender and sexuality. Focus is on how systems of power and oppression reinforce each other, how they intersect in shaping social structure and individual experiences, and how the systems of oppression are mutually reinforcing. Theories and practice of intersectionality, how gender, race, class and other categories of identity are constructed and reproduced in social, political, and economic structures, and experienced in every day life. (F, Sp)

WGS 3393. Gender and Identity in STEM.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. This course examines the effects of gender and other forms of identity, including race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, on contemporary STEM students and professionals, including the impact on skill, self-efficacy, and academic/professional outcomes in STEM disciplines. It also explores the intersection and effects of cultural expectations associated with gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation on professional identity and student engagement. (Irreg.) [IV-WC].

WGS 3413. Body Image Vs. Reality.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: 1003 or junior standing. Looks at the topic of body image, which is of great importance to men and women. We explore women's identity in popular culture, examining how different authors have responded to the pressures on women to be beautiful, to inhabit a particular place in society and to create a space for themselves as subjects rather than objects. (F, Sp, Su)

WGS 3423. Women and Sports.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: 1003 or junior standing. Examines six generations of American women athletes and their struggle to achieve equality. Explores how women have historically participated in sports and how sports have changed with the passage to Title IX, as well as contemporary female athletics. (F, Sp)

WGS 3433. Race and Sexuality in Women's Sports.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior Standing. This course is an in-depth look at how gender and sexuality have impacted sports for women. The class will address the issues facing women of color and LGBTQ women and how they survived in a world that had no experience in accepting them. Also included is the role of Title IX and how contemporary female athletes have changed society. (Sp)

WGS 3440. Mentored Research Experience.3 Credit Hours.

WGS 3463. Sex and Gender in Early Christianities.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing. Course introduces students to the diverse understandings of sexuality and gender that developed in early Christianities. Focus on the relationships between gender, leadership, and power; understandings of the body; and views on human sexuality including same-sex relationships, non-binary and transgressive gender expressions, and celibacy. Course will examine how developments in these early Christian communities had long-lasting effects throughout history. (Sp)

WGS 3473. Red Dirt Women and Power.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: 1003 or junior standing. The stories of "red dirt women" are central to an examination of their power and vulnerability in Oklahoma past and present. Individual women come alive as students do oral/video histories. Novels, videos, history and structural social analysis place them in their social context. (F) [IV-WC].

WGS 3483. Domestic Violence and the Law.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: 1003 or junior standing. Introduction to the legal aspects of domestic violence by examining case law, statutes and scholarly research and commentary. Studies how domestic violence is addressed by the legal system, and analyzes the different legal treatment of married couples, non-married couples and same-sex couples. Law enforcement, court systems, legal representation, and advocacy groups are evaluated for the role they play in domestic violence law. (F)

WGS 3493. Bodies, Nature, and Justice.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: WGS 1003. This course will explore the interconnections between reproductive justice and environmental justice. We use feminist theories of embodiment combined with critical environmental humanities explorations of what constitutes "nature" to explore the political and ethical dimensions of reproductive justice and environmental justice. (Irreg.)

WGS 3513. Gender, Law and Human Rights.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or 1003. This course follows the development of women's human rights and the subsequent evolution of legal remedies for gender-specific issues. Studies will include the relevant treaties and conventions of the United Nations as well as international case law affecting women. Various women's human rights issues we will study include religion, employment discrimination, gender violence, cultural relativism, polygyny and reproductive rights. (Irreg.) [III-SS].

WGS 3523. Reproductive Law and Justice.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing. In the United States, reproductive rights incorporate legal principles including family law, health law, criminal law, immigration, human rights, and constitutional law. Explores social, legal, and economic barriers to accessing reproductive health through tools including critical race theory, critical legal theory, human rights, feminist theory, and public health systems. Includes contemporary issues: breast-feeding regulations, gender identity discrimination, poverty, and racism. (F)

WGS 3563. Gender and Global Politics.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission of instructor. How gender shapes global processes such as war and peace, globalization and labor migration, the rise of ideologies of community such as ethno-nationalism and religious fundamentalism, and the emergence of global norms and activism. A particular focus is on local and global social movements and activism that address gender inequality, as well as the rise of global norms of gender equality. (F) [III-SS].

WGS 3703. Female Heroism in Hollywood.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing. Examines conceptual and performative shifts in female heroism in Hollywood genre. Students will engage with various theoretical (feminist theory, feminist film theory, critical race theory) and critical texts discussing the social construction of the female body in American society and cinema, and examine the changing generic parameters through which the female body is considered and constituted heroic. (F) [IV-WC].

WGS 3713. Gender and James Bond.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing. Explores the unprecedented longevity and popular cultural viability of the James Bond film franchise by considering the representations of heroism and villainy in the series, focusing on the performance and intersectionality of gender, race, class, nationality and sexual orientation. Examines representations of women and the way those representations have changed throughout the life of the franchise. (Irreg.) [IV-WC].

WGS 3810. WGS Special Topics.1-3 Credit Hours.

1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit nine hours. Content will vary but will cover a particular aspect of women's studies, be it history, art, communication, literature, contemporary social problems, theory, or other appropriate area of study. Texts and supplementary readings will be assigned according to the topics chosen. (F, Sp)

WGS 3813. WGS Special Topics.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit nine hours. Content will vary but will cover a particular aspect of women's and gender studies, be it history, art, communication, literature, contemporary social problems, theory, or other appropriate area of study. (Irreg.)

WGS 3823. Queer Religion.3 Credit Hours.

(Crosslisted with LGBT and RELS 3823) Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor. This interdisciplinary seminar engages a range of methods and theoretical approaches to queer studies and religion. The course explores questions including: What is the relationship between queer life and religious life? Is religion ever queer? Is queerness ever religious? What do scholars mean when they label religion (or other objects of study) as queer or queer-able? (Irreg.) [IV-WC].

WGS 3933. U.S. Queer History.3 Credit Hours.

(Crosslisted with HIST 3933) Prerequisite: Junior standing. The last 130 years have been a time of incredible change for LBGTQ people and the meanings of sexuality in the United States. We will trace LGBTQ experience and community formation, the policing of queer communities, and the constructions of queerness in pop culture, medicine, the law, and politics, as well as how these histories inform our own time. (Irreg.) [IV-WC].

WGS 3943. Women's Health.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: 2003 or permission of instructor. Students will gain basic understanding of subjects necessary to develop physical, mental, and social well-being. Covers female anatomy, physiology, and normal processes, including reproduction, childbearing, and menopause. Healthy life choices and decision-making, stress management, and self-care, including nutrition, exercise, and mental wellness, will also be considered. (F, Sp)

WGS 3953. Women and the Law.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing. This course will examine the history of women's rights and gender discrimination in the United States. It will focus on topics such as the family, education, reproduction, sexual harassment, violence against women, pornography and discrimination in the workplace. Although the subject matter involves legal cases and discourse, it is not intended to be a law school course. (F) [IV-WC].

WGS 3960. Honors Reading (HONORS).1-3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: 2003 and admission to Honors Program. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. Consists of topics designated by the Women's and Gender Studies faculty member. Topics will cover materials not usually presented in regular courses. (Irreg.)

WGS 3963. Gender, Employment Discrimination and Law.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing. Taught through a feminist lens, students will learn about employment law by focusing primarily on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and federal case law examining adverse employment actions on the basis of sex. Sexual harassment, gender discrimination, family leave, sexual orientation and equal pay will all be examined in detail. (Irreg.)

WGS 3970. Honors Seminar.1-3 Credit Hours.

1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: admission to Honors Program. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. Subjects covered vary. Deals with concepts not usually treated in regular courses. (Irreg.)

WGS 3973. Divorce Law and Social Implications.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing. This course provides an understanding of divorce law and the social impact divorce can have on women in particular. This information is crucial to understanding gendered poverty, single parenting issues, and societal norms associated with divorced women and will be looked at through a feminist lens. (Irreg.)

WGS 3980. Honors Research (HONORS).1-3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: 2003 and admission to Honors Program. Individualized research with a Women's and Gender Studies faculty member on a topic leading toward work for the Honors thesis. In-depth research of specialized topic in women's studies. (Irreg.)

WGS 3990. Independent Study.1-3 Credit Hours.

1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: permission of instructor and junior standing. May be repeated once with change of content. Independent study may be arranged to study a subject not available through regular course offerings. (F, Sp, Su)

WGS 4003. Women's and Gender Studies Senior Capstone.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or junior standing and WGS major or minor. Designed to acquaint majors and/or minors with the inter-relationship between theory and methodology in Women's and Gender Studies. The course will interweave the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts. Students are expected to write weekly critiques, develop a research proposal, and do an oral presentation. (Sp)

WGS 4013. WGS Internship.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing, permission of adviser and instructor, and an approved women's and gender studies course. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. Students must relate their academic experience to women's or gender issues by working with a non-profit organization or project. Academic credit is based on the site supervisor's report and a substantial paper relating to the internship experience. (F, Sp, Su)

WGS 4023. Social Justice Internship.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: 2223 and junior standing and 2.5 GPA. Designed to provide students an opportunity to relate their academic experience to social justice issues in the community by working in a social justice agency or non-profit organization or on a social justice service-learning project for a semester. (F, Sp)

WGS 4073. Cultural Heritage Data and Social Engagement.3 Credit Hours.

(Slashlisted with WGS 5073; Crosslisted with HIST, LIS and HSTM 4073) Prerequisite: Junior standing. This course uses methods from digital humanities, media studies, and data science to explore cultural heritage -- the histories, literature, art, and artifacts of our world's cultures. It particularly focuses on cultural heritage in digital public spaces: websites, social media, etc. No prior background in computer programming is necessary. No student may earn credit for both 4073 and 5073. (F)

WGS G4120. WGS Special Topics.1-3 Credit Hours.

1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: junior standing. May be repeated in a given department, maximum credit nine hours, provided that the course title and content is different in each instance. (F, Sp, Su)

WGS 4123. Contemporary Feminist Thought.3 Credit Hours.

(Slashlisted with WGS 5123) Prerequisite: senior standing or permission of instructor. Survey of the core concepts and texts of feminist theory exposes students to the major works in feminist theory as well as critiques and scholarly analysis of them. Includes discussion of the roots of feminist theory, analysis of alternatives to liberal feminist thought, and examination of the impact of postmodernism on feminist thought and the rise of global feminism. (Sp) [V].

WGS 4233. Feminist Research Methods.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or LGBT 1003 and declared WGS major or minor. This course teaches students the building blocks of feminist knowledge production, exploring the theories behind research methodologies in Women's and Gender Studies scholarship, the importance of understanding interdisciplinary methods as well as new methods in WGS, and how to navigate complex information and data environments. Students will apply their knowledge by conducting original research in projects of their own design. (F)

WGS 4473. Women and Mental Health.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing. Examines psychological theory and practice as it pertains to women. Will look at traditional theories and practice, new approaches to working with women, and such topical issues as leadership, work issues, depression, trauma, and health. Will be useful to all students who seek to have a better understanding of social and psychological issues that impact women, and how to help resolve those issues. (Irreg.)

WGS 4623. Gender and Children’s Culture.3 Credit Hours.

(Crosslisted with LGBT 4623) Prerequisite: WGS 1003 or LGBT 1003. Children's culture shapes our identities and environments. This course explores children's culture contexts through feminist and queer frameworks. Key content includes analyzing children's media, video games, books, toys, the environment, academics, and digital cultures while examining how childhood is a context for cultural history and leveraging power. It focuses on children's engagement in world building and knowledge production. (F)

WGS 4633. Latina Feminist Epistemologies.3 Credit Hours.

(Slashlisted with WGS 5633; Crosslisted with EDS 4633) Prerequisite: Junior standing. This course explores the experiences of Chicanas and Latinas through the lens of contemporary research. Topics to be discussed: community formation and activism, Chicana/Latina feminism, sexuality, religion, health, family, immigration, migration, education, work, media, and artistic expressions. Readings emphasize the links between the structural inequalities of society, and the day-to-day lived experiences of Chicanas/Latinas. No student may earn credit for both 4633 and 5633. (Irreg.)

WGS 4643. Black Feminism and Womanism.3 Credit Hours.

(Crosslisted with AFAM 4643) Prerequisite: Junior standing and any 2000-level African and African-American Studies class. This course analyses the way race, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status have historically dominated, intersected, and/or competed with the lives and experiences of Black women. This course examines the way Black women have drawn upon these internal struggles to serve as voices of power and agents of social change. Readings in this course will highlight activism, literature, and social justice. (Irreg.)

WGS 4913. Senior Thesis.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: senior standing and permission of instructor. Research and presentation of written thesis on suitable topics in women's or gender studies. Specific topic must be approved in advance by instructor. (F, Sp, Su)

WGS 4960. Directed Readings.1-4 Credit Hours.

1 to 4 hours. Prerequisite: good standing in University; permission of instructor and dean. May be repeated; maximum credit four hours. Designed for upper-division students who need opportunity to study a specific problem in greater depth than formal course content permits. (Irreg.)

WGS 4970. Special Topics in WGS.1-4 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: twelve hours in women's studies courses or permission of instructor. 1 to 4 hours. Variable content; impact of women's studies on the several academic disciplines; interdisciplinary scholarship on women; integration of women's studies in the curriculum. (Sp)

WGS 4990. Independent Study.1-6 Credit Hours.

1 to 6 hours. Prerequisite: junior standing, permission of instructor, and an approved Women's and Gender Studies course. May be repeated once with change of content; maximum credit six hours. Designed to accommodate students' interest in reading and research in a specialized area of women's studies. (F, Sp, Su)

WGS 5001. Women & Gender Studies Colloq.1 Credit Hour.

Prerequisite: 3 hours at or above the 5000-level. Offers a discussion and review of major debates and current literature in the women's and gender studies field with an emphasis on feminist research methods and approaches. Students will expose one another to approaches to women's and gender studies in such major disciplines as anthropology, sociology, political science, education, English, history, communications, and human relations. (F)

WGS 5013. Graduate Internship.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: graduate standing, permission of instructor, and an approved graduate women's and gender studies course. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. Students must relate their academic experience to women's or gender issues by working with a non-profit organization or project. Academic credit is based on the site supervisor's report and a substantial paper relating to the internship experience. (F, Sp, Su)

WGS 5073. Cultural Heritage Data and Social Engagement.3 Credit Hours.

(Slashlisted with WGS 4073; Crosslisted with HIST, LIS and HSTM 5073) Prerequisite: Graduate standing. This course uses methods from digital humanities, media studies, and data science to explore cultural heritage -- the histories, literature, art, and artifacts of our world's cultures. It particularly focuses on cultural heritage in digital public spaces: websites, social media, etc. No prior background in computer programming is necessary. No student may earn credit for both 4073 and 5073. (F)

WGS 5123. Contemporary Feminist Thought.3 Credit Hours.

(Slashlisted with 4123) Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor. Survey of the core concepts and texts of feminist theory exposes students to the major works in feminist theory as well as critiques and scholarly analysis of them. Includes discussion of the roots of feminist thought, analysis of alternatives to liberal feminist thought, and examination of the impact of postmodernism on feminist thought and the rise of global feminism. (Sp)

WGS 5633. Latina Feminist Epistemologies.3 Credit Hours.

(Slashlisted with WGS 4633; Crosslisted with EDS 5633) Prerequisite: Graduate standing. This course explores the experiences of Chicanas and Latinas through the lens of contemporary research. Topics to be discussed include community formation and activism, Chicana/Latina feminism, sexuality, religion, health, family, immigration, migration, education, work, media, and artistic expressions. Readings emphasize the links between the structural inequalities of society, and the day-to-day lived experiences of Chicanas/Latinas. No student may earn credit for both 4633 and 5633. (Irreg.)

WGS 5960. Directed Readings.1-6 Credit Hours.

1 to 6 hours. Prerequisite: six hours of Women's and Gender Studies courses at the graduate level. Graduate directed readings is designed for specialized research on a women's studies topic. (F, Sp, Su)

WGS 5970. Special Topics/Seminar.1-3 Credit Hours.

1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor. May be repeated; maximum credit nine hours. Special topics or seminar course for content not currently offered in regularly scheduled courses. May include library and/or laboratory research and field projects. (Irreg.)

WGS 5990. Independent Study.1-3 Credit Hours.

1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing and permission of instructor. May be repeated; maximum credit nine hours. Contracted independent study for a topic not currently offered in regularly scheduled courses. Independent study may include library and/or laboratory research and field projects. (Irreg.)