Women's Studies
As an academic unit at UW-Eau Claire, the women's studies program coordinates teaching, research and scholarship in the field of women's studies. This unique academic program incorporates practice that is informed by theory and gendered analyses. Women's studies is a discipline in its own right, yet it operates most often in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary modes.
Women's studies supports and incorporates the following theoretical approaches:
- Taught with feminist pedagogical techniques and from a feminist theoretical perspective.
- Integrate theory with activism whenever possible.
- Advocate for gender justice both on campus and in the larger community.
Though other departments advocate for gender justice on campus, women's studies currently serves as an identifiable center for focused concern about issues of climate affecting women students, faculty and staff on campus. In addition, women's studies actively foster interaction with surrounding communities.
Why study women's studies?
There is much to gain from taking women's studies courses. Some of the most often cited by students are:
- Discovering and understanding the intersections among racism, homophobia, sexism, classism, ableism, anti-Semitism and other forms of oppression.
- Classes are politically and socially relevant.
- Learning to think critically/developing open mindedness.
- Empowerment and increased sense of competency.
- Experiencing a sense of community.
- Faculty as mentors and role models.
- Active student participation.
- Because issues relating to women's roles and needs are surfacing within government, service professions, science fields, industry and academic institutions, the women's studies degree is increasing in social, political and vocational relevance.
- The women's studies minor and certificate are designed to complement your major with practical applications for a variety of professional fields or graduate study.
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Learn about the advantages of studying women's studies at UW-Eau Claire. |
Career options
UW-Eau Claire graduates with women's studies majors are well-prepared to work in a variety of careers including:
- Social worker/community advocate
- Women's officer for trade unions councils
- Heath education/promotion officer for a health agency or in local government to improve the health, specifically for women, of the individual and community.
- Human resource officer
In addition, women’s studies graduates often continue their education and training to pursue careers as psychotherapists, physicians, community educators, nurses, social workers, advocates, lawyers, law enforcement officers, researchers , public school and college instructors, and librarians – to name a few. Having knowledge of gender-related issues ensures a competitive edge when entering into these fields.
Undergraduate programs
The women's studies department offers:
Major
- Women's Studies – (36 credits)
Minor
- Women's Studies – (24 credits)
Certificate
- Women's Studies – (12 credits)
High school preparation
All students who enroll at UW-Eau Claire are required to have a minimum of 17 college preparatory units including:
– 4 years of English (at least 3 composition and literature)
– 2 years of a single foreign language
– 3 years of math (algebra, geometry, 1 advanced college preparatory math)
– 3 years of natural science
– 3 years of social science (1 must be world or American history)
– 2 additional units in the areas already mentioned or other academic areas
Course work
The women's studies major requires 36 credits and the women’s studies minor requires 24 credits selected from several core courses. For a complete listing, see the UW-Eau Claire Catalogue or the women’s studies Web pages. Students also are required to complete a capstone project (either research or an internship for 1-4 credits).
The certificate in women's studies is designed for those students who have a strong interest in studying women and concern for women's issues, but who do not want to complete the requirements for a major or minor in women's studies. The certificate might be particularly appealing to those students in comprehensive majors who have limited opportunity to explore academic areas outside of their discipline.
Below are a few examples of courses you may take to fulfill your women's studies minor or certificate:
- CJ/Wmns 317, Women and the Mass Media
- Econ/Wmns 357, Women and Economic Development
- Engl/Wmns 396, Studies in Women's Literature
- Psyc 336, Psychology of Women
- Pols/Wmns 351, Women in Politics
- Hist/Wmns 394, Studies in the History of Women
- Rels/Wmns 355, Women and World Religions
- Span/Wmns 482, Women in Spanish American Literature
- Wmns100, U.S. Women's Experience
- Wmns 210, Culture of Third Wave Feminism
- Wmns 301, Examining Women's Studies
- Wmns 310, Women and Violence
- Wmns 440, Lesbian Lives and Cultures
For more information
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