Susan E. Cayleff, Ph.D., Professor of Women's Studies, Chair of Department
Oliva M. Espín, Ph.D., Professor of Women's Studies
Patricia Huckle, Ph.D., Professor of Women's Studies
Kathleen B. Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Women's Studies, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Letters
Maria-Barbara Watson, Ph.D., Professor of Women's Studies
Bonnie Zimmerman, Ph.D., Professor of Women's Studies (Graduate Adviser)
Janet A. Kohen, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Women's Studies
Patricia A. Washington, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Women's Studies
Graduate teaching associateships and graduate assistantships in women's studies are available to a limited number of qualified students. Application forms and additional information may be obtained from the graduate adviser in the Department of Women's Studies.
The Department of Women's Studies offers graduate study leading to the Master of Arts degree in women's studies.
The department, recognized as the nation's first (1970) and among the strongest, has a distinguished faculty in the humanities and social sciences. Discipline-specific expertise as well as feminist theoretical paradigms are available to satisfy students' multi-faceted interests.
The Master of Arts degree is designed to provide advanced training for (1) students who plan to terminate their graduate studies at the master's level, and (2) those who anticipate further study leading to a doctoral degree in women's studies or related fields. It will also provide a foundation for further graduate work in professional degree programs such as counseling, social work, law, and public health. The M.A. will enhance students' ability to participate professionally in a range of organizations and businesses in the public and private sector, particularly those addressing women's issues.
The Department of Women's Studies admits new students to the program beginning in the Fall of each academic year only. All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the University with classified graduate standing, as described in Part Two of this bulletin. As an additional requirement, students must demonstrate sufficient preparation for the program. This preparation can include possession of a bachelor's degree in women's studies from an accredited institution or completion of sufficient units in women's studies and related fields. Evaluation of a student's transcript will be made on an individual basis by the admissions committee to determine whether evidence of sufficient preparation can be demonstrated. A student whose preparation is deemed insufficient by the Graduate Admissions Committee may be admitted as conditionally classified and will be required to complete specified courses in addition to the minimum of 30 units required for the degree.
The grade point average required for admission to the M.A. program in women's studies is 3.0 for the last 60 units of the student's undergraduate work, plus satisfactory scores on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE. Conditional admission is possible pending the taking of the GRE General Test during the first semester of enrollment and the attainment of a satisfactory score.
Applicants must provide the Graduate Admissions Committee with the following items: (1) transcripts of all previous coursework; (2) a written statement of background, intentions, and goals, including experience in women's studies and with women's issues, rationale for pursuing the M.A. degree, and relation of the M.A. degree in women's studies to prior academic work and to career objectives; (3) two letters of reference from individuals with direct knowledge of the applicant's scholarly ability.
All students must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy, as stated in Part Two of this bulletin.
In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master's degree as described in Part Two of this bulletin, the student must complete a graduate program of 30 units with at least 21 units in women's studies including Women's Studies 601; nine units selected from Women's Studies 602, 603, 604, or 605; Women's Studies 701, 797, and 799A; and a theme of study composed of nine units of graduate electives, selected with the approval of the student's adviser, which should include courses in departments other than women's studies.
Candidates for this degree must demonstrate knowledge of either (a) a relevant foreign language or (b) an approved substitute in statistical methods in a field appropriate to the candidate's research, including Anthropology 580, Psychology 670A, and Public Health 602 with a grade of C or better. Each candidate, with approval of the graduate adviser, may fulfill the foreign language requirement in one of several ways: (1) by passing the Graduate School Foreign Language Test, (2) by passing a local examination administered by one of the University's foreign language departments, or (3) by completing one three-unit upper division foreign language course with readings in the original language with a grade of C (2.0) or better. Substitutes for (a) or (b) may be approved where the skills involved are directly related to the student's research interests. Course selection and programs must be approved by the graduate adviser prior to the student's registration.
515. Women: Mythology and Ritual (3)
Prerequisite: Three upper division units in women's studies.
Meanings and functions of myths and rituals in their sacred and secular aspects, emphasizing their impact on women's lives and relationships in differing cultural contexts, past and present.
521. Life Cycles of Women (3)
Prerequisite: Three upper division units in women's studies.
Women's developmental processes across the life cycle; their impact on women, men, and the family, including life passages related to adolescence, marriage, motherhood, divorce, widowhood, "second careers," and aging in varying socioeconomic and cultural contexts.
522. Women: Madness and Sanity (3)
Prerequisite: Three upper division units in women's studies.
Concepts of mental health and mental illness as applied to women. Theory of psychotherapy, both traditional and feminist. Alternative approaches to mental health.
530. International Women's Movements (3)
Prerequisite: Three upper division units in women's studies.
Comparative study of women's movements worldwide in past and present, to include discussion of issues such as female bonding, leadership, and women's goals and strategies to achieve them within local, national, and global contexts.
535. Lesbian Lives and Cultures (3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Historical, cultural, and social exploration of lesbianism. Topics include myths and stereotypes, history and literature, social and political movements, theoretical explanations, and current conditions.
536. Women, Race, and Class (3)
Prerequisite: Three upper division units in women's studies.
Major issues and themes in the history, culture, and contemporary lives of women of color in the U.S. Analysis of theories explaining similarities and differences in opportunities and life choices. Roles within social and political movements.
553. Women Writers (3)
Prerequisite: Three upper division units in women's studies.
Literary, historical, and social consideration of women writers; may focus on one author, era, or theme. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units. Limit of three units applicable to the major in women's studies.
565. Women, Health, and Medicine (3)
Prerequisite: Three upper division units in women's studies.
Historical and contemporary relationship of women to alternative and traditional healing systems. Illness labeling, folk-healing beliefs, sectarian medicine, reproduction, birth control, life-cycle events, roles as practitioners and patients, ethical controversies, and aging.
580. Women and International Development (3)
Prerequisite: Three upper division units in women's studies.
Women's roles as agents and recipients of change worldwide, focusing on such issues as self-determination, education, family and work, food and hunger, and reproduction.
590. Feminist Thought (3) I
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in women's studies.
Readings in feminist theory and contemporary theoretical perspectives on core concepts and issues in feminist scholarship. Focus on understanding from a feminist perspective and on the significance of analyzing female experiences.
595. Seminar in Women's Studies (3) II
Prerequisites: Six upper division units in women's studies and
consent of instructor.
Directed research in women's studies. Field of investigation will vary with instructor. Methods of investigation, development of bibliography, presentation of paper based on original research. See Class Schedule for specific content.
596. Topics in Women's Studies (3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Advanced topics in women's studies. See Class Schedule for specific content. May be repeated with new content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree.
597. Research Project (3) I, II
Prerequisites: Six upper division units in women's studies and
consent of adviser.
Individual research project. May be taken in place of Women's Studies 595, Seminar in Women's Studies.
601. Foundations of Feminist Scholarship (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Theories, issues, and major paradigms underlying feminist scholarship. Development of women's studies as a discipline. Emphasis on multicultural approaches and perspectives.
602. Seminar: Methods of Inquiry in Women's Studies (3)
Prerequisites: Six upper division units in women's studies.
Examination and critique of traditional research methods; methods of critical feminist investigation; designs of research proposals.
603. Seminar: Advanced Feminist Theory (3)
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in women's studies.
Analysis of categories of contemporary feminist theory including concepts of identity and difference; theories of subjectivity; feminist discourses, strategies, and practices.
604. Seminar: Gender, Culture, and Representation (3)
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in women's studies.
Representations of women and femininity in cultural systems. Women as images in and creators of literature, art, music, and other cultural endeavors. Interconnection between representations of gender and of race, ethnicity, class, and sexualities.
605. Seminar: Women, Relationships, and Social Policy (3)
Prerequisites: Six upper division units in women's studies.
Theories of women's friendships and family relationships; relationship development in historical and cross-cultural context; effects of social policies on women's relationships.
696. Selected Topics in Women's Studies (3-6)
Prerequisite: Classified graduate standing.
Intensive study in specific areas of women's studies, with emphasis on theoretical and methodological issues. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit of six units of 696 applicable to a master's degree. Maximum combined credit of six units of 596 and 696 applicable to a 30-unit master's degree.
701. Seminar in Women's Studies (3)
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in women's studies.
Interdisciplinary seminar integrating research in various areas of women's studies in humanities, social sciences, arts and/or sciences. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.
797. Research (1-3) Cr/NC
Prerequisite: Advancement to candidacy and written approval of
the Women's Studies department graduate adviser.
Independent research in a specialized subject in women's studies.
798. Special Study (1-3) Cr/NC/SP
Prerequisite: Consent of staff; to be arranged with department
chair and instructor.
Independent study. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.
799A. Thesis (3) Cr/NC/SP
Prerequisite: An officially appointed thesis committee and
advancement to candidacy.
Preparation of a project or thesis for the master's degree.
799B. Thesis Extension (0) Cr/NC
Prerequisite: Prior registration in Thesis 799A with an assigned
grade symbol of SP.
Registration required in any semester or term following assignment of SP in Course 799A in which the student expects to use the facilities and resources of the university; also student must be registered in the course when the completed thesis is granted final approval.
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