Women Studies Program

Program Director and Associate Professor:  Kuhlman (History)
Interim Assistant Director: McCoy
Emerita:  Ruckman

See Faculty Information    
See Program Web Page  
See Advisory Committee   
See Minor  
See Courses   

Advisory Committee

Members of the Advisory Board meet to review curricula, advise the Director on program content, consider issues facing the field or program, and formulate strategy for the future of Women’s Studies at Idaho State University. Students may consult with any of the faculty in the program or on this committee:

•    Dr. David Adler (Political Science)
•    Dr. Nicole Hill (Kasiska College of Health Professions)
•    Dr. Ann Hunter (Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice)
•    Ms. Kathleen Lane (Music)
•    Dr. Shannon Lynch (Psychology)
•    Dr. Rebecca Morrow (Anderson Gender Resource Center)
•    Dr. Priscilla Reis (College of Business)
•    Ms. Nancy Renn (Kasiska College of Health Professions)
•    Ms. Valerie Williams (College of Education)
•    Dr. Laura Woodworth-Ney (History)

Minor in Women Studies

The program in Women Studies promotes an interdisciplinary approach to learning that emphasizes gender as an essential component to understanding our past, present, and future. Grounded in contemporary scholarship, Women Studies provides students with innovative perspectives from which to analyze and assess familiar subjects. Critical and analytical skills are developed and honed as students identify and contextualize profound connections between gender and one's place in history, one's assigned roles and statuses, and one's access to social, economic, and political power.

Women Studies supports ISU's mission to create an effective and efficient learning environment that serves students of various ages, abilities, needs, and backgrounds. It enhances intellectual growth and complements the degree major by broadening academic knowledge bases and by developing a wide range of skills applicable in a variety of post-graduation settings.

The Women Studies office is located in the Department of History, Liberal Arts Room 348 (208-282-8079).

An undergraduate interdisciplinary minor in Women Studies consists of 18 credits of courses in gender topics offered by various departments and approved by the directors of Women Studies.

Required Course:

W S 201         Introduction to Women Studies         3 cr
W S 401         Feminist Thought                      3 cr

Choose 12 credits from:

ANTH 215        Anthropology of Gender                3 cr
H E g445        Human Sexuality and Health Education  2 cr
HIST g437       Families in Former Times              3 cr
HIST g439       Women in History                      3 cr
SOC 250         Women, Crime and Corrections          3 cr
SOC 321         Families in American Society          3 cr
SPCH g440       Gender and Communication              3 cr
W S 311         American Women's Movements            3 cr
W S 459         Internship*                         1-6 cr
W S g461        Independent Study*                  1-3 cr
	  OR
Choose from courses listed as approved for this component in semester-by-semester course listings in the Class Schedule.

*Students may take up to 6 credits of W S 459 Internship and up to 6 credits of W S g461 Independent Study. A maximum of nine credits from any combination of W S 459 and W S g461 are applicable to the Women Studies minor.

Women Studies Courses

W S 160 Rape Aggression Defense 1 credit. Strategies for self-defense in physically threatening situations. Methods to enhance possibilities for avoidance of physical harm are also covered. Cross-listed as H E and P E 160. F, S

W S 201 Introduction to Women Studies 3 credits. Interdisciplinary survey of the ways that various academic disciplines examine women's roles and women's issues past present and in various cultures, with a focus on American culture. F

W S 205 Topics in Women Studies 1-3 credits. Examination of topics related to Women Studies. D

W S 311 American Women's Movements 3 credits. Social, historical, and political examination of the 19th century Women suffrage movement, the 20th century women's rights movement, and the current status of women's rights activism. S

W S 401 Feminist Thought 3 credits. In-depth analysis and historical overview of various feminist perspectives including liberal, radical, Marxist-Socialist, psychoanalytic, post-modern, existential, multi-cultural, third world, and eco-feminism. PREREQ: W S 201. F

W S 405 Topics in Women Studies 1-3 credits. In-depth examination of topics relating to Women studies, especially from a comparative or theoretical perspective. D

W S 459 Internship 1-6 credits. Directed student internship in organization related to Women Studies. The student will be placed in a supervised position approved by faculty in the program. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. PREREQ: W S 201. D

W S g461 Independent Study 1-3 credits. Selected readings and research in areas of Women Studies not covered by the regular curricular offerings. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. PREREQ: 3.0 cumulative GPA and W S 201 or equivalent; permission of instructor. D

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY Academic Information  Contact: webmaster@isu.edu Revised: August 2009