Associated Faculty Rachell Anderson (Human Services), Terry Bodenhorn (History), Mary Bohlen (Communication), Leanne Brecklin (Criminal Justice), Barbara Burkhardt (English), Cecilia Cornell (History), Lan Dong (English), Kathryn Eisenhart (Legal Studies), Lynn Fisher (Sociology/Anthropology), Nancy Ford (Legal Studies), Denise Green (Library Instructional Services), Barbara Hayler (Criminal Justice), Tena Helton (English), Kenneth Johnson (Liberal Studies), Nithya Karuppaswamy (Human Development Counseling), Kemau Kemayo (African-American Studies), Jennifer Manthei (Sociology/Anthropology), Sandra Mills (Social Work), Karen Moranski (English), Karen Mooney (Psychology), Rosina Neginsky (Liberal Studies), Lynn Pardie (Psychology), Carol Rankin (Human Services), Sheryl Reminger (Psychology), Hazel Rozema (Communication), Pamela Salela (Library Instructional Services), Nancy Scannell (Business Administration), Tih-Fen Ting (Environmental Studies), Annette Van Dyke (Individual Option), Angela Winand (African-American Studies)
Emerita Faculty Mattilou Catchpole
Associated Emerita Faculty Jan Droegkamp, Judy Everson, Jacqueline Jackson, Rosamond Robbert
Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program that combines the substance and methodologies of many disciplines such as history, anthropology, sociology, communications, psychology, literature, and law, in the study of women and gender. Sex is the biological difference between male and female; gender is the meaning of biological difference -- the stereotypes, assumptions, and expectations society attaches to difference. Since gender alone cannot explain all of experience, other factors such as race, class, culture, and sexuality must be analyzed to see how they combine with the sex/gender system to discriminate against women and gender minorities. Most women's studies courses are interdisciplinary, crosslisted with other programs. With increasingly global perspectives, the goal of women's studies is to introduce both sexes to basic approaches to the study of women and gender in a variety of fields so that they will be prepared for the challenges of leadership in the 21st century.
In the classroom, women's studies faculty are committed to creating participatory learning environments. They emphasize student-centered and cooperative learning, critical thinking, openness to ideas and discussion, and respect for others. Students are encouraged to make connections between thought and action, the academy and the community, theory and practice. The program will provide interested students with opportunities for internships, applied study terms, community-based projects, and research.
Students can design their own degrees focusing on sex/gender through the Liberal Studies Program (B.A.) or the Individual Option Program (M.A.). For example, students have designed degrees emphasizing gender in such areas as media, arts, social services, law, and mental health. Students have the opportunity to work closely with women's studies faculty who will assist in planning degrees and identifying learning resources.
Students in all programs may take women's studies courses as electives or they may pursue a minor as defined below. WMS also offers a graduate certificate, which may be incorporated into a graduate degree or taken as a stand-alone certificate. See the Graduate Certificate section of this Guide for more information.
Graduate students enrolled in 400-level women's studies courses will be expected to demonstrate graduate-level competencies (especially in communication, research, analysis, and integrative skills) and to complete extended and advanced projects and/or readings.
To earn a minor in women's studies, students must complete a minimum of 16 semester hours. The program may approve the transfer of no more than two lower-division courses, and at least 8 of the 16 hours must be upper-division course work taken at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Students may use life and work experience to gain credit through the Credit for Prior Learning Program. Students who minor in women's studies must select an adviser from among the women's studies faculty.
1) WMS 301 Women, Gender, and Society (fall/spring, first year)
2) WMS 411 Feminist Theories (fall, second year)
3) WMS 403 Minority Women: Issues and Perspectives (first or second year) or
a course approved by WMS adviser on minority or international women such as:
WMS 453 Women Across Cultures
WMS 463 Native American Women's Literature and Culture
WMS 466 Multicultural American Women's Literature
WMS 481 Women in Chinese and Japanese History or
PAC or LSC approved by WMS adviser
and
4) Elective in or related to the major (or PAC or LSC) as approved by WMS minor adviser (any semester)