Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program

College of the Sciences
Ellensburg
Samuelson, room 231-C

509-963-2488
Fax 509-963-1308
https://www.cwu.edu/academics/women-studies/

Director
Michel O’Brien, PhD

Program Information
Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies cultivates a critical awareness of the contributions of women and the impact of gender in our lives, both historically and in the contemporary world. Our interdisciplinary scope includes examining these issues from the perspective of politics, anthropology, sociology, psychology, history, philosophy, art, and literature. The objectives of the program are:

1. To explore existing knowledge about women and gender in a variety of disciplines
2. To critically assess the traditional disciplines in the light of new data concerning women and gender
3. To provide an academic foundation for students planning careers in women’s studies or related fields
4. To promote research about women and gender within existing disciplines

Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies offers an interdisciplinary minor as described below. With approval of the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies director, the student will select appropriate electives to meet personal and professional goals.

With faculty advisement, interested students may construct individualized majors in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies through the individual studies program for BA or BS major.

Course Offerings
Frequency of course offering information can be found at the department website: https://www.cwu.edu/academics/women-studies/ or by contacting the department directly.

Programs

• Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Major, BA

• Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor

Courses

• WGSS 201 - Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• WGSS 250 - Introduction to Queer Studies
• WGSS 298 - Special Topics
• WGSS 299 - Seminar
• WGSS 302 - Chicana/Latina Feminist Voices in the U.S.
• WGSS 326 - Intersections of Gender, Race, Class, and Sexualities
• WGSS 340 - Gender and Sexuality in a Global Context
• WGSS 351 - Feminist Theory
• WGSS 359 - U.S. Feminist Movements
• WGSS 360 - Black Women and Gender Studies
• WGSS 384 - Language and Gender
• WGSS 396 - Individual Study
• WGSS 397 - Honors
• WGSS 398 - Special Topics
• WGSS 399 - Seminar
• WGSS 488 - Capstone Project
• WGSS 489 - Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Senior Capstone
• WGSS 490 - Cooperative Education
• WGSS 491 - Workshop
• WGSS 496 - Individual Study
• WGSS 498 - Special Topics
• WGSS 499 - Seminar