Academic Catalog

Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies

Office: 5057 Woodward, suite 9204; 313-577-6331
Director: Simone Chess
https://clas.wayne.edu/gender-studies

Wayne State's interdisciplinary gender, sexuality, and women's studies program (GSW) allows students to study gender and sexuality through the lenses of feminism, queer and trans studies, with special attention to critical intersections with race, class, religion, health, and geography. Our program prepares students to bring together theory and praxis, academic methods and social justice principles. GSW is also a place for feminist, queer, and ally students to find community.

Students with a degree from GSW go on to pursue careers in multicultural and interpersonal fields like education, law, social work, health care, public relations, or community development. Graduates from GSW are in-demand employees who thrive in these career fields because of their skills in communication and their rich understanding of diverse social and cultural contexts, honed through coursework in social science, literature, and the arts. 

GSW 2100 Introduction to Queer Studies Cr. 3

Satisfies General Education Requirement: Diversity Equity Incl Inquiry

This course is an introduction to the interdisciplinary academic field of Queer Studies. The course begins with an overview of queer terminology and identities, and includes units on topics including Queer History, Queer Theory, Contemporary Queer Issues, and Queer Art. Offered Yearly.

GSW 2360 Feminist Philosophy Cr. 3

Satisfies General Education Requirement: Cultural Inquiry, Diversity Equity Incl Inquiry

An examination of work by feminist philosophers. Offered Winter.

Equivalent: PHI 2360

GSW 2500 Humanities Perspectives on Gender, Sexuality, and Women Cr. 3

Satisfies General Education Requirement: Cultural Inquiry, Diversity Equity Incl Inquiry, Philosophy Letters

Questions surrounding gender and sexuality, focusing on the ways in which they have been constructed and represented in different historical periods and geographical location through literature, film, visual objects, the media, and other texts. Offered Fall, Winter.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate level students.

GSW 2530 Queer Literatures: Writing about Texts Cr. 3

Satisfies General Education Requirement: Diversity Equity Incl Inquiry

Introduction to the study of queer genders and sexualities through the exploration of literary and cultural texts. Offered Intermittently.

Equivalent: ENG 2530

GSW 2570 Women Writers: Writing about Texts Cr. 3

Satisfies General Education Requirement: Cultural Inquiry, Diversity Equity Incl Inquiry, Intermediate Comp Pre-2018

Introduction to the major themes and issues in writings by women. Reading and writing about representative fictional and non-fictional works. Offered Yearly.

Equivalent: ENG 2570

GSW 2600 History of Women, Gender and Sexuality in the Modern World Cr. 3

Satisfies General Education Requirement: Diversity Equity Incl Inquiry, Global Learning Inquiry, Historical Studies

Examination of change over time, using different historical approaches to try to account for change as specifically applicable from a comparative perspective to the experiences of women and constructions of gender and sexual identity. Offered Every Term.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate level students.

Equivalent: HIS 2605

GSW 2650 Gender and Crime Cr. 3

Satisfies General Education Requirement: Diversity Equity Incl Inquiry

Critical examination of gender-related issues in criminal justice; impact on defendants, inmates, victims, and criminal justice personnel; relation to policy issues. Offered Yearly.

Equivalent: CRJ 2650

GSW 2700 Social Science Perspectives on Gender, Sexuality, and Women Cr. 3

Satisfies General Education Requirement: Diversity Equity Incl Inquiry, Social Inquiry, Social Sciences

Understanding the ways in which political, social and cultural institutions shape gender, sexuality, and women's experiences within a local and global context. Offered Fall, Winter.

GSW 2750 Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice Cr. 3

Satisfies General Education Requirement: Diversity Equity Incl Inquiry

Critical examination of gender, race, class, and ethnicity issues in criminal justice; impact on defendants, inmates, victims, and criminal justice personnel; relation to policy issues. No credit after CRJ/GSW 3750. Offered Yearly.

Equivalent: CRJ 2750

GSW 3000 Themes in Gender and Sexuality Cr. 3

Themed course on various topics related to gender and sexuality studies, with course theme announced each time the course is offered. Special attention will be paid to research skills and academic writing. Offered Yearly.

Repeatable for 6 Credits

GSW 3100 Womxn of Color: Social Activism and Power Cr. 3

This course will explore the ways in which Womxn of Color have impacted the trajectory of the social justice movement in the US through scholarship and sisterhood, despite racism, sexism, and classism. During this interdisciplinary study, learners will look at the history of Womxn of Color in the feminist movement and how it parallels the current movement. This course will answer the questions, “what has been done?” and “where do we go from here?” GSW 3100 will be the course home for the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement’s Learning Community for Womxn of Color, RISE. RISE is a learning community that focuses on social belonging by cultivating an environment that promotes the sisterhood and success of Womxn of Color. Offered Fall, Winter.

GSW 3200 Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Cr. 3

This course is an introduction to key themes and methodologies within the interdisciplinary and overlapping fields of feminism, gender studies, and queer theory, with a focus on both foundational readings and contemporary experiences. In addition to exploring and evaluating diverse methods of inquiry into the intersectional experiences of gender and sexuality the course will help develop critical reading and writing strategies in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. Offered Yearly.

GSW 3240 Queer Film and Media Cr. 3

Queer voices have been an integral part of cinema since its inception in the late nineteenth century. Students in this course will study the intersections of queer lives with the industry and artistry of film and media. To do this, we will revisit film history with an eye for the queer experience, identify landmark works and key pioneers of queer cinema, consider how queer representations have shifted across decades, and analyze the integral themes and styles of queer media. Offered Yearly.

Equivalent: COM 3240

GSW 3300 Black Women Writers Cr. 3

Students will explore the writings of Black women across a broad range of genres, which may include poetry, short stories, drama, essays, and novels. Offered Intermittently.

Equivalent: AFS 3300

GSW 3990 Directed Studies Cr. 1-3

Individually-designed research projects, developed with a supervising professor and approved by program director. Offered Every Term.

GSW 5030 Topics in Women's Studies Cr. 3

Thematic, critical or generic study of women and literature. Topics to be announced in Schedule of Classes. Offered Intermittently.

Prerequisites: AFS 2390 with a minimum grade of C, ENG 2390 with a minimum grade of C, ENG 3010 with a minimum grade of C, ENG 3020 with a minimum grade of C, or ENG 3050 with a minimum grade of C

Equivalent: ENG 5030

Repeatable for 9 Credits

GSW 5035 Topics in Gender and Sexuality Studies Cr. 3

Advanced course on issues of sexuality and gender as mediated through literary and cultural study. Attention to critical theory as well as various literary and cultural forms. Topics to be announced in Schedule of Classes. Offered Yearly.

Prerequisites: AFS 2390 with a minimum grade of C, ENG 2390 with a minimum grade of C, ENG 3010 with a minimum grade of C, ENG 3020 with a minimum grade of C, or ENG 3050 with a minimum grade of C

Equivalent: ENG 5035

Repeatable for 9 Credits

GSW 5110 Black Women in America Cr. 3

Satisfies General Education Requirement: Writing Intensive Competency

Social, cultural, artistic and economic development of Black women in America; topics include: racism, sexism, marriage, motherhood, feminism, and the welfare system. Offered Yearly.

Equivalent: AFS 5110

GSW 5200 Feminist, Gender, and Queer Theory Cr. 3

Overview of feminist, gender and queer theory, focusing on the three "waves" and the social, political, and cultural construction of femininities, masculinities, and sexualities. Offered Yearly.

Prerequisites: GSW 2500 with a minimum grade of D-, GSW 2600 with a minimum grade of D-, or GSW 2700 with a minimum grade of D-

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate level students.

GSW 5300 Topics in LGBTQ Studies Cr. 3

Focused examinations of LGBTQ studies from different disciplinary perspectives, including but not limited to literary, historical, and media studies; social sciences; and philosophy. Topics to be announced in Schedule of Classes. Offered for undergraduate credit only. Offered Fall, Winter.

Prerequisites: GSW 2500 with a minimum grade of D-, GSW 2600 with a minimum grade of D-, or GSW 2700 with a minimum grade of D-

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate level students.

GSW 5400 Topics in Gender and Women's Studies Cr. 3

Focused examination of gender and women from different disciplinary perspectives, including but not limited to literary, historical, and media studies; social sciences; and philosophy. Topics to be announced in schedule of classes. Offered for undergraduate credit only. Offered Fall, Winter.

Prerequisites: GSW 2500 with a minimum grade of D-, GSW 2600 with a minimum grade of D-, or GSW 2700 with a minimum grade of D-

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate level students.

GSW 5500 Internship in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Cr. 3

Internship in a public or private organization related to gender, sexuality, or women's studies. Offered for undergraduate credit only. Offered Every Term.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate level students.

GSW 5875 Gender in Modern East Asia Cr. 4

History of gender in China, Japan, and Korea, with topics to include Confucianism, the state's role in gender construction, nationalism, imperialism, marriage, family, labor, sexuality, and feminism. Offered Every Other Year.

Equivalent: ASN 5875, HIS 5875

GSW 5990 Senior Project Seminar Cr. 4

Scholarly research project or internship combined with scholarship, resulting in substantial paper. Students meet with instructor several times during semester. Offered Yearly.

Prerequisite: GSW 5200

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