Program Description

Women’s Studies has had a long collaborative history with the English Department at MU. For more than a decade, English faculty interested in women studies, women’s literature and language, and feminist theory have chosen to teach courses that are cross-listed with Women's and Gender Studies. Women's and Gender Studies at MU offers an undergraduate major and minor, and has recently institutionalized a graduate minor in Women's and Gender Studies as well. The department offers courses from a large number of faculty from many disciplines including English, Political Science, Black Studies, Nursing, Education, Sociology, Anthropology, Religious Studies, and History, as well as faculty who hold dual appointments between their “home” departments and Women's and Gender Studies. Please see the Women's and Gender Studies website for more information about the program.

Course Offerings

The English Department regularly offers six courses in women’s literature, feminist and gender theory, and women’s folklore that are permanently cross-listed with Women's and Gender Studies:

• Introduction to Women’s Literature (English/Women's & Gender Studies 2180) is a general introduction to women’s literature that frequently focuses on a particular theme or subject matter in women’s literature (see sample descriptions below).
• Survey of Women Writers (English/Women's & Gender Studies 3180) covers women writers from the medieval women mystics to contemporary writers, focusing largely, but not exclusively, on women writers from the English-speaking world.
• Sexuality and Gender Theory (English/Women's & Gender Studies 3080) examines major theoretical approaches and debates in the study of gender and sexuality, with particular attention to the intersection of culture, representation, and identity.
• Major Women Writers (English/Women's & Gender Studies 4180/7180) and Major African-American Women Writers (English/Women's & Gender Studies/Black Studies 4480/7480) focus on one, two, or three women writers.
• Themes in Literature by Women (English/Women's & Gender Studies 4181/7181) frequently focuses on social and political contexts of women writers.
• Women's Folklore and Feminist Theory (English/Women's & Gender Studies 4780/7780) deals with women's verbal and traditional arts and offers an introduction to applying feminist theory.
• Feminist Rhetorical Theories (English/Women's & Gender Studies 4060/7060)

In addition to these courses, other topics courses are frequently cross-listed with Women's and Gender Studies. All courses cross-listed with Women's and Gender Studies must include a feminist perspective and be approved by the Women's and Gender Studies Curriculum Committee. Often these courses are offered as WI (Writing Intensive), CIP (Computer Proficiency), and may be cross-listed with other departments or programs, such as Anthropology and Black Studies.

Course Offerings