Feminist studies is an interdisciplinary field of analysis in the humanities that investigates how relations of gender are embedded in social, political, and cultural formations. The undergraduate program in feminist studies provides students with a unique interdisciplinary and transnational perspective. The department emphasizes theories and practices derived from multiracial and multicultural contexts. Some topics you will find in our curriculum include: Black/Africana studies; colonialism and decolonization; trans, queer, and sexuality studies; media studies; law, politics, and social change; and science and technology studies.

Feminist studies prepares undergraduates for a variety of careers. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Feminist Studies provides excellent grounding for undergraduates who have career aspirations in, for example, law, health, non-governmental organizations, museum curation, politics, media and film, research institutes, journalism, community organizations, and social services.

Students wishing to pursue doctoral work will also find that interdisciplinary training in feminist studies equips them with theoretical and methodological strengths in most disciplines and applied research fields including American studies, ethnic studies, science studies, anthropology, communications, and legal studies. Specialists in feminist studies are employed as consultants in industry, higher education, and human resources. State and federal government agencies employ people who have special training in understanding gender and race relations. Educational institutions need specialists to develop and administer feminist studies programs, women’s centers, and other institutional structures designed specifically to study and assist marginalized peoples, including women.

Kết quả học tập của chương trình

Students who complete the feminist studies major should demonstrate the following skills upon graduation:

Outcome 1: Application of Feminist Approaches to Critical Interpretation

Students should be able to:

✔ Discuss a diversity of feminist approaches to understanding social, political, cultural, and scientific phenomena

✔ Connect feminist inquiry to a variety of other social phenomena including but not limited to race, nation, class, and sexuality

✔ Distinguish and evaluate assumptions underlying data and claims

✔ Place divergent interpretive frameworks in dialogue

✔ Perform close reading of texts and/or other objects

Outcome 2: Original Research

Students should be able to:

✔ Develop specific and detailed research questions

✔ Identify appropriate primary sources for feminist research projects

✔ Collect, evaluate, and analyze source material using appropriate theoretical framework(s)

✔ Identify key findings and draw conclusions for research and/or application

Outcome 3: Argumentative Communication

Students should be able to:

✔ Effectively formulate written arguments to frame research questions and analyze source material

✔ Present appropriate evidence to substantiate claims

✔ Logically organize arguments over the course of a research paper

✔ Use appropriate mechanics/grammar