Women's and Gender Studies Course Offerings
Fall 2025 Women’s and Gender Studies Courses
WGS 101-01: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies (4 units)
TTh 11:40-1:20pm: Patrizia Longo
This course is designed as a forum on gender. We will frame our discussion as a series of questions: How does our culture represent femininities and masculinities? How do issues of race, class, sexuality and other identities shape our ideas about gender? Our aim will be to consider and discuss as many diverse points of view about gender and its intersections as possible.
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WGS 201-01: Histories of Women, Gender, Sexuality (3 units)
MWF 12:05-12:55pm: Myrna Santiago
Does sexuality have a history? Can something so intimate and private actually be a social act that has changed over time? These questions guide the examination of the global history of sexuality. We explore human sexual behaviors as far back in time as possible and into the present, paying attention to shifting attitudes over the centuries and the reasons for those transformations. This class will discuss extremely sensitive matters that may challenge some views about sexual practices.
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WGS 312-01: Masculinities (4 units)
MWF 12:05-1:10pm: Scott Schönfeldt-Aultman
In this course we will examine “masculinity” as a concept and performance. We will explore how we conceive of what is “masculine”
and what a “man” is and the systems that create, reinforce, and restrict understandings of masculinity, looking at performances and media representations of masculinities, female masculinities, and transgender masculinities, and the intersections of race, class, and sexualities. Recommended prerequisite: "Tough Guise" (in the library).
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Fall 2025 Interdisciplinary Courses That Satisfy the WaGS Major/Minor
Justice, Community, and Leadership
JCL 363: Social Change Playlist (4 units)
MWF 9:15-10:20am; Zahra Ahmed
What does music have to do with social change? In this course we will explore this question and investigate how music can promote awareness and action around socio-political issues, including equity education, racial justice, civil rights, LGBTQ and gender justice, climate justice, and post-trauma recovery. We will analyze scholarship in each of these areas while holding weekly listening sessions to experience the music and engage in dialogue. (4 units)
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Biology
BIOL 188/ 188L: Biology of Women (4 units)
Lecture: MW 4:45-6:25pm; Lab: W 1:30-4:30pm; STAFF
This course will address the uniqueness of female development, anatomy, physiology, health, and disease. It will explore the biology of the female body and brain, as well as known differences between the sexes. Hands on lab topics include basic female chemistry, cholesterol lipid profiles, breast self-exam, cancer, reproductive health, contraception, and pregnancy. BIOL188 and BIOL 188L (lab) must be taken concurrently. Course fee: $185.
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Psychology
PSYCH 332: Psychology of Gender (3 units)
MW 9:15-10:30am; José Feito
A critical review of the theory and research on gender from the biological, psychological, and sociological perspectives. The
course explores the social construction of gender and how it impacts human development and social behavior. Throughout the course, the interaction between gender and the complexities of race, culture, and sexual orientation is considered.
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Communication
COMM 416: Advertising and Civic Engagement (4 units)
MWF 9:15-10:20am; Samantha Joyce
This course is designed to give students an understanding of both the theory and practice of advertising through the medium of civic engagement projects. In the first half of the course we will study the underlying theories of the practice of advertising. In the second half, we will have the opportunity to apply these theories as they generate and criticize advertising campaigns with a critical gender, race, class and ethnicity focus.
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English
ENGL352: Theatre of the Absurd: New Feminist, Queer & BIPOC Absurdism in Plays & Film (4 units)
TTh 11:40-1:20pm; Emily Klein
Theatre of the Absurd was hot when Pinter, Albee, Beckett and others defined the movement in the 1950s; but now absurdism is being exploded and redefined by feminist, queer, and BIPOC playwrights and film directors. Join us for a deep dive into the crazy on stage and screen, then and now!
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Politics
POL 310 and POL 310EL: Politics and Race (3 units + 1 unit)
TTh 11:40-12:55pm; days/ time for POL 310EL TBA; Patrizia Longo
This course examines the intersection of race, ethnicity, and American politics. We will explore several questions throughout the semester. What is race? What is ethnicity? How have race and ethnicity been defined throughout American history? Which policies lead to racial inequality and which to racial equality? How have people engaged and continue to engage in conventional and unconventional political action in the fight for equality? Finally, we will examine a number of contemporary public policy issues such as the present systematic effort to unravel Lyndon B. Johnson's civil rights legacy, rolling back protections that have shaped American life for nearly six decades.
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Politics
POL 365: Theories of Justice (4 units)
TTh 9:50-11:30am; Patrizia Longo
Philosophers have debated the meaning of justice since the 5th century B.C.. This class will enter into that conversation by way of some of the classic texts in the history of political theory as well as more recent writings. We will examine topics such as group justice, gender justice, cultural justice, intergenerational justice and global justice.
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Global and Regional Studies
GRS 306: Latin American Women Writers (3 units)
TTh 11:40-12:55pm; Maria Luisa Ruiz
Frida Kahlo and Isabel Allende are two writers familiar to many in the U.S., from many who leave their countries of origin and take on new identities and languages. By looking at how writers and artists appear on the global stage, the class will look at foreignness as a literary commodity and how Latin America is perceived abroad.
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History
HIST 342: Revolution in Latin America (4 units)
MW 3:20-5:00pm; Myrna Santiago
This class is a study of the struggle for social justice in Latin America with an emphasis on origins, class/gender participation, global contexts, and success and failures of revolutions.
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Dance
DANCE 308: Asian Dance in the Contemporary World (3 units)
TTh 11:40-12:55pm; Jia Wu
This course investigates the category of “classical dance” in Asia and its performative value as a concept. Students will examine the key sources uon which the dances are based and survey the histories of the forms that comprise the canon. The course also examines the relationship between dance, transformation, cultural exchange, colonialism, nationalism, religion, and social history. Course fee: $100.
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