Women's and Gender Studies < Portland Community College

For more information please contact: womens-studies@pcc.edu

Description

Women’s and Gender Studies employs an interdisciplinary and global perspective to examine gender as it intersects with race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, and ability. Students learn collaboratively to challenge systemic oppression and examine privilege. Women’s and Gender studies courses allow students to develop skills useful in both their studies and their communities as they analyze current problems in areas such as employment, the family, health, and the legal system. The program emphasizes feminist and anti-racist instruction that promotes social justice and change.

Women’s and Gender Studies courses require college-level reading and writing skills.

All Women’s and Gender Studies courses can apply towards the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer Degree (AAOT) requirements. WS 101 may be taken for either arts and letters credit, or social science credit.

The Women’s and Gender Studies Focus Award at PCC prepares students for entry into other Women’s Studies Programs at the bachelor’s degree level. In Oregon these programs can be found at Portland State University, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and Lewis & Clark College. Additional information on the Women’s Studies Focus Award may be found in the Focus Award section of the catalog.

WS 101. Women's Studies. 4 Credits.

Surveys and critically analyzes the position of women in society, in terms of present realities and future possibilities. Provides a framework to connect personal experience with contemporary social and political issues. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Arts and Letters/AAOT, Social Sciences/AAOT, Arts and Letters/AS, Social Sciences/AS, Arts and Letters/AAS, Arts and Letters/AGS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Arts and Letters/ASOT-B, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

WS 201. Intercultural Women's Studies. 4 Credits.

Examines the position of women in society from a cross-cultural perspective. Includes the process of gender enculturation, women's lives in foraging, pastoral and agricultural societies and international issues such as female circumcision, infanticide, child brides and honor/dowry deaths. Recommend: WS 101. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

WS 202. Women, Activism and Social Change. 4 Credits.

Examines how women have worked to empower girls and women and improve the conditions of their lives. Explores ways that feminist theories have shaped the goals and strategies of social change efforts. Offers an in-depth look at selected topic areas, connects analysis and personal experience, and focuses on how to become an effective change agent. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

WS 210. Introduction to Queer Studies. 4 Credits.

Focuses on the lives and contributions of queer people in cultural, historical, and social context, including identities such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, asexual, pansexual and gender non-binary. Uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore the complex social constructions of sex, sexuality, race, class, gender identity and gender expression. Explores the institutional and cultural factors that create and maintain systems of oppression. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.