Ph.D. Course Descriptions

Core Courses for the Ph.D. Degree in Women's Studies

WS 6103, New Directions in Feminist/Womanist Theories  [pdf]
Recent controversies, significant research questions, and new directions in feminist/womanist theorizing.  Investigation of recent interventions in Women’s Studies and feminist/womanist theories and theorizing. Three lecture hours a week.  Credit: Three hours.  (May be repeated for credit when content varies.)

WS 6203, Women's Studies Disciplinary/Interdisciplinary Knowledges [pdf]
History of academic disciplines and knowledge production, the challenge of Women’s Studies to conventional academic divisions, and the potential of  Women’s Studies to transform academic disciplines.  Three lecture hours a week.  Credit: Three hours.  

WS 6303, Transdisciplinary Feminist Research Methods [pdf]
Relational exploration of feminist, womanist, and multicultural research methods from a variety of disciplines including those in the social sciences  and humanities, focusing especially on women’s studies’ impact on research methods in a variety of academic disciplines.  Overview of research tools and techniques, including qualitative, quantitative, historical, and literary research methods.  Three lecture hours a week.  Credit: Three hours. 

WS 6403, The Politics of Publications and Writing
Issues related to academic writing and publishing, especially focusing on the fields of Women’s Studies and multicultural-feminist scholarship.  Submission of at least one article to a peer-review journal and one abstract for a conference presentation. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

WS 6501, Holistic Pedagogies Colloquium
Explorations of holistic pedagogies, multicultural theory, and practical strategies for teaching Women’s Studies courses, including face-to-face, hybrid, and exclusively online formats.  One lecture hour a week.  Credit: One hour.  (May be repeated for credit.)

WS 6601, Transdisciplinary Studies Colloquium
Application of theories of intersectionality and difference to critical issues and research methods in diverse academic disciplines including those in the social sciences and humanities, with the goal of creating new knowledges.  Similarities and differences among multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and  transdisciplinary forms of scholarship and pedagogies.  One lecture hour a week.  Credit:  One hour.  (Must be repeated at least three semesters.)

WS 6983, Dissertation
Prerequisite:  Successful completion of qualify examinations.  Credit:  Three hours.  May be repeated for additional credit.

WS 6993, Dissertation
Credit:  Three hours.  May be repeated for additional credit.