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Undergraduate Program
The degree in Women’s and Gender Studies at Columbia College,
taught in cooperation with Barnard College’s Women’s Studies
Department, provides students with a culturally and historically
situated, theoretically diverse understanding of feminist scholarship
and its contributions to the disciplines. The program is intended to
introduce students to the long arc of feminist discourse about the
cultural and historical representation of nature, power, and the social
construction of difference. It encourages them to engage the debates
regarding the ethical and political issues of equality and justice that
emerge in such discussions. And it links the questions of gender and
sexuality to those of racial, ethnic, and other kinds of hierarchical
difference. Through sequentially organized courses in women’s and
gender studies, as well as required discipline-based courses in the
humanities, social sciences and history, the degree provides a
thoroughly interdisciplinary framework, methodological training and
substantive guidance in specialized areas of research. Small classes
and mentored thesis writing give students an education that is both
comprehensive and tailored to individual needs. The major degree
culminates in a two-semester thesis-writing class, in which students
undertake original research and produce advanced scholarship. Graduates
leave the program well-prepared for future scholarly work in women’s
and gender studies, but the degree also prepares students for careers
and future training in law, public policy, social work, community
organizing, journalism, medicine, and all those professions in which
there is a need for critical and creative interdisciplinary thought.
FOR A MAJOR IN WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
The major degree will require students to take either V1001x,
“Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies,” or V3111, “Feminist Texts
I: Wollstonecraft to Beauvoir” (students are encouraged to take both if
possible); V3112, “Feminist Texts II: Beauvoir to the Present;” either
V3311, “Colloquium in Feminist Theory,” or V3813, “Feminist Inquiry;”
and V3521 and V3522, “Senior Seminar,” (two semesters). The first
semester will focus on conceptualizing, researching, and organizing the
senior essay; the second semester will be devoted to writing and
presentation of the essay.
In addition to these core courses, women’s and gender studies
majors must take a minimum of five approved courses that focus on
women, gender, and/or feminist perspectives. In order to provide the
breadth necessary for an interdisciplinary major, students must take at
least one women and gender studies course each from the methodologies
of the humanities (the literatures, classics, religion, art history,
philosophy, etc.), historical scholarship, and the social sciences
(anthropology, sociology, economics, etc.). At least one of these
courses must focus on non-Western cultures. These courses may be
offered by women’s and gender studies, another interdisciplinary
program, or the departments.
Finally, to ensure grounding in a particular methodology, students
must take at least five additional courses in the social sciences,
humanities, or pre-med, which need not focus on gender; they are
strongly encouraged to concentrate these courses within a single
discipline. Students interested in women’s and gender studies are
encouraged to begin planning their course of study as early in their
academic careers as possible.
HONORS IN WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
Typically, honors in women’s and gender studies will be awarded to
students with (1) a grade point average of at least 3.6 or higher in
women’s and gender studies or related courses; and (2) a senior thesis
that has been recommended for honors by the professor of the senior
seminar and the student’s faculty advisor, and (3) approval by the
College. A limited number of students are granted this standing, and
final approval originates from the Dean’s Office. However, the
Undergraduate Director, in consultation with the senior seminar
professor and the student’s faculty advisor, may propose honors for an
extraordinary academic performance, with final approval resting with
the College.
SPECIAL CONCENTRATION FOR THOSE MAJORING IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT
V3112
Feminist Texts II; either V3311 Colloquium in Feminist Theory, or V3813
Colloquium in Feminist Inquiry; plus five additional approved courses
on gender.
FOR A CONCENTRATION IN WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES
COURSES: THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS FOR THE MAJOR, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SENIOR SEMINAR SEQUENCE.
FOR A PREMEDICAL CONCENTRATION IN WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES
V3112—Feminist Texts II; three approved courses in either the social sciences or the humanities; and either
V3311—Colloquium in Feminist Theory, or
V3813—Colloquium in Feminist Inquiry.
Premedical concentrators have the option to write a senior thesis; students wishing to do so should enroll in,
V3521—Senior Seminar.
COURSES APPROVED FOR THE WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES MAJOR
The courses listed below have been approved for the Women’s and
Gender Studies Major at Columbia College and in the School of General
Studies. This list does not include all of the many courses at Columbia
that address issues of concern to women’s and gender studies majors or
concentrators. Students should plan their courses of study, beginning
no later than their second year, in consultation with the Undergraduate
Director.
In order to be accepted for graduation credit by Columbia College,
all courses taken for the major must be approved by the Columbia
College Committee on Instruction. Unless otherwise noted, all courses
in women’s and gender studies have been approved, and we have done our
best to verify that all departmental courses listed below have also
been approved. However, it is the student’s responsibility to check
with the Undergraduate Director about the status of any departmental
courses that are not included in the current Columbia College Bulletin.
PRIMARY AND AFFILIATED COURSES
Primary courses focus on women, gender, and/or feminist
perspectives. Affiliated courses include women, gender, and/or feminist
perspectives as one of several foci. Majors and concentrators in
Women’s and Gender Studies should select their five required gender
courses from the primary list. Students are encouraged to use the list
of affiliated courses to choose their five courses within a particular
area of scholarship. With prior permission from the Undergraduate
Director, students may use a course from the affiliated list to fulfill
their five courses on gender.
TESTIMONIALS FROM PAST MAJORS
For more information on the undergraduate major, please visit the major-advisor web page.
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