Introducing students to the field of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, this course provides an interdisciplinary study of gender and sexuality in cross-cultural and historical perspective. Emphasis is given to both the diversity of people’s lived experiences and their commonalities across race, class, ethnicity, age, sexuality, nationality, religion, (dis)ability, and other factors. Through studying the course texts, participating in class discussions, conducting library research, and completing course projects and writing assignments, students will develop skills of analysis, critical thinking, written and oral self-expression, and information literacy. Open to all students, with no prerequisites.

Human Traditions courses introduce students to the broad range of human cultures from prehistory to the present, taking a thematic approach rather than a strictly chronological one. Its framework reflects our commitment, expressed in the second year theme of our core curriculum, to cultivate social and global awareness. We ask questions such as the following: what are the epochal developments in the history of the world? What are the forms of religious belief and practice? What are the artistic and literary achievements of the world? What yearnings do these traditions express? What are the political, literary, philosophical and cultural connections among them? What are the assumptions they make? What questions do they raise? For example, when does civilization arise? Where? Why? What are its characteristics and enduring challenges? What does the emergence of urban societies mean for relations between rich and poor, between men and women and between humans and their natural environment? These courses ask students to think critically about ideas within their historical contexts and to examine ways in which human expressions are responses relate to and reflect broad intellectual and cultural patterns. The title of this courses reflects a commitment to think globally, to acknowledge that the range and richness of the human experience carries beyond the narrow, binary scope of a worldview that too easily separates East from West and privileges the latter - and its traditions - over the former. Women in the Ancient World We will trace the emergence of civilization from the river cultures of the Near up to the global world of 1500 CE. Our focus is on the role of gender in both the lives of those who lived in the ancient world and in the continued role gender plays in how we, today, look to and understand the past. Our goal is to recover the all but invisible lives of women in the ancient world, drawing on art, literature, history, archeology, and other humanities.

Human Traditions courses introduce students to the broad range of human cultures from prehistory to the present, taking a thematic approach rather than a strictly chronological one. We will focus on how gender structures, defines, and challenges the lives of women in diverse societies from roughly 1500 to the present day (and beyond). How are women captured in the historical record? Where are they absent and what factors make women's lives invisible? What strategies can we employ to understand the place of women in world history when so much of women's perspective has been obscured? We will examine the rise of women's rights movements around the world and conclude with a look into the future place of women in the world and in narratives of world history. Women in the Modern World In this section we will focus on how gender structures, defines, and challenges the lives of women in diverse societies from 1500 to present day (and beyond). How are women captured in the historical record? Where are they absent and what factors make women's lives invisible? What strategies can we employ to understand the place of women in world history when so much of women's perspective has been obscured?

In this course, we examine current scientific evidence from humans and non-human animals regarding the biological basis of sex and gender. We will focus on topics such as how biological sex is determined and the comparative roles of genes and hormones in gender identity and sexual differentiation. We investigate questions such as: (1) Is the idea of two sexes overly simplistic? (2) Are sexual behavior and gender identity determined by biological and/or cultural factors? and (3) Is gender a social construct? The evolutionary theories and perspectives shaping our current understanding of sex and gender will be explored while examining the significant diversity of sexual behavior and gender roles in the animal world. Throughout the course we will focus on how outcomes of biological research on sex and gender can affect social attitudes towards individuals and the development of laws and policies. Role in the Curriculum: The course serves as an approved elective in the Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies minor. In addition, the course meets the core requirement for an Advanced Studies. In addition to serving as an ADV for the CAS core, GWS 340 will also serve as a Gender Women and Sexuality Studies upper division elective for GWS minors.

An advanced independent study integrating students' interdisciplinary examination of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. Students will pursue either guided research or a supervised internship and produce a final project on a topic of their choosing. This course will allow students the opportunity to draw and reflect upon their undergraduate education, as well as to develop advanced research, writing, and analytical skills. Students must have senior standing and have officially declared a Minor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. Faculty advisors must be members of, or approved by, the Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies affiliated faculty group.