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Women's Studies
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
WST 2611 Humanities Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality
Credits: 3.
This course uses close readings of cultural representations (in literature, the visual arts, movies, television, the Internet, etc.) to understand intersecting categories of identity such as gender, sexuality, class and race. The course will examine how such categories operate in everything from novels to YouTube to the evening news. (H) (D) (WR)
WST 2612 Social Science Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality
Credits: 3.
This course considers the social construction of gender, sexuality, race, class and other identity categories. Readings focus on individuals, families and cultural groups, mainly in the U.S. but with attention to other nations. Subjects as intimate as the body and violence and as pervasive as politics and the law are included. The course emphasizes differences in daily life experiences of health care, education, sports and religion. Finally, it examines the potential of movements for social change. (S) (D) (WR)
WST 3000 Women and Diversity in U.S. History
Credits: 3.
This course explores the history of women in the United States from 1500 to the present by focusing on such social differences as ethnicity, class, race, age and sexual orientation. (H) (WR)
WST 3015 Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Women's Studies
Credits: 3.
Drawing on materials and methodologies from a variety of disciplines, this class explores the diverse experiences of women, both in past eras and in the present, in the U.S. and abroad. Required for the women's studies major and minor. (H, S, D) (WR)
WST 3349 Ecofeminism
Credits: 3.
This course provides a holistic framework for understanding the connections between environmental, feminist, and social justice issues. This course will critically analyze positions within ecofeminist theory. (WR)
WST 3415 Transnational Feminism
Credits: 3.
This course explores women and feminism in a transnational perspective, focusing on various theories and movements engendered by women in contemporary national contexts. Development, reproductive politics and women's health will be examined. (N-S)
WST 3603 Sexualities Studies
Credits: 3; Prereq: sophomore standing or instructor permission.
An overview of the interdisciplinary study of sexualities, covering diverse theories of sexualities and desire, and focusing on understanding how they are socially constructed and regulated. Central to class will be attention to connections between sexualities and other social locators such as race, ethnicity, gender, social class, age and ability or disability.
WST 3610 Gender, Race and Science
Credits: 3.
This course examines feminist theories of nature, science and technology. It explores how gender and race are critical to the origins of science, the making of scientists and the politics of contemporary practice.
WST 3930 Special Interdisciplinary Topics in Women's Studies
Credits: 1 to 4.
This course explores specific topics in gender/ women's studies based on a feminist approach. A variety of topics from different fields of study will be offered on a rotating basis. Examples of such topics include: gender issues in education, women's autobiography and women's health issues.
WST 4602 History of Sexualities
Credits: 3.
Explores the social history of sexuality, tracing history of ideas about and attitudes toward sensuality in law, politics, medicine and science from ancient Greeks to the present, with an emphasis on the North American experience.
WST 4630Gender, Culture, and Place
Credits: 3.
How are the experiences of gender and sexuality configured by geography, location, and the built environment? How do gender relations and sexual practices define and give meaning to space and place? This class explores these questions through interdisciplinary consideration of the gendered relationships that unfold in significant spaces and places in the U.S. and the world.
WST 4641 Lesbian and Gay Studies
Credits: 3; Prereq: instructor permission.
Overview of lesbian and gay studies, a portrait of the field, challenges, core debates, and possible future directions of such research.
WST 4905 Independent Study in Women's Studies
Credits: 1 to 3; can be repeated for up to 6 credits.
For advanced undergraduate students who desire to supplement the regular courses by independent reading or research.
WST 4930 Special Topics
Credits: 1 to 6; can be repeated up to 9 credits. Prereq: instructor permission with varying courses.
Lectures and seminars covering selected topics of current interest in Women's Studies and/or Gender Studies.
WST 4935 Capstone Seminar
Credits: 1-6; Prereq: WST 3015.
This course (required for all majors) is the culmination of the women's studies major. It explores some examples of past and present scholarship to reaffirm the interdisciplinary nature of the field and to highlight the relationships among feminist theory, intellectual practice and social change. The bulk of the semester is devoted to a full-length independent writing project on a topic of the student's own choosing.
WST 4940 Internship
Credits: 1 to 3; can be repeated up to 6 credits. Prereq: instructor permission and program chair.
This course is designed for students desiring practical experience in the community. Students intern with a local agency, group or business involved in women's issues. (S-U)
WST 4970 Women's/Gender Studies Honors Thesis
Credits: 3. Open only to WST majors. Prereq/Coreq: WST 4935.
Students register for this course when pursuing an honors thesis in the WST major. In accordance with the protocols established by the WST and Honors programs, students design and pursue an independent research project with guidance from an adviser.

General Education Categories

Consult Schedule of Courses for specific information.

  • Biological Sciences (B)
  • Composition (C)
  • Diversity (D)*
  • Humanities (H)
  • International (N)*
  • Mathematics (M)
  • Physical Sciences (P)
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (S)

* Students who entered UF prior to Summer B 2007 and/or whose catalog year is not 2007-08: Current students who have not completed six hours of international/diversity (I) credits can do so now by taking D and N courses.

Symbols Used in Course Descriptions

  • (WR): the course satisfies the writing requirement.
  • (MR): the course satisfies the math requirement.
  • (S-U): the course may be taken on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis.
  • Refer to the Schedule of Courses for specific information.