Criteria
for Cross-listing Courses as Women’s Studies
Content:
A course designated as Women’s Studies should have at least two-thirds
of its content focused on women and women’s issues, such as the physical,
cultural, environmental, social, political, and/or technological factors
that affect women.
Pedagogy:
To be designated for cross-listing as women’s studies, instructors should
be aware of and intend to incorporate several features of feminist pedagogy:
-
collaboration and
cooperation;
-
classroom as a
community of learners
-
student-centered
atmosphere
-
knowledge as created
rather than delivered
-
empowerment
-
community-minded
Perspective: A course
designated as Women’s Studies should be compatible with the
mission statement
of the UW Colleges Women’s Studies Program; thus, a feminist perspective
on the course material is appropriate. This approach might include the
following:
-
recognizing and
acknowledging difference
-
seeking the classroom
empowerment of oppressed and silenced groups
-
acknowledging and
locating in women’s experience a pedagogy that is expressive, participatory,
and open to individual experiences.
-
recognizing the
presence, value, and contributions of women and others whose voices and
experiences have been marginalized by traditional educational perspectives.
Readings
and Recommendations: click on this page for a bibliography of readings
for instructors or students on feminist pedagogy and sample assignments
employing feminist pedagogy.
Procedure for Cross-listing a Course: Instructors who wish to cross-list a course
should submit a proposal and sample syllabus to the Women’s Studies Program’s
Curriculum and Assessment Committee for review. The instructor should outline
how the proposed approach to the course matches the program's cross-listing
criteria and contributes to the program’s mission and goals. The Women’s Studies Curriculum
and Assessment Committee retains the right to reject a course for cross-listing with a
Women’s Studies designation if the course does not fit with the mission, goals, or criteria established for cross-listing.
Instructors who wish to offer a
standalone Women’s Studies course (101: Introduction to Women’s Studies, 203:
Women in Popular Culture; 210: Women’s Health and Sexuality in Society, or 260:
Women and Science, WOM 291: Special Topics, or WOM 299: Independent Study) or
begin offering courses cross-listed with Women’s Studies should submit to the
Women’s Studies Program Chair (Holly Hassel,
holly.hassel@uwc.edu) a brief
curriculum vita and letter of introduction outlining the instructor’s
qualifications to teach the course. These materials will be evaluated by the
Curriculum and Assessment Committee.
Instructors should also show evidence of continuing engagement with Women’s
Studies as a multidisciplinary field of study.
Instructors who regularly teach Women’s
Studies cross-listed or standalone courses should expect to attend program
meetings once per year and to join the Women’s Studies e-list in order to be
kept current on new policies, curricular changes, or issues disseminated
electronically.
