WST 150 A-Z - (IS) Topics in Women’s Studies

Semester Hours: 3

Current Special Topics

WST 150A - STEAM Careers for Everyone

STEAM Careers for Everyone: Policies and Persuasion - People who are not white, male, heterosexual, cis-gendered, or not born in the country where they work have historically faced discrimination in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics careers in the United States. Students in this course will examine several texts and films documenting that discrimination, including “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly, the documentary “Picture a Scientist,” and press pieces about the “Guerrilla Girls.” Policy documents from professional societies that prescribe pathways for opening ‘STEAM’ careers to everyone will guide student writing about history, advocacy, and the future. The “Writing Intensive” aspect of this course will include students writing three revised pieces: a documented report on some aspect of the history, a persuasive essay advocating for equality, and an advice column about being “other” in STEAM.

WST 150I - Women, Work, and Organizing

In this course we will explore various forms of women’s work – paid and unpaid, past and present, in the home and the office, in factories and on farms – and the different ways that women have organized to make life better on and off the job for everyone. Along the way, we’ll learn about the fight to reevaluate the kind of work that women “naturally” do by demanding “wages for housework;” consider women’s massive contributions to the labor movement and the fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, and a share of the good life through strikes and other forms of protest; and examine women’s efforts in court and the halls of government to secure laws against exploitation and discrimination. We’ll focus on the US, with an eye to how developments here impact and are impacted by worker organizing around the globe. If you are a worker – or will be a worker someday – this course is for you.

Same as RHET 189J , LABR 155J  

WST 150L - (CC,IS) FROM TANGO TO REGGAETON

From Tango to Reggaeton, and beyond. This course looks at the role of popular music in the production, representation, performance, and interpretation of gender identities and sexuality in Latin American, Spanish, and Latinx popular music. How have musicians negotiated traditional categories of gender and sexuality? How have audiences (and dancers) utilize popular music genres to express their sexuality, or to subvert societal norms regarding gender and sexuality? The course will look at popular music genres through the lenses of feminist theory, queer theory, and critical race theory. Using the tools and insights provided by these interconnected theoretical frameworks, the course invites students to critically analyze the ways in which popular music both reflects and shapes gender, identity, and racialized experiences.

Same as LACS 015Z , SPLT 050M  

WST 150M - (IS) LGBTQ+ Mental Health

This course introduces students to mental health patterns, strengths, and challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) people. Students will gain working knowledge of this aspect of LGBTQ+ life, including terminology and history of LGBTQ+ people and their mental health, mental health conditions most prevalent in LGBTQ+ populations, and mental health disparities faced by LGBTQ+ people. Multiple learning strategies will be used such as readings, interactive lectures, class discussion, writing assignments, and case studies.

Same as LGBT 180P  

WST 150N - Queer Roots of Steampunk

Much of the style that we associate with ‘steampunk’ comes from the Victorian era. In this course we will explore the queer side of such Victorian cultural practices as theatrical melodramas, pleasure gardens, steampunk fashion, and museums. We will explore queer historical figures from Anne Lister (Gentleman Jack) and Charlotte Cushman to Oscar Wilde, and the contemporary representations of Victorian expressions of same sex-desire in such films as Dracula, “Tipping the Velvet,” Gentleman Jack, and the reinterpretation of ‘dandys’ in Hogarth’s prints in the work of visual artists.

Same as LGBT 180Y  and RHET 189E   

WST 150S - (IS) Bombshell: Beauty and Fashion in Public Relations

This course explores the dynamic intersection of beauty, fashion, and public relations, focusing on how representations of beauty are crafted, communicated, and perceived in the fashion industry. Applying a critical cultural lens to the material, students will analyze the role of PR in shaping beauty standards, identity, diversity, and inclusivity in fashion campaigns, branding, and media. Through a combination of theory, case studies, and practical applications, the course encourages students to reflect on cultural and ethical considerations that influence fashion PR strategies. 

Same as PR 114  

WST 150Y - (IS) LGBTQ+ Relationships

Without our relationships with others, the concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity would be largely unimportant to survival; and without our close interpersonal relationships, our experience of ourselves and others as LGBTQ+ would be fundamentally different. This course will provide a primarily psychological, sociological, and developmental view of LGBTQ+ relationships; however, coursework will provide ample opportunities for students to consider the applications of the topic to their major field of study and prospective careers.

Same as LGBT 180U  

Prerequisite(s)/Course Notes:
Subjects will change from semester to semester and the course may be repeated for credit when topics vary. Specific titles and course descriptions for special topics courses are available in the online class schedule.

View Course Offering(s):

Fall 2026

January 2027

Spring 2027