WST 151 A-Z - Special Topics in Women’s Studies

Semester Hours: 1-4

Current Special Topics

WST 151E - Women Writers in America

A course on American women writers raises the question of what difference, if any, the gender of a writer makes. From the colonial era to the present, women writers have contributed to American literature, but how those contributions have been valued (and whether they have been considered worthy of study) has varied over time. Moreover, some women writers have imagined themselves writing for women readers and contributing to a female authored literary tradition, while others have resisted this idea. In this class we’ll study some well-known and some lesser-known women writers, and we’ll discuss their audiences and the popular and critical reception of their work, the emergence of writing as a vocation for women, and the obstacles and opportunities women writers have faced at different historical moments in the U.S. We’ll read fiction, poetry, autobiography, and scholarship, and we’ll address the relationship of the literary texts we read to significant events in U.S. history, to literary traditions, and to shifting ideas about gender.

Same as ENGL 124A  

WST 151J - Gender and Sexuality in Manga, Anime, and Japanese Popular Culture

This course examines the representations of gender and sexuality in Japanese pop culture, by tracing both heteronormative and queer representations (shojo, shonen, cross-dressing, gender-benders, boys’ love, girls’ love, trans, etc.) in Japanese graphic novels (manga), anime, film, theater, and other popular media. This course will take us to discussions about how these cultural practices conform or challenge socially-given identity practices, and to examinations of the complexities of gender, sex, and sexuality in Japanese society and culture.

Crosslisted as LGBT 180X , LIT 097 

WST 151Q - Me Too Movement

The course, taught in English, explores narratives centered around the idea of consent in French literature, film and media. It explores the ideological climate that led to the #MeToo movement in France and in the world. No knowledge of French is necessary for this distribution course.

Crosslisted as FRLT 120  

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, group projects, writing assignments, case studies, and guest speakers.

Same as LGBT 180P  

Prerequisite(s)/Course Notes:
May be repeated for credit when topics vary. As individual subjects are selected, each is assigned a letter (A-Z) which is affixed to the course number. Specific titles and course descriptions for special topics courses are available in the online class schedule.

View Course Offering(s):

Summer Session I 2026

Summer Session II 2026

Summer Session III 2026

Fall 2026