Course Descriptions
Lower Division
GEND 2010 Sociology of Sexual Behavior (3 units)
(Same as SOCL 2010) Examines a variety of approaches to understanding sexual behavior. Typical patterns of sexual interactions will be contrasted with deviant sex styles. Presents a wide range of conflicting viewpoints on some of the most controversial issues today including abortion, sex education, and AIDS. Prerequisite: SOCL 1010.
GEND 2020 Introduction to Women’s Studies (3 units)
An introduction to the political, literary, and critical history of feminist thinking and women’s rights. Seeks to put the concerns and contributions of the women’s movement — from the nineteenth century through the twentieth—into a perspective that has value and meaning for today’s student of women’s studies. Satisfies G.E. area D2. (Fall)
GEND 2500 Women’s Development and Lifestyle Choices (3 units)
Examines female development and experiences, psychology, and current choices. The latter would include comparative analysis of development from a woman’s perspective. Special attention will be given to the feminine experience in decision-making, career advancement, and balancing the various components of one’s life. Satisfies G.E. area E1. (Spring)
Upper Division
GEND 3000 Contemporary Gender Studies Research (3 units)
(Formerly MDIS 4000 and Women’s Studies Colloquium) Exploration of current research on gender and the methods utilized in gender-based research. Guest lecturers share the processes and outcomes of their own research on gender studies topics. May be repeated one time with approval of program director.
GEND 3200 Gender Roles in the Chicano Community (3 units)
(Formerly Chicanas in Society and Culture; same as ETHS 3200) An interdisciplinary course on las chicanas that will investigate sociological situations and cultural contradictions of Chicanas. Issues of gender role expectations, tradition and change, and Chicana feminism will be studied. Chicana contributions to society will be examined.
GEND 3320 The Sociology of Men and Society (3 units)
(Same as SOCL 3320) A review of existing research and issues related to the social construction of diverse masculinities in contemporary societies. An emphasis on topics such as violence, sexualities, work, families, men’s associations, and health. Satisfies G.E. area G.
GEND 3444 Gender and Sexuality in the Middle East (4 units)
(Same as PSCI 3444) Offers a study of women and sexuality in the Middle East region with special emphasis on the Arab world. It deals with the issues of gender conflict and the changing roles of women in society. Deals extensively with the subject of the impact of Islam on the lives of women and men. The subject of feminism in the Middle East also will be covered. Satisfies G.E. area G.
GEND 3550 Society and Gender (3 units)
Designed to analyze the social construction of gender. We will explore the various social institutions and practices that encourage the existing conceptions of masculinity and femininity. Early childhood socialization, practices of parenting, the educational institution, family structures, economic and work structures, the legal institution, violence against women, and intimate relationship practices will be analyzed in terms of their contribution to the social construction of gender. Satisfies G.E. area F3. (Spring)
GEND 3660 Psychology of Women (3 units)
(Same as PSYC 3660) Provides a psychological examination of the nature and experiences of women in contemporary society. Topics to be discussed include women and power, the meaning of sexuality, stress and conflict surrounding women’s roles, and male-female relationships. (Fall, even years)
GEND 3700 Ethnic and Gender Politics (4 units)
(Same as PSCI 3700) Focuses on the politics of ethnicity and gender. It will begin with a consideration of the Europatriarchal ideology underlying social relations in capitalist societies, investigate the impact on the relations on peoples experiencing colonization (Native Americans, African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Asian-Americans, other “third world” peoples, and women everywhere) and discrimination because of sexual preferences, and conclude with critical perspectives arising out of contemporary liberation movements. Satisfies G.E. area G.
GEND 3750 Women in Sport (3 units)
(Same as PHED 3750) Introduction to the female’s role within the American sport experience. Historical and sociocultural perspectives which have influenced the involvement of women in a traditionally male sports world will be emphasized.
GEND 3900 Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality (WP) (3 units)
(Same as ANTH 3900) Comparative study of traditional and changing gender and sexuality roles, expressions, and identities in a wide range of contemporary cultures. Satisfies upper division writing proficiency requirement. Satisfies G.E. area G. Prerequisite: Passing the Writing Proficiency Screening Test; ANTH 2060 recommended or consent of instructor.
GEND 3950 International Non-European Women Authors (3 units)
(Same as ENGL 3950) Readings in women authors from the non-European world, i.e., from Africa, India, the Near East, the Orient, Latin America, the Caribbean. Prerequisite: ENGL 3100 or consent of instructor.
GEND 4000 The Mexican American Family (3 units)
(Same as ETHS 4000) Basic sociological structure and functions of the family as a social institution. Application of role theory to the Chicano family as a unit of interacting personalities. Courtship, marriage, and child-rearing practices, etc. The relationship of the Chicano family with other institutional factors of the society. Stress is placed on the changing sex roles for the Chicano family members. Corequisite: GEND 4003. Prerequisite: ETHS 2100 or 4200. (Lecture, 2 hours; activity, 2 hours)
GEND 4620 Gender in United States History (3 units)
(Formerly GEND 3680) (Same as HIST 4620) American history with reference to female experiences, value systems, and ethnic diversity from the Colonial period to the present. Includes discussion of various theoretical approaches. Prerequisite: One year of college-level history or consent of instructor.
GEND 4010 The African American Family (3 units)
(Same as ETHS 4010) A social psychological approach to studying the African American family as a basic social unit. A variety of perspectives are used to describe and explain how family members function in terms of courtship, marriage, child rearing practices, etc. The family’s relationship with other institutions in the wider society also is considered.
GEND 4020 The African American Woman: Soul Sister (4 units)
(Same as ETHS 4020) A review of popular notions about the identity of the African American woman in the United States. Stereotypes will be contrasted with examples of her position, role, and status in past and present society. Explanations or systematic accounts regarding the African American woman’s behavior will be offered from a social psychological perspective.
GEND 4030 Asian American Families (3 units)
(Same as ETHS 4030) An exploration of the rich diversity in Asian American families as they reflect the cultural histories and adaptations of East and Southeast Asian peoples in America. The nature of family organization, the socioeconomics of family resources, changing gender and status roles within the family, and the socialization process of family members into the ethnic and majority cultures will be examined. Prerequisite: ETHS 2200 or ETHS 4200.
GEND 4040 Gender Communication (3 units)
(Same as COMM 4040) Examines the relationship between gender and communication, explores theories of gender development and identify, analyzes gendered verbal and nonverbal communication, and looks at gender in specific settings.
GEND 4100 Gender and Education (3 units)
Examination of the progress toward achievement of gender equity in education and the manner in which education responds to, reflects, and shapes societal perspectives on gender. Satisfies G.E. areas F3 and G.
GEND 4150 Gender and Ethnicity in Children’s Literature and Culture (3 units)
(Same as ETHS 4150) Examination of the representations of gender and ethnicity in children’s literature and media attending to sociohistorical and racial/cultural representation, gender and sexuality, stereotyping, class status, assimilation/acculturation, multiculturalism, and diversity. Satisfies G.E. area F2 and G.
GEND 4200 Gender Theory (3 units)
A study of historical and contemporary feminist, masculinity, and queer theories including attention to the variety of theoretical perspectives; intersections of race, class, sexuality, and gender; and applications of theory. (Spring)
GEND 4303 Women’s Spirituality: Application (1 unit)
Involves student application of the conceptual material presented in GEND 4304 to a creative project of the student’s own research and design. The project is to be presented to the class. Corequisite: GEND 4304. (Activity, 2 hours; discussion, 2 hours)
GEND 4304 Women’s Spirituality: A Theological View (2 units)
Examines theology, the thematic treatment of women, and reconstructs major themes from a woman-created approach. It contrasts contemporary trends in women’s spirituality with the liturgical tradition. Corequisite: GEND 4303. (Activity, 2 hours; discussion, 2 hours)
GEND 4305 Gender Politics at Work (3 units)
(Formerly Changing Sex Roles in Organizations; same as PSCI 4305) Deals with changes in the work environment resulting from the influx and upward mobility of women into professional positions. Addresses the dynamics of the change for both men and women. Specific topics include changing demographics, cultural taboos, problems, and the legal climate.
GEND 4311 Women in American Law (3 units)
(Same as PSCI 4311) Designed to examine American law, focusing upon significant, recent, and current cases and opinion which act to discriminate between the rights, duties, and obligations of men and women on the basis of gender.
GEND 4350 Multiculturalism: From Bias to Reality (3 units)
(Same as ETHS 4350) An examination of progressive change from the conventional majoritarian bias to self-awareness, self-identity, and self-esteem, i.e., the changing consciousness of systematically disadvantaged groups in the United States. Utilizing the theoretical framework of Anthony Wallace, the self-articulation of African-Americans, Chicanos, Latin-Americans, Asian-Americans, and women are reviewed. Integrating concepts are used to identify the operative dynamic of exclusion and to articulate an ideal of multiculturalism and diversity. Satisfies G.E. area G.
GEND 4510 British Women Authors (3 units)
(Same as ENGL 4510) Readings in prose and poetry by women authors selected to highlight the tradition of female writing. Significant themes, techniques, circumstances, and authors from the 17th to the 20th century. Prerequisite: ENGL 3100.
GEND 4520 American Women Authors (3 units)
(Same as ENGL 4520) Readings in prose and poetry by American women authors selected to highlight the tradition of female writings. Significant themes, techniques, circumstances, and authors from the 17th to the 20th century. Prerequisite: ENGL 3100.
GEND 4530 Gender and Sexuality in Literature (3 units)
(Same as ENGL 4530) Introduction to the field of gay/lesbian/bisexual studies through the reading of literature and theory. Satisfies G.E. areas F3 and G. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
GEND 4600 Philosophy and Feminism (3 units)
(Same as PHIL 4600) Philosophical examination of the experience and status of women, the construction of gender, and the intersections between feminism, race, class, age, and sexual orientation. Satisfies G.E. area G.
GEND 4750 Comparative World Women: Perceptions of Gender (3 units)
(Same as HIST 4750) Designed to study women’s history in a comparative context through investigations of various spatial and temporal settings. Such an approach reveals differences and highlights similarities with the ultimate intent to challenge established perceptions of women in their respective cultures.
GEND 4910 Cooperative Education (2-4 units)
Provides an opportunity to acquire relevant, practical experience in supervised paid employment within the discipline. Students are placed in private or public sector positions under the supervision of the employer and departmental Co-op coordinator. May be repeated for a total of 8 units depending upon departmental policy. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; consent of departmental coordinator.
GEND 4920 Gender Studies Practicum (1-4 units)
An opportunity to acquire relevant, practical experience through unpaid work in an agency or setting addressing gender issues. Also involves a journal/reflection paper and conferences with the program director. May be repeated for a total of 8 units. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and consent of the program director.
GEND 4950 Selected Topics in Gender Studies (1-5 units)
(Topics to be specified in the Schedule of Classes) (Formerly Selected Topics in Women’s Studies) Development of a particular branch of gender studies. Topics vary each year. Different topics may be taken for credit.
GEND 4980 Individual Study (1-4 units)
For students capable of independent work and in need of advanced and specialized study. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
