Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

A minor program focusing on the social construction of gender and sexuality.

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A Minor for Those Passionate About Social Change

For all Graceland students, regardless of background, gender, orientation, etc., a Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor from Graceland offers the opportunity to learn more about suppressed histories crucial to the nation’s identity. Our program will provide students with knowledge that will become all the more critical in an increasingly equitable job market that emphasizes interpersonal communication skills.

Gender, women, and sexuality studies is a field that analyzes societal issues through a feminist theory lens. You use critical knowledge gained over the course of your degree or minor and put it into practice in your career after graduation. At Graceland, our hope is for students to master intersectionality and be more well-prepared to tackle contemporary social problems after they graduate.

Offerings
Minor
Field of Study
Humanities, Social Sciences
Format
Lamoni Campus
Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Curriculum

Graceland’s minor in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies will include 18 semester hours of courses including Gender and Society, Gender and Communication, and Critical Theory, as well as elective courses in the areas of theory and law, society and nature, and language and culture.

  • Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor

    The interdisciplinary minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies requires 18 s.h.:

    Core Requirements 9 s.h.

    3 s.h. of electives from each of the following lists (9 s.h. total)

    Theory and Law:

    Society and Nature:

    Language and Culture:

    Courses Offered
    • COMM2500Introduction to Mass Media
      COMM2500 Introduction to Mass Media - 3 s.h.

      An examination of the various landmark theories, such as rhetorical, Marxist, and feminist to analyze popular culture, with an emphasis on the importance of communication in the production and consumption of culture. Students will study the development of culture by applying different theories or 'lenses' to cultural artifacts including music, movies, advertisements, clothing, etc. GE3C Liberal Learning-Humanities +This course is only offered every other year.

    • COMM3220Gender and Communication
      COMM3220 Gender and Communication - 3 s.h.

      An exploration of sex, gender, and sexuality as they relate to the ways we communicate in personal, professional, and political contexts. Specific attention will be given to self-other relationships, how gendered identities affect interpersonal, cultural, and political interactions, where do individuals stand in terms of normative gender identities, and how those norms came to be. +This course is only offered every other year.

    • EDUC2120Human Relations
      EDUC2120 Human Relations - 3 s.h.

      Analysis of various societal subgroups and how such groups recognize and deal with dehumanizing biases. Students learn to relate effectively to various groups to foster understanding and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Emphasis on self-awareness in human relations issues and how this awareness can be translated into positive relationships. Introduction to ethnographic analysis and pedagogical, curricular, and social considerations involved in working with and educating various societal subgroups. ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Equality, ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Equality and Peace, GE3E Liberal Learning-Social Sciences

    • ENGL2600Gender and Sexuality
      ENGL2600 Gender and Sexuality - 3 s.h.

      An exploration of issues of gender and sexuality in literature, with a focus on fiction, drama, and poetry by women and LGBT+ writers. As a complement to literary texts, students will also examine a range of introductory theoretical texts in the interdisciplinary field of gender and sexuality studies. ELO5 Humanities - Equality, ELO5 Humanities - Equality and Peace ++ This course is on a four-year cycle.

    • ENGL3110Critical Theory
      ENGL3110 Critical Theory - 3 s.h.

      Advanced study of literary, cultural, and moving image theory, and the application to written and filmic texts. +This course is only offered every other year.

    • ENGL3240Literatures of Social Justice
      ENGL3240 Literatures of Social Justice - 3 s.h.

      An investigation of the role of literature as a vehicle for social change. With a focus on the literatures of emancipatory social movements, this global survey course includes a range of modern authors who merged the personal with the political. Students examine how literature and narrative forms of storytelling function as a means of engaging ethical and social concerns, and eliciting emotions in readers-from rage and defiance to observation and understanding-that might serve to promote social justice. ELO5 Humanities - Peace, ELO5 Humanities - Equality and Peace +This course is only offered every other year.

    • ENGL3480Cultural Studies
      ENGL3480 Cultural Studies - 3 s.h.

      Explores cultural systems of meaning and attendant issues of power, particularly in terms of class, gender, nation, race, nature, and sexuality. Emphasis on commercial and media culture. ELO5 Humanities - Equality, ELO5 Humanities - Equality and Peace. +This course is only offered every other year.

    • HIST3240Rights and Responsibilities in the United States (also POLS3240)
      HIST3240 Rights and Responsibilities in the United States (also POLS3240) - 3 s.h.

      A study of the history of the creation and evolving interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, with emphasis on important issues decided by the Supreme Court. ELO5 Histories - Equality, ELO5 Histories - Equality and Peace. +This course is only offered every other year.

    • HLTH3120Human Sexuality
      HLTH3120 Human Sexuality - 3 s.h.

      Discussion of sexual biology, psychology, and sociocultural dimension of human sexual health and behavior. A grade of C or higher required to count toward the Allied Health major.

    • PEAC2200Introduction to Peace Studies (also POLS2200)
      PEAC2200 Introduction to Peace Studies (also POLS2200) - 3 s.h.

      Introduces the field of peace studies with a survey of the historical and philosophical bases for peacemaking, patterns of conflict resolution, nonviolence, history of peace movements, world order models, alternative futures, positive peace, and career options. ELO5 Histories - Peace, ELO5 Histories - Equality and Peace

    • PHIL2440Social Dimensions of Equality
      PHIL2440 Social Dimensions of Equality - 3 s.h.

      An examination of different conceptions of ethical social relationships and ethical behavior. Considers varying accounts of theories of value and right action with critical analysis of systemic and social influences on individual and collective interactions. ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Equality, ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Equality and Peace.

    • PSYC1300Introductory Psychology
      PSYC1300 Introductory Psychology - 3 s.h.

      An introductory survey of psychological methods and thoughts as they relate to human experience and behavior. Topics include the role of the central nervous system in mediating behavior, learning and memory, states of awareness, motivation and emotion, personality, psychological disorders, and therapy. ELO5 Social Science – Innovation, GE3E Liberal Learning-Social Sciences.

    • PSYC2320Marriage and the Family (also SOCI2320)
      PSYC2320 Marriage and the Family (also SOCI2320) - 3 s.h.

      A social science approach to relationships and attraction with a focus on marriage and the family unit. Topics include dating, marital roles, parenting, and interaction patterns. Explores disruptions such as divorce and domestic violence as well as clinical and community-level interventions from a systems perspective. +This course is only offered every other year.

    • PSYC3310Social Psychology (also SOCI3310)
      PSYC3310 Social Psychology (also SOCI3310) - 3 s.h.

      The study of how people think, feel, and behave in social situations. Attention given to research and application to social perception, interaction, and influence. Prerequisite: PSYC1300 or SOCI1300.

    • RELG3540Peace and Justice in the Christian Tradition
      RELG3540 Peace and Justice in the Christian Tradition - 3 s.h.

      Christian theology is a centuries-long conversation about the meaning of Jesus’ life and message. As theologians have interpreted their faith, they have often pondered questions of justice and peace. How can the nonviolent message of Jesus challenge cultures of oppression? Can war ever be ‘just’? What insights might theological traditions offer to help critique forces that perennialize poverty? What ethical resources can Christian traditions apply to environmental degradation or the search for gender justice? This course explores such questions by focusing them through the thought of key theologians from across the centuries: e.g., Augustine of Hippo, Julian of Norwich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Oscar Romero, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Letty Russell. We explore how these thinkers’ questions and proposals remain ethically meaningful in the contemporary World. ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Peace, ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Equality and Peace.

    • SOCI1300Introduction to Sociology
      SOCI1300 Introduction to Sociology - 3 s.h.

      Introduction to the perspective of sociology, its basic concepts and principles and an overview of the field.Includes study of social classes, sex roles, crime and deviance, socialization, social movements and others. ELO5 Social Science - Equality, ELO5 Social Science - Equality and Peace

    • SOCI2320Marriage and the Family (also PSYC2320)
      SOCI2320 Marriage and the Family (also PSYC2320) - 3 s.h.

      A social science approach to relationships and attraction with a focus on marriage and the family unit. Topics include dating, marital roles, parenting, and interaction patterns. Explores disruptions such as divorce and domestic violence as well as clinical and community-level interventions from a systems perspective.

    • SOCI2440Victimology
      SOCI2440 Victimology - 3 s.h.

      Explores victimology, or the study of victimization. Topics include the history of victims’ rights, causes of victimization, its consequences, and how other institutions deal with crime victims. Also addresses how social scientists conduct research on victims of crimes and current issues and topics of interests to researchers who study victimization. Prerequisites: SOCI1300 or consent from instructor.

    • SOCI3130Social Movements
      SOCI3130 Social Movements - 3 s.h.

      Examines the origins, nature, and processes of social change movements. Prerequisite: SOCI1300 Introduction to Sociology or PEAC2200 Introduction to Peace Studies and sophomore standing.

    • SOCI3200Gender and Society
      SOCI3200 Gender and Society - 3 s.h.

      Examines gender as a major organizing principle of contemporary social life and explores the different explanations of gender, gendered interactions, and its effects on identities and social institutions. Prerequisite: SOCI1300 Introduction to Sociology or PSYC1300 Introduction to Psychology and sophomore standing.

    • SOCI3220Sociology of Sexualities
      SOCI3220 Sociology of Sexualities - 3 s.h.

      Examines human sexuality through a sociological perspective, focusing on how sexuality reflects the society in which we live. We will consider the relationship between individual sexualities, (sub)cultures, institutions, and the nation-state. Prerequisite: SOCI1300 Introduction to Sociology and sophomore standing.

    • SOCI4330Social Inequality
      SOCI4330 Social Inequality - 3 s.h.

      Examines the intersection of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and other minority statuses and the relationships to personal identity and social structure. Helps to develop an awareness and understanding of diverse values, life-styles, beliefs, and attitudes of various racial, cultural, and ethnic minorities. Focuses on the social, legal, economic, and political aspects of prejudice and discrimination on socially disadvantaged groups. Prerequisite: SOCI1300 (with grade of C or better) and senior standing.

    COMM2500Introduction to Mass Media COMM3220Gender and Communication EDUC2120Human Relations ENGL2600Gender and Sexuality ENGL3110Critical Theory ENGL3240Literatures of Social Justice ENGL3480Cultural Studies HIST3240Rights and Responsibilities in the United States (also POLS3240) HLTH3120Human Sexuality PEAC2200Introduction to Peace Studies (also POLS2200) PHIL2440Social Dimensions of Equality PSYC1300Introductory Psychology PSYC2320Marriage and the Family (also SOCI2320) PSYC3310Social Psychology (also SOCI3310) RELG3540Peace and Justice in the Christian Tradition SOCI1300Introduction to Sociology SOCI2320Marriage and the Family (also PSYC2320) SOCI2440Victimology SOCI3130Social Movements SOCI3200Gender and Society SOCI3220Sociology of Sexualities SOCI4330Social Inequality
    Course Descriptions
    COMM2500 Introduction to Mass Media - 3 s.h.

    An examination of the various landmark theories, such as rhetorical, Marxist, and feminist to analyze popular culture, with an emphasis on the importance of communication in the production and consumption of culture. Students will study the development of culture by applying different theories or 'lenses' to cultural artifacts including music, movies, advertisements, clothing, etc. GE3C Liberal Learning-Humanities +This course is only offered every other year.

    COMM3220 Gender and Communication - 3 s.h.

    An exploration of sex, gender, and sexuality as they relate to the ways we communicate in personal, professional, and political contexts. Specific attention will be given to self-other relationships, how gendered identities affect interpersonal, cultural, and political interactions, where do individuals stand in terms of normative gender identities, and how those norms came to be. +This course is only offered every other year.

    EDUC2120 Human Relations - 3 s.h.

    Analysis of various societal subgroups and how such groups recognize and deal with dehumanizing biases. Students learn to relate effectively to various groups to foster understanding and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Emphasis on self-awareness in human relations issues and how this awareness can be translated into positive relationships. Introduction to ethnographic analysis and pedagogical, curricular, and social considerations involved in working with and educating various societal subgroups. ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Equality, ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Equality and Peace, GE3E Liberal Learning-Social Sciences

    ENGL2600 Gender and Sexuality - 3 s.h.

    An exploration of issues of gender and sexuality in literature, with a focus on fiction, drama, and poetry by women and LGBT+ writers. As a complement to literary texts, students will also examine a range of introductory theoretical texts in the interdisciplinary field of gender and sexuality studies. ELO5 Humanities - Equality, ELO5 Humanities - Equality and Peace ++ This course is on a four-year cycle.

    ENGL3110 Critical Theory - 3 s.h.

    Advanced study of literary, cultural, and moving image theory, and the application to written and filmic texts. +This course is only offered every other year.

    ENGL3240 Literatures of Social Justice - 3 s.h.

    An investigation of the role of literature as a vehicle for social change. With a focus on the literatures of emancipatory social movements, this global survey course includes a range of modern authors who merged the personal with the political. Students examine how literature and narrative forms of storytelling function as a means of engaging ethical and social concerns, and eliciting emotions in readers-from rage and defiance to observation and understanding-that might serve to promote social justice. ELO5 Humanities - Peace, ELO5 Humanities - Equality and Peace +This course is only offered every other year.

    ENGL3480 Cultural Studies - 3 s.h.

    Explores cultural systems of meaning and attendant issues of power, particularly in terms of class, gender, nation, race, nature, and sexuality. Emphasis on commercial and media culture. ELO5 Humanities - Equality, ELO5 Humanities - Equality and Peace. +This course is only offered every other year.

    HIST3240 Rights and Responsibilities in the United States (also POLS3240) - 3 s.h.

    A study of the history of the creation and evolving interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, with emphasis on important issues decided by the Supreme Court. ELO5 Histories - Equality, ELO5 Histories - Equality and Peace. +This course is only offered every other year.

    HLTH3120 Human Sexuality - 3 s.h.

    Discussion of sexual biology, psychology, and sociocultural dimension of human sexual health and behavior. A grade of C or higher required to count toward the Allied Health major.

    PEAC2200 Introduction to Peace Studies (also POLS2200) - 3 s.h.

    Introduces the field of peace studies with a survey of the historical and philosophical bases for peacemaking, patterns of conflict resolution, nonviolence, history of peace movements, world order models, alternative futures, positive peace, and career options. ELO5 Histories - Peace, ELO5 Histories - Equality and Peace

    PHIL2440 Social Dimensions of Equality - 3 s.h.

    An examination of different conceptions of ethical social relationships and ethical behavior. Considers varying accounts of theories of value and right action with critical analysis of systemic and social influences on individual and collective interactions. ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Equality, ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Equality and Peace.

    PSYC1300 Introductory Psychology - 3 s.h.

    An introductory survey of psychological methods and thoughts as they relate to human experience and behavior. Topics include the role of the central nervous system in mediating behavior, learning and memory, states of awareness, motivation and emotion, personality, psychological disorders, and therapy. ELO5 Social Science – Innovation, GE3E Liberal Learning-Social Sciences.

    PSYC2320 Marriage and the Family (also SOCI2320) - 3 s.h.

    A social science approach to relationships and attraction with a focus on marriage and the family unit. Topics include dating, marital roles, parenting, and interaction patterns. Explores disruptions such as divorce and domestic violence as well as clinical and community-level interventions from a systems perspective. +This course is only offered every other year.

    PSYC3310 Social Psychology (also SOCI3310) - 3 s.h.

    The study of how people think, feel, and behave in social situations. Attention given to research and application to social perception, interaction, and influence. Prerequisite: PSYC1300 or SOCI1300.

    RELG3540 Peace and Justice in the Christian Tradition - 3 s.h.

    Christian theology is a centuries-long conversation about the meaning of Jesus’ life and message. As theologians have interpreted their faith, they have often pondered questions of justice and peace. How can the nonviolent message of Jesus challenge cultures of oppression? Can war ever be ‘just’? What insights might theological traditions offer to help critique forces that perennialize poverty? What ethical resources can Christian traditions apply to environmental degradation or the search for gender justice? This course explores such questions by focusing them through the thought of key theologians from across the centuries: e.g., Augustine of Hippo, Julian of Norwich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Oscar Romero, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Letty Russell. We explore how these thinkers’ questions and proposals remain ethically meaningful in the contemporary World. ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Peace, ELO3 Ethical Thinking and Action - Equality and Peace.

    SOCI1300 Introduction to Sociology - 3 s.h.

    Introduction to the perspective of sociology, its basic concepts and principles and an overview of the field.Includes study of social classes, sex roles, crime and deviance, socialization, social movements and others. ELO5 Social Science - Equality, ELO5 Social Science - Equality and Peace

    SOCI2320 Marriage and the Family (also PSYC2320) - 3 s.h.

    A social science approach to relationships and attraction with a focus on marriage and the family unit. Topics include dating, marital roles, parenting, and interaction patterns. Explores disruptions such as divorce and domestic violence as well as clinical and community-level interventions from a systems perspective.

    SOCI2440 Victimology - 3 s.h.

    Explores victimology, or the study of victimization. Topics include the history of victims’ rights, causes of victimization, its consequences, and how other institutions deal with crime victims. Also addresses how social scientists conduct research on victims of crimes and current issues and topics of interests to researchers who study victimization. Prerequisites: SOCI1300 or consent from instructor.

    SOCI3130 Social Movements - 3 s.h.

    Examines the origins, nature, and processes of social change movements. Prerequisite: SOCI1300 Introduction to Sociology or PEAC2200 Introduction to Peace Studies and sophomore standing.

    SOCI3200 Gender and Society - 3 s.h.

    Examines gender as a major organizing principle of contemporary social life and explores the different explanations of gender, gendered interactions, and its effects on identities and social institutions. Prerequisite: SOCI1300 Introduction to Sociology or PSYC1300 Introduction to Psychology and sophomore standing.

    SOCI3220 Sociology of Sexualities - 3 s.h.

    Examines human sexuality through a sociological perspective, focusing on how sexuality reflects the society in which we live. We will consider the relationship between individual sexualities, (sub)cultures, institutions, and the nation-state. Prerequisite: SOCI1300 Introduction to Sociology and sophomore standing.

    SOCI4330 Social Inequality - 3 s.h.

    Examines the intersection of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and other minority statuses and the relationships to personal identity and social structure. Helps to develop an awareness and understanding of diverse values, life-styles, beliefs, and attitudes of various racial, cultural, and ethnic minorities. Focuses on the social, legal, economic, and political aspects of prejudice and discrimination on socially disadvantaged groups. Prerequisite: SOCI1300 (with grade of C or better) and senior standing.

Exceptional Gender Studies Degree Faculty
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Career Growth in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

A women’s, gender, and sexuality studies minor from Graceland University can help to prepare you for these careers:

  • Administrator of a human services department
  • Communications consultant
  • Teacher
  • Social Worker
  • Union organizer
  • Professor
  • Physician

…and many other exciting fields. 

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Tuition & Aid

99% of students on the Lamoni campus receive financial aid.

As you consider college, you want a simple, easy-to-understand formula designed to ensure that the one-of-a-kind Graceland Experience is within reach for your family. Undergraduate tuition includes our unique Transformational Leadership major, and we offer generous financial aid and scholarships to all of our students, making Graceland as affordable, if not moreso, than most public universities.

Find out more!
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