Spring Break
Women studies works to become new major
Women studies program will turn in a proposal fall term
Nick Ngo
Issue date: 8/1/07 Section: News
As fall approaches, the women studies program will be trying to take a step forward toward becoming OSU's newest major.
Currently a minor, the women studies program has been working on a proposal for it to become an undergraduate program throughout the previous year. This is the first attempt the program has made to be a major.
Susan Shaw, director of the women studies program, said if the proposal passes it would be a basic women studies major.
The major would contain a general overview of gender, race and social class. Shaw said it would have introductory courses such as Theory of Feminism.
"Courses that have a wide variety of topics relating to women's life," Shaw said. "It's not only a special group where you're studying just one aspect, but studying a general overview."
Lani Roberts, an assistant professor in philosophy and a women studies instructor, said the program should become a major.
"I think it would be very successful," Roberts said.
Roberts said there are not many courses that deals with women in history. She said few departments offer courses about women.
"We need a place where we can study women's contributions to society," Roberts said.
Beth Rietveld, cordinator of the Women's Center, said there is a high demand by students who take women studies courses for it to become a major. Rietveld teaches a Women In Leadership class during winter term.
She said women studies classes transform the lives of students enrolled in the courses.
"It transforms how people look at the world," Rietveld said. "It teaches them not only women's issues but social justice issues."
In the past, they have tried to put together a proposal to offer a women studies graduate program but there were not enough resources.
Shaw said for a graduate program they would need more resources like library journals and teaching assistants. However, Shaw said they realized they had enough resources for the program to become a major.
Currently a minor, the women studies program has been working on a proposal for it to become an undergraduate program throughout the previous year. This is the first attempt the program has made to be a major.
Susan Shaw, director of the women studies program, said if the proposal passes it would be a basic women studies major.
The major would contain a general overview of gender, race and social class. Shaw said it would have introductory courses such as Theory of Feminism.
"Courses that have a wide variety of topics relating to women's life," Shaw said. "It's not only a special group where you're studying just one aspect, but studying a general overview."
Lani Roberts, an assistant professor in philosophy and a women studies instructor, said the program should become a major.
"I think it would be very successful," Roberts said.
Roberts said there are not many courses that deals with women in history. She said few departments offer courses about women.
"We need a place where we can study women's contributions to society," Roberts said.
Beth Rietveld, cordinator of the Women's Center, said there is a high demand by students who take women studies courses for it to become a major. Rietveld teaches a Women In Leadership class during winter term.
She said women studies classes transform the lives of students enrolled in the courses.
"It transforms how people look at the world," Rietveld said. "It teaches them not only women's issues but social justice issues."
In the past, they have tried to put together a proposal to offer a women studies graduate program but there were not enough resources.
Shaw said for a graduate program they would need more resources like library journals and teaching assistants. However, Shaw said they realized they had enough resources for the program to become a major.
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