S SCI 160 - Introduction to the Study of Gender

Credits: 5
Introduces students to the social and historical construction of masculinity and femininity, sexuality and the body, reproduction and the family. Considers the theory and practice of feminist and masculinist social movements. Examines gender as informed by race, class, ethnicity and nationality. Exposes students to historical and theoretical models in the study of gender and sexuality.

Prerequisite: Eligible for ENGL 099 or instructor’s permission.

Satisfies Requirement: Social Science

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Describe and discuss the historical process and means by which gender and sexuality have been constructed in the modern world, and as they have been partnered with biological models.
Compare and contrast cultural constructions of gender and sexual norms globally, as influenced by traditions, political and social institutions, religious and economic structures, and as a response to cultural mandates.
Analyze and assess various methods and theories in the study of gender and sexuality.
Differentiate between common sense knowledge and knowledge that is based on scientific theory, scholarly research and empirical evidence.

Program Outcomes
Distinguish between opinions, facts, and evidence-based interpretations.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.