Women's Studies

The women's studies major is an interdisciplinary program appropriate as a complement to various majors. This major is particularly useful in acquiring perspectives that complement traditional studies for developing leadership roles or for pursuing careers that involve women's concerns. Women's studies offers an undergraduate major, minor and, with departmental approval, a graduate emphasis.

The Program

Women's studies is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on women in society and aims at raising women's aspirations, at expanding awareness of their capabilities and at widening the knowledge and development of both female and male students.

Women's studies courses aim to:

1. Enhance the marketability of students who are interested in how issues regarding women impact a variety of employment opportunities, including business, social work, education and public policy;
2. Attract students who are keenly interested in women's studies to major in this discipline;
3. Provide an opportunity for men and women to learn more about women's role in society.

The teaching and learning approach tends to be interdisciplinary, emphasizing relationships and connections between traditional disciplines.

General Education

The introductory women's studies class, WS 110, provides an avenue for students to fulfill North Dakota State University's general and cultural diversity requirements while earning the undergraduate major. All students are required to take 40 credits of general education course work from categories including but not limited to, communication, humanities and fine arts, social and behavioral sciences, wellness, cultural diversity and global perspectives and wellness.

Career Opportunities

A women's studies major will strengthen skills in writing, critical thinking, oral presentation, team work and leadership. These skills are important in today's evolving job market oriented by increased needs for communication skills, new technologies, rapid economic change and resourceful employees. Women's studies courses, which emphasize the value of diversity, relationships and coalition building, prepare graduates to listen, to communicate across differences in background and viewpoint, to analyze reports and to respond openly to change. These are all characteristics required to pursue successful careers in teaching and school administration; social services, law enforcement, counseling, and community organization; communication, business, marketing, human resources, and management; services and hospitality industries; and in healthcare fields such as nursing, medicine, pharmacy and administration.

The Program Organization

The Women's Studies Advisory Board consists of representatives from each of seven colleges, the Deans of each of the sponsoring colleges, and the University Office of Equity and Diversity. The Women's Studies Director administers the program.

The women's studies faculty include NDSU faculty members who teach a women's studies course, or wish to be affiliated with the women's studies program and identify with the women's studies program mission.

      You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end each of us must work for his (her) own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.

Marie Curie

Quote from Light One Candle. N.Y. Peter Pauper Press, 1991.

The Curriculum

The women's studies major consists of a total of 36 approved semester credits. Students must take all five core courses, three electives, then 12 electives in their area of choice.

The women's studies minor consists of a total of 18 approved semester credits. At least three credits must be taken in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and three credits in the College of Human Development and Education. The remaining credits may be obtained by taking four core courses. One core course, WS 110, must be taken by all students obtaining the minor. Students may choose three core courses from the elective list. Students should select courses from the core list or from the elective list to obtain the remaining credits. Appropriate courses not on these lists must be approved by the director of the women's studies program.

Undergraduate Women's Studies Minor

Sample Curriculum

This sample curriculum is not intended to serve as a curriculum guide for current students, but rather an example of course offerings for prospective students. For the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of entrance into a program, consult with an academic adviser or with the Office of Registration and Records.

Contact Information

Ann Burnett
Director of Women's Studies
Women's Studies Office
North Dakota State University
Minard Hall 200
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-7290
Fax: (701) 231-1047
Email: Ann.Burnett@ndsu.edu
Web: http://www.ndsu.edu/womens_studies

Office of Admission

North Dakota State University
Ceres 114
Dept 5230, PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050

Tel: (701) 231-8643
Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/prospective_students/

(02/10)