Women’s and Gender Studies Program

Program Overview

The women’s and gender studies program at Hamline University prepares students to understand the situation of women nationally and globally. Students develop cultural and political awareness, as well as the confidence and ability to identify and challenge systems of oppression that limit the freedom and potential of all people.

Learning in women’s and gender studies allows students to:

explore the intersectional impact of gender, sexuality, race, class, and ability on women’s experience;
develop awareness of cultural diversity and the process of social transformation; and
conduct research on the situation of women nationally and globally.

Women’s and gender studies offers a major, a minor, and a double-major in legal studies and women’s and gender studies.

Women’s and gender studies major and minor. The major and minor are designed to be flexible. Learning combines theoretical, practical, and research opportunities that prepare students for advanced study and professional work in a variety of occupational fields including non-profit, business, government, and human rights. Students study the roles and contributions of women as well as the effects of a variety of social and cultural systems on women’s experience. Students gain multicultural competencies that allow them to closely analyze texts and social systems, write critically, and speak confidently.
Double-major in legal studies and women’s and gender studies. This interdisciplinary double major provides students with a unique program of study that allows them to explore intersections between the law and other areas such as gender, sexuality, race, class, and ability. This combination of learning experiences in two fields, combined with practical and theoretical experiences, prepares students to make social change in the pursuit of creating a better world for everyone. Students develop competencies that will allow them to engage in a variety of opportunities in the law, public policy, non-profit work, human services, legislative initiatives, human rights, or social service. Through elective coursework, students can simultaneously complete a paralegal certificate; this pairing of practical legal training with a liberal arts program focused on cultural and political awareness is highly valued by employers.

Opportunities for Nonmajors

Women’s and gender studies courses are open to nonmajors, except the research seminar and courses where prerequisites or other limits are set.

Honors in Women’s and Gender Studies

Honors projects are student-initiated and culminate in the production of professional quality research projects. Honors projects offer an opportunity in the junior and senior year for students to work closely with a faculty member on a significant project designed to explore more deeply a particular focus within women’s and gender studies. The student should initiate the project by discussing possible topics with a potential advisor and the director of women’s and gender studies. Students wishing to be considered for departmental honors in women’s and gender studies should review the detailed information and application forms available from their academic advisor or the program director early in their junior year. Those who successfully defend the honors projects will be awarded honors at graduation, and their accomplishment will be recognized on their academic transcript.

The women’s and gender studies academic honor society is Iota Iota Iota. Qualifying students may apply for membership by contacting the women’s and gender studies director.

Internship

Each student majoring in women’s and gender studies must complete a qualifying internship related to women’s and gender studies. Internship guidelines are available from the program director.

Postgraduate Opportunities

Women’s and gender studies prepares students to think critically, analyze ideas and policies skillfully, manage diversity in and out of the workplace, apply social justice concerns, and work toward social transformation. This liberal arts field leads to an array of career choices, in areas such as public service, business, law, health, and non-profit. Women’s and gender studies majors interested in attending graduate school should discuss securing recommendations and obtaining information on graduate programs and entrance exams with the program director during their junior year.

Interdisciplinary Offerings in Women’s Studies

Interdisciplinary women’s and gender studies courses are offered in a variety of departments, and have included topics relating to women and gender in art, communication, biology, globalization, history, literature, philosophy, politics, religion, and sociology. Students should consult the course listings each term for current interdisciplinary listings by using the “area of study” course tag filter, or contact the women’s and gender studies director.

Faculty

Kristin Mapel Bloomberg, professor, program director, Endowed Chair in the Humanities. BA 1990, Hamline University; MA 1992, St. Cloud State University; PhD 1998, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Research and teaching interests: women’s studies and feminist theory; woman suffrage and women’s social movements, especially the American Midwest; late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century American women’s history, culture, and literature.