Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for WS 101 archive revision 202104

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Effective Term:
Fall 2021

Course Number:
WS 101
Course Title:
Women's Studies
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Introduces intersectional feminist analysis of systems of oppression and strategies of resistance in the United States. Connects personal experiences to social change from a contemporary and historic lens. Includes multidisciplinary discussions of race, class, gender, sexualities, ability, and age. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. Describe intersectional feminist understandings of personal, structural, and historical patterns and events.
  2. Analyze ways that systems of power, privilege and oppression are created and maintained by social, cultural economic, and historical forces.
  3. Analyze the influences that systems of oppression have on diverse women’s lives.
  4. Describe the relationship of gender to power and inequality, with an emphasis on intersections with class, race, ability, age, and sexuality.
  5. Communicate effectively in writing,  speaking, and collaborating.

Integrative Learning

Students completing an associate degree at Portland Community College will be able to reflect on one’s work or competencies to make connections between course content and lived experience.

General education philosophy statement

This course aligns with the PCC General Education philosophy by providing an appreciation of history both from a global perspective and from a personal perspective, including an awareness of the role played by gender and by various cultures, This course also provides an understanding of the ethical and social requirements of responsible participation in society. It accomplishes these goals by centering intersectional feminism and analyzing the creation and maintenance of systems of oppression such as sexism, heterosexism, cissexism, racism, classism, ableism, among others.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Student mastery of outcomes may be assessed by any combination of the following:

  • Written or oral assignments
     
  • Objective or essay examinations
     
  • Research projects
     
  • Participation in class discussions, small group activities, exercises, or role plays
     
  • Performances or plays
     
  • Oral or visual presentations
     
  • Service learning activities
     
  • Classroom attendance
     
  • Participating in or organizing community or professional events
     

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes, Competencies and Skills

  1. Reflect on the impact of gender on the lives of women in the United States and/or other culture.
  2. Articulate ways in which gender roles are socially constructed and how these roles shape the lives of people in both subordinate and dominant positions and how these roles can be revisioned.
     

Themes, Concepts, Issues
Instructors teaching WS101 will include:

  • empowering women
     
  • patriarchy, sexism, oppression
     
  • racism, classism, homophobia
     
  • social control, socialization, conformity
     
  • social construction of knowledge
     
  • body image
     
  • gender role socialization
     
  • family and intimate relationships
     
  • health and reproductive rights
     
  • sexuality and sexual identity
     
  • women and economics
     

Instructors teaching WS101 may include

  • first, second, and third wave feminism
     
  • essentialism, constructivism
     
  • ageism, ableism
     
  • history of feminism in the United States
     
  • women in the arts and media
     
  • spiritual expressions and religions traditions
     
  • origins of gender roles
     
  • women and the environment
     
  • women and the justice system
     
  • language and communication
     
  • mental health
     
  • women and politics
     
  • women and sports
  •  

Proposed revision (9/30/2020):

  • power, access, privilege

  • racism, transphobia, classism, homophobia, ageism, ableism fatphobia and other patterns of oppression

  • women and economics

  • women and work (paid and unpaid)

  • family and intimate relationships

  • health and reproductive rights

  • sexualities and sexual identities

  • social control, socialization, conformity

  • social construction of knowledge

  • gender role socialization

  • origins of gender roles

  • women and politics

  • women in the arts and media

  • women and the environment

  • women and the legal system

  • language and communication

  • mental health

  • Colonialism, imperialism and xenophobia

  • history of feminism in the United States

  • spiritual expressions and religious traditions