WOMEN'S STUDIES (WMS)

Courses

WMS 215: INTRODUCTION TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Credits 3

This course will examine the problem of Gender-Based Violence from a theoretical, historical, sociopolitical, sociological, and psychological framework. We will delve into intimate partner violence, sexual assault and rape, stalking and other forms of gender-based violence. We will consider how GBV is experienced differently based on persons’ experiences of discrimination and systemic oppression. We will consider whether and how survivors access support infrastructure and how social institutions may present barriers in help seeking.

WMS 285: WOMEN’S STUDIES I: IMAGES OF WOMEN IN AMERICA

Credits 3

This team-taught course is an introduction to the study of women. The course develops a coherent, integrated view of women and their roles; emphasizes the full range of contributions of and the limited opportunities for women; examines and appraises the experiences of women; and critically examines the thinking about women at various times and from various perspectives. The basic approach is interdisciplinary and the concentration of the course is on women in the United States from the nineteenth century to the present. This course satisfies either one Social Science requirement or the second literature requirement in both Cores. In addition, the course can serve as an elective in the major or minor programs in Psychology, Sociology, or History. In Modern and Classical Languages, CLT 285 may count for the one course that French or Spanish majors may take from the Modern and Classical Languages offerings in English.

WMS 301: VICTIM ADVOCACY: WORKING WITH SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE

Credits 3

This course is designed to prepare students with the knowledge, theory-driven skills, and understanding of community resources to support survivors of violence in community settings. Topics covered in class reflect credentialing standards for victim advocates. This course prepares students to work with survivors of violence by providing an understanding of the phenomenon of violence more broadly, as well as providing students with a knowledge base that is essential in working with survivors in future careers in fields such as the criminal justice system, human services, health care, education and more. This course will cover the sociopolitical context of violence, the complex and layered impact of victimization and violence on a survivor, the family and community, the role and responsibilities of victim advocates, understanding and applying ethical principles to victim advocacy work, understanding interventions and community services, community utilization processes as well as understanding and demonstrating referral processes, as well as victims’ rights, victims services and compensation and navigating the criminal justice system—all required content knowledge by the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP).