Gender Studies
The interdisciplinary Gender Studies minor focuses on the importance of gender in society and culture and draw upon the insights and methodologies of a wide range of academic disciplines.
Why Pursue Gender Studies at Randolph?
One purpose of a liberal arts education is to teach students to think about their place in society using perspectives from the social sciences, the humanities, and the sciences.
The courses in this program focus on the importance of gender in society and culture and draw upon the insights and methodologies of a wide range of academic disciplines.
To this end, students are required to take courses in at least three departments to fulfill the minor requirements.
Degrees offered
Gender Studies interdisciplinary minor
Participating Programs
Curriculum and Requirements
Students must complete 20 credit hours to qualify for the minor. A minimum of 5 of the following courses are required.
Required: (4 credits)
- G ST 2202 Introduction to Gender Studies
One of the following:* (4 credits)
- PSYC 2212 Psychology of Gender
- SOC 2276 Sociology of Gender
One of the following**: (4 credits)
- ENGL 3364 Feminist Literary Theory
- MAC 3330 Feminist Rhetorical Theory
- SOC 3355 Black Feminist Theory
Two of the following, from different departments***: (8 credits)
- ARTH/ENGL 3378 Gender in Renaissance Art and Literature
- CLAS 1132 Classical Mythology
- DANC 2208 History of Dance II
- ENGL 1111 Writing Women
- ENGL 3338 The Prostitute in Literature
- G ST 3301 Topics in Gender Studies
- HIST 2237 American Women’s History
- MAC 2220 Media and Masculinities
- MUSC 2227 Women in Music 131
- POL 2201 Trafficking: Where Global Meets Local
- POL 2222 Gender Politics in Asia
- PSYC 2205 Social Psychology
- RELG 2253 In Memory of Her
- RELG 2268 Gendering Enlightenment: Gender and Buddhism
- SES 2262 LGBTQ+ Issues in Sport
- SOC 2218 Family and Kinship
* Both may be taken to fulfill the minor, replacing one from the electives list.
** Additional GST or gender-related one-time only and special topic courses may be substituted with permission of the coordinator.
***One-time only and special topic courses may be substituted with permission of the coordinator.
Opportunities for Experience
Summer Research Program
Spend the summer working closely with a professor on a focused aspect of a Gender Studies topic of your choosing.
Randolph’s intensive eight-week Summer Research Program enables students to work with professors on a research of their own design; live in a residence hall on campus, participate in on-campus summer events, attend special seminars with guest speakers; and share the progress and results of their research.
Symposium of Artists and Scholars
Modeled after a traditional academic conference, the SAS brings together students of all disciplines to share the results and highlights of the best work being produced at the College – oral presentations, readings of creative works, performances, exhibitions of student artwork, and poster presentations.
Internships
Learn by doing – in the field and on the job. The Career Development Center will help place you in positions with leading companies and organizations in your field of study.
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Required: (4 credit hours)
An introductory course dealing with the principles of Renaissance stagecraft, the nature of performance, the construction and themes of the plays, and the concept of genre or type. Representative plays in all genres from throughout Shakespeare’s career.
One of the following: (4 credit hours)
A bold, new style emerged in fifteenth-century Florence, setting the standard for European and American art until it was challenged by Impressionism and Modernism. Students will become familiar with cornerstones of the Western tradition in painting, sculpture, and architecture, made by great artists including Giotto, Donatello and Brunelleschi. By examining the intellectual, spiritual and political context of the works, students will understand not only their artistic significance but their original meanings as well.
Who does not know the painting of the Mona Lisa? This course examines the career of one of the most influential artists of all time, Leonardo da Vinci, and focuses on his rival, Michelangelo. Students will also discover the contributions of Venetian masters such as Titian and Palladio, whose works have inspired artists and architects for centuries.
Two of the following: (8 credit hours)
An investigation into the nature and uses of myth in ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Topics include the social significance of myth, the use of myth in art and literature, and the influence of Greco-Roman myth on Western civilization.
This course will introduce the main social, political, economic, and cultural forces that shaped and reshaped European societies and Europe’s relationship to the world in this period. Topics for discussion and study include the institutions of medieval Europe, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the emergence of modern commercial capitalism, the English Revolutions, and the Enlightenment.
This course studies European philosophy from 1600-1800, a time period when scientific discoveries inspired philosophers to radically reevaluate traditional sources of knowledge and methods of inquiry. During this period, the human mind becomes not just a tool but also an object of philosophical inquiry. Authors studied include Descartes, Hume, and Kant. Topics covered include the sources and limits of knowledge, the mind/body relationship, and personal identity.
One of the following: (4 credit hours)
Unique Experiences
Opportunities
Top Ranked Professors
Randolph College’s faculty are consistently recognized as among the best in the nation. The Princeton Review ranked the College in the Top 20 for most accessible professors in the 2021 edition of its flagship college guide, The Best 387 Colleges.
Randolph has been ranked in the top 20 for most accessible professors for four consecutive years.
Faculty Coordinator
Only at Randolph
Randolph students can take advantage of unique programs which give them a more enriching education than can be found anywhere else.
Two courses per half-mester means you get to focus in and dig deep into your coursework while still having time for the rest of the college experience. Two classes. Seven weeks. Repeat.
Randolph students work with faculty mentors to explore a broad range of disciplines as they chart their academic path.
The Randolph Innovative Student Experience (RISE) program provides every student a $2,000 grant to fund research, creative work, experiential learning or other scholarly pursuits.
Randolph graduates learn to think critically, solve problems and work well with others. They are prepared to succeed in all aspects of life.
