Women’s and Ethnic Studies Minor

Courses offered through the Women’s and Ethnic Studies Program center on the experiences and cultural expressions of women and ethnic groups not only in the United States but also across the world, including but not limited to economic, political, legal, historical, literary and cultural dimensions of life both inside and outside of the United States.

An important goal of the minor is to focus on knowledge grounded in the experiences and perspectives of women and ethnic groups that have been marginalized and excluded from full participation in society.

Women’s and Ethnic Studies provides all students with tools to accomplish the following goals:

to introduce students to an interdisciplinary perspective, and thereby make visible a range of approaches, including those which are non-traditional or marginalized;
the ability to adopt an intersectional approach to the study of privilege and oppression, which emphasizes the interrelations among race/ethnicity, class, gender and sexuality;
the capacity to effectively work with people from various sexual orientations, classes, genders, and racial/ethnic backgrounds, and
the knowledge to shape our collective future in ways that foster a recognition of the practical and fortuitous advantages of diversity in community life.

Women’s and Ethnic Studies also provides students with a forum for exploring the realities of their own experiences and discussing those realities in a systematic, informed way.

General Requirements

The minor may be earned by students enrolled in any undergraduate program at UCCS. Students must take at least 18 semester hours of designated WEST courses.

WEST 2010 - Introduction to Race and Gender

and

WEST 3400 - Gender and Race Theory

are the only required courses for the minor. It is strongly recommended that WEST 2010 be taken before any other WEST course work is completed.

Overall, 12 of the 18 hours earned for the minor must be through upper-division courses. A minimum grade of C (2.0) must be earned for any course counted toward the minor. Courses taken on a pass/fail basis will not be accepted. Transfer credits are limited to 9 hours and must be approved by the Associate Director. Student are strongly encouraged to consider taking

WEST 3660 - Community Service and Learning

Internship or a travel course (approved by the Associate Director). The internship or travel course enable students to put into practice the theoretical knowledge gained in WEST in community settings locally, nationally or in the global context.

For information on the new minor in Women’s and Ethnic Studies, contact the Associate Director, Andrea Herrera, Columbine Hall, Room 1025D, (719) 255-4001.

Junior Focus Group and Survey

This focus group and survey provide vital feedback that we consider essential to the ongoing development of Women’s and Ethnic Studies. The focus group takes place in April of every year and includes all WEST juniors and select WEST faculty.

Senior Focus Group and Survey

This focus group and survey will provide vital feedback that we consider essential to the ongoing development of Women’s and Ethnic Studies. The focus group takes place in April of every year and includes all WEST seniors and select WEST faculty.