The Ohio University Curriculum Council pushed the proposal for a major in women's studies into its final stages after it unanimously passed the curriculum breakdown.
Director of Women's Studies Susan Burgess said the process to offer the major has taken almost four years, and department members are glad they are nearly at the end of their journey.
The proposal now goes to the provost for approval
and then it will be made official by the Board of Trustees Burgess said. If all goes according to planned the major will be open for student enrollment starting Fall Quarter 2005.
Interim Provost Kathy Krendl will give the trustees her recommendations for final approval. Krendl said she supports the program.
Many institutions are finding that student interests are leading to more interdisciplinary programs
she said. This is a direct response to student interest.
Statistics included in the proposal show that the major is in demand. Currently women's studies offers nearly 1,000 seats annually in WS 100:Intro to Women's Studies, which represents a 270 percent increase from seven years ago. A survey of 396 women's studies students from Spring 2003 showed that 75 percent of students requested the development of a women's studies major, and 82 students indicated they would have majored in women's studies if given the chance.
Some faculty and students think the major at OU is long overdue.
It gives us a competitive advantage in recruiting students
graduate students and faculty
said Dean of University College and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education David Descutner, who worked with Burgess on a diversity-planning committee that recommended that the university create the major.
If approved, the major will offer interdisciplinary core requirements and three specialized tracks: global feminisms, sexuality studies and a general track that students can develop themselves. The major will also offer nine new courses to make way for the major, Burgess said.
This is the 25th anniversary of the women's studies program
so we are glad to finally have approval
Burgess said. Getting this major will definitely be a testament to the students' hard work and inquiries. They were definitely the reason for this curriculum change.
Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences Maureen Weissenrieder said creating this major reflects President Roderick McDavis's commitment to diversity.
This is certainly one thread to diversity
enhancing our goals and giving a greater understanding to peoples of different backgrounds
she said.
Descutner said both men and women are interested in gender issues and how someone's gender is constructed socially as a man and as a woman.
The fact that this is just for women is not true
he said.
