LGBTQ+ Courses

MCGS 310: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Issues and Identities
An exploration of current scholarship in gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer theories, issues, and communities. Grounded in feminist scholarship, the course examines GLBTQ identity construction and formation through media, politics, sex/sexuality, science, and the law. Specific focus will vary from semester to semester.

MCGS 330: Sociology of Gender
This course examines gender as a social construct and its influences on men and women in families, school, work, politics, and culture. The focus is on how gender varies in relation to ethnicity, race, sexuality, and social class.

MCGS 380: Gender, Science, and Society
An exploration of how science and culture have affected people’s understandings of gender and sexuality, in both Western and non-Western cultures, from ancient times to the present.

MCGS 401: Sexual Minorities, Law, and Politics
Students examine how the law (made by judges, legislators, and voters) has influenced and continues to influence the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Students critically analyze how the rights of sexual minorities have developed or failed to develop. The class includes discussion of gay movements’ politics, accomplishments, and opponents. Finally, contemporary issues surrounding legal and political issues that impact sexual minorities are addressed.

MCGS 479: Gender and Language in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
This course explores recent theories and applications associated with the relationships among language, gender, and sexuality. The course includes a focus on the intersection of linguistic gender with class and ethnicity by drawing on research in linguistic anthropology and sociolinguistics. There will be an examination of gendered speech, writing, and sign from a variety of the world’s languages.

WMST 170: Introduction to Women’s Studies
This course explores the impact of cultural beliefs and practices on diverse women’s lives. Readings, films, and lectures analyze women’s challenges, struggles, and accomplishments. Specific topics include race and class, media images of women, the women’s movement, work, motherhood, and sexuality.

WMST 230: Women in Contemporary Societies
Taking an in-depth look, this course explores women’s lives in today’s world across categories of class, race, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, and age. Students also discuss such topics as gender, body politics, violence against women, poverty, religion, and power as they relate to women. Special attention is given to social activism and emerging policies here in the U.S. and elsewhere.

WMST 326: Modern European Women’s History
This course explores major themes and developments in the social and cultural history of European women from the 1700s to the present, including changing gender roles, attitudes toward sexuality, reproduction, and the family. In particular, the course examines women’s struggle to define themselves and their roles in society and their impact on the social identities of men.

ENGL 479: Language and Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
This course explores recent theories and applications associated with the relationships among language, gender, and sexuality. The course includes a focus on the intersection of linguistic gender with class and ethnicity by drawing on research in linguistic anthropology and sociolinguistics. There will be an examination of gendered speech, writing, and sign from a variety of the world’s languages.

PSYC 391: Psychology of Prejudice, Hate, and Violence
Examination of the nature of prejudice and hate and their contribution to societal violence. How prejudice and hatred affect personal, family, and group behavior are considered in a context of understanding factors that contribute to their development. Strategies for reducing the prevalence of prejudice, hatred, and violence in our contemporary culture are evaluated.

PSYC 674: Counseling Aspects of Sexuality and of Substance Abuse
Introduction to counseling issues related to substance abuse and sexuality. Emphasis is on etiology, prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of substance abuse and sexual disorders.

RELS 369: Religion and Sexuality

A cross-cultural study of the ways religious world views, institutions, and rituals shape views of human sexuality. Topics include sacred sexuality; religious asceticism; the regulation of reproductive sexuality; religious perspectives on homosexuality; the role of religion in constructing

RELS 107: Bible Controversies
This course considers the disputes over the interpretation of the Bible in Western culture. Did Moses and the prophets write the Hebrew Bible? Was the Bible intended as scripture, myth, or history? Why were books left out of the Bible? What are the differences between Jewish, Roman Catholic, and Protestant approaches to the Bible? In addition to examining books of the Bible in their original context, this course considers the Bible’s role in ancient and contemporary disputes over the Sabbath, heaven and hell, the resurrection, the law, circumcision, divorce, the Trinity, salvation, slavery, polygamy, abortion, homosexuality, and feminism, gender identity and the special ritual role of “third” genders in some cultural communities; and critiques of religious perspectives on sexuality from feminist and queer communities.

SOCI 133: Sociology of Sexuality
This course uncovers the complexity and impact of sexuality on our experiences and on broader social life. Addressing biological, psychological, and cultural aspects, this course examines how society influences cultural and individual sexual meanings, identities, expressions, and controversies.

SOCI 330: Sociology of Gender
This course examines gender as a social construct and its influences on men and women in families, school, work, politics, and culture. The focus is on how gender varies in relation to ethnicity, race, sexuality, and social class.

SOCI 346: Sport and Society
This course examines the connections between sport and society, including socialization, values, education, deviance, the economy, and the media. Attention is given to the ways that gender, race, social class, sexuality, and the body influence sports, as well as recent controversial issues such as player and fan violence, and drug abuse among athletes.

SOSC 430: Family Relations Capstone Seminar
This capstone seminar integrates interdisciplinary approaches to family studies through the examination of topics such as cohabitation, marriage, alternative family forms, parenting, sexuality, child development, personality, gender, and aging. Family policy issues are also emphasized.

SOCI 433: Constructing Sexualities
How do societies and individuals shape sexuality? This course investigates the relationship between sexual behavior and identities, and looks at the ways that sexuality is affected by science, politics, race, and social movements. Historical, subcultural, and cross-cultural examples are used to understand how these dynamics play out in our lives.