Course Catalog 2009-2010

Committee: Karen Graves (Education), Linda Krumholz (English), Lisbeth Lipari (Communication), Fred Porcheddu (English), Sandy Runzo (English), Marlene Tromp (English)

An evolving and expanding discipline, Queer Studies encompasses theories and thinkers from numerous fields: cultural studies, gay and lesbian studies, race studies, women's studies, literature, film, media, postmodernism, post-colonialism, psychoanalysis, and more. By engaging with this diverse range of fields, the work of Queer Studies distinguishes itself from the others in that it focuses on issues of sexuality and the way that the questions raised in these other arenas might be inflected through that central lens. To that end, Queer Studies examines the cultural, social, and political implications of sexuality and gender from the perspective of those marginalized by the dominant sexual ethos; it explores the ways that culture defines and regulates sexuality as well as the reverse, the ways that sexuality structures and shapes social institutions.

Students may choose a Concentration in Queer Studies in addition to any major, and may weight their choices toward the social sciences, the humanities, the arts, or the life sciences. The Concentration in Queer Studies will require six courses: three core requirements and three electives selected from among cross-listed courses approved by the Queer Studies Committee. Since every course will not be offered every semester, students interested in this Concentration should discuss and plan their course selections with the close assistance of a member of the Committee.

Core Requirements. Required courses for the completion of the concentration are QS 101 Partnerships and Politics, QS 201 Queer Theories and QS 400 Senior Seminar, and three approved electives.

Electives. Elective courses shall be approved by the Queer Studies Committee based on the following criteria, or through petition to the Committee:

At least two-thirds of the course should focus on: some aspect of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender experience, culture, and history; and/or relevant issues or themes (privilege, oppression, sexual behavior, identity, performance, social movements, etc.); and/or conceptual categories (gender, sexuality, etc.) central to the field of Queer Studies.

Any course in the concentration should address in some way the relationship between the normative and the transgressive. Through these courses, students should gain an understanding of and respect for other differences in human lives such as age, ability, class, ethnicity, gender, race, and religion. Courses which already meet the criteria for Queer Studies electives, or which can be readily adapted to meet the above criteria through negotiations between the instructor and the student, include (but are not limited to) the following:

Partnership and Politics (QS-101).  A survey of the legal regulation of sexuality and gender in the 19th and 20th centuries and the emergence of modern civil rights movements of sexual minorities. This course will focus on the history, strategies, conflicts, and issues associated with these political and social movements. 4

Queer Theory (QS-201).  An interdisciplinary course designed to introduce students to historical and theoretical treatments of topics such as the essentialism vs. constructionism debate; intersections of race/gender/class and sexual orientation; science and representation; performativity and normativity; and ethics, politics and law. 4

Constructing Sexualities (QS-211).  This course provides an overview of current theoretical and empirical approaches to the social and cultural study of sexuality. Sexuality is examined at the micro-level, including the sexual practices and sexual identities of individuals. There is also a macro-level focus on how sexuality is shaped within institutions and by the historical context. The first section of the course considers how sexuality can be understood as both biological and social. The next section examines the varieties of cultural meanings associated with sexuality through historical and cross-cultural comparisons. This is followed by a discussion of current political controversies related to sexual practices and identities, including sex education, teenage pregnancy, and gay and lesbian marriage. 4

Human Diversity Through Literature (QS-245).  A study of selected works by and about bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender people. 4

Topics in Queer Studies (QS-268).  4

Directed Study (QS-361).  1-4

Directed Study (QS-362).  1-4

Independent Study (QS-363).  1-4

Independent Study (QS-364).  1-4

Sex and Sexuality in Latin America (QS-383).  This course critically examines of gender and sexuality in Latin America. Particularly it will explore the various attempts by the ruling elite to define acceptable and deviant gender roles and sexual identities, how the non-elite resisted the imposition of those elite notions of propriety to create their own codes of conduct, and how those conflicts have changed over time. 4

Senior Seminar (QS-400).  This is a capstone course for the QS concentration during the Fall semester, when it may also serve to help students apply Queer Theory to a senior project or honors project in their chosen major. 4

Senior Research (QS-451).  4

Senior Research (QS-452).  4