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Summer 2025 Courses
[WST Offerings]
SUMMER SESSION 1 (May 27-July 5)
WST 102: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies - CER, DIV, SBS
ONLINE Asynchronous - Galia Cozzi Berrondo
An introductory social sciences survey examining gender and sexuality theories, women's
and feminist movements, and current debates within Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.
The course draws on theories and methods of anthropology, economics, geography, history,
political science, psychology, and sociology to explore how gender intersects with
sexuality, race, ability and other constructed identity categories to structure power,
hierarchy, and privilege.
WST 103: Gender, Culture, Difference - CER, HUM, DIV
ONLINE Asynchronous - Frankie Petronio
An introductory humanities survey focusing on evolving ideas of gender and gender
roles, and how gender intersects with sexuality, race, ability and other constructed
identity categories. Through the disciplines of literature, art, philosophy, and history
and the critical analyses of texts, objects, historical accounts, social media, and
current events, the course explores how cultural ideas of gender are expressed in
different genres in the humanities.
WST 111: Introduction to Queer Studies in the Humanities - CER, DIV, HUM
ONLINE Asynchronous - Kassel Franco Garibay
A survey of historical representations of sexuality and queerness from the late 19th
century to the present. Through examination of art, media, literature, and philosophy,
and critical theory, students develop an interdisciplinary understanding of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer identities and the moral and ethical issues
surrounding sexuality. Themes include the social construction of sexuality; theories
of sex, desire, bodies, and sexuality; cisheterosexism and other intersecting forms
of oppression; and the historical roots of these issues.
WST 291: Introduction to Feminist Theory - DIV, ESI, HFA+
ONLINE Asynchronous - Emillion Adekoya
An introductory survey of historical and contemporary interdisciplinary theories used
in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Theoretical debates on race, class, gender,
nation, disability, sexuality, representation, and social movements are among the
topics considered. The course will provide a strong theoretical foundation for further
studies in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
WST 301 - Histories of Feminism - SBS+, DIV
ONLINE Asynchronous - Tasmia Haque
A historical study of the theoretical and practical developments that form contemporary
feminism and gender studies. Although the course concentrates primarily on feminist
histories in the United States, it also places those histories within a transnational
frame, paying close attention to class and race as well as gender. Key historical
movements and events examined in the course include the suffrage movement, liberalism,
socialist feminism, feminist internationalism, Black and women of color feminism,
the women's liberation movement, radical feminism, and queer studies.
SUMMER SESSION 2 (July 7 - August 16)
WST 102: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies - CER, DIV, SBS
ONLINE Asynchronous - Hafza Girdap
An introductory social sciences survey examining gender and sexuality theories, women's
and feminist movements, and current debates within Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.
The course draws on theories and methods of anthropology, economics, geography, history,
political science, psychology, and sociology to explore how gender intersects with
sexuality, race, ability and other constructed identity categories to structure power,
hierarchy, and privilege.
WST 103: Gender, Culture, Difference - CER, HUM, DIV
ONLINE Asynchronous - AJ Castle
An introductory humanities survey focusing on evolving ideas of gender and gender
roles, and how gender intersects with sexuality, race, ability and other constructed
identity categories. Through the disciplines of literature, art, philosophy, and history
and the critical analyses of texts, objects, historical accounts, social media, and
current events, the course explores how cultural ideas of gender are expressed in
different genres in the humanities.
WST 103: Gender, Culture, Difference - CER, HUM, DIV
ONLINE Asynchronous - Genie Ruzicka
An introductory humanities survey focusing on evolving ideas of gender and gender
roles, and how gender intersects with sexuality, race, ability and other constructed
identity categories. Through the disciplines of literature, art, philosophy, and history
and the critical analyses of texts, objects, historical accounts, social media, and
current events, the course explores how cultural ideas of gender are expressed in
different genres in the humanities.
WST 291: Introduction to Feminist Theory - DIV, ESI, HFA+
ONLINE Asynchronous -Callen Zimmerman
An introductory survey of historical and contemporary interdisciplinary theories used
in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Theoretical debates on race, class, gender,
nation, disability, sexuality, representation, and social movements are among the
topics considered. The course will provide a strong theoretical foundation for further
studies in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
Fall 2025 Courses
[WST Offerings]
WST 102: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies - CER, DIV, SBS
IN PERSON - Mon/Wed 9:30-10:50am - Peter Bruno
ONLINE Asynchronous - Jenean McGee; TAs TBA
ONLINE Asynchronous - Galia Cozzi Berrondo
ONLINE Asynchronous - Gabriella Simpson
An introductory social sciences survey examining gender and sexuality theories, women's
and feminist movements, and current debates within Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.
The course draws on theories and methods of anthropology, economics, geography, history,
political science, psychology, and sociology to explore how gender intersects with
sexuality, race, ability and other constructed identity categories to structure power,
hierarchy, and privilege.
WST 103: Gender, Culture, Difference - CER, HUM, DIV
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 12:30-1:50pm - Kassel Franco Garibay
ONLINE Asynchronous - Nancy Hiemstra; TA's: Maura Conley, Emillion Adekoya, Hnin
Hnin Oo
ONLINE Asynchronous - Genie Ruzicka
An introductory humanities survey focusing on evolving ideas of gender and gender
roles, and how gender intersects with sexuality, race, ability and other constructed
identity categories. Through the disciplines of literature, art, philosophy, and history
and the critical analyses of texts, objects, historical accounts, social media, and
current events, the course explores how cultural ideas of gender are expressed in
different genres in the humanities.
WST 111: Introduction to Queer Studies - DIV, CER, HUM
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 9:30-10:50am - Kara Pernicano
ONLINE Asynchronous - AJ Castle
A survey of historical representations of sexuality and queerness from the late 19th
century to the present. Through examination of art, media, literature, and philosophy,
and critical theory, students develop an interdisciplinary understanding of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer identities and the moral and ethical issues
surrounding sexuality. Themes include the social construction of sexuality; theories
of sex, desire, bodies, and sexuality; cisheterosexism and other intersecting forms
of oppression; and the historical roots of these issues.
WST 210 : Contemporary Issues in Women's and Gender Studies: "Spectacular Bodies"
- CER, DIV, SBS
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 11:00-12:20pm -Hayden Cuttone
In this course, we will explore the complex ways that bodies have been made into spectacles–
objects of public fascination, entertainment, and ridicule. Guided by the work of
scholars in feminist disability studies, we will critically assess the social, cultural,
and historical dynamics that shape the public’s perception of bodies that challenge
normative ideas about gender, sexuality, race, disability, and selfhood. From 19th
century “freak shows” to 21st century “mommy vlogging” channels, we will reflect on
the ethics of bodily autonomy and consent as we work to understand the history of
body exhibitions and the systems of power they are entangled with and maintain. Using
a range of case studies, literature, film, and theoretical texts, we will consider
how spectacle shapes and distorts the lived experiences of the marginalized, the potential
of spectacle as an activist tool, and how the politics of embodiment continue to shape
conversations around identity, activism, and visibility in contemporary culture.
WST 291: Introduction to Feminist Theory - DIV, ESI, HFA+
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 11:00-12:20pm - Joanna Wuest
ONLINE Asynchronous - Suzanne Staub
An introductory survey of historical and contemporary interdisciplinary theories used
in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Theoretical debates on race, class, gender,
nation, disability, sexuality, representation, and social movements are among the
topics considered. The course will provide a strong theoretical foundation for further
studies in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
WST 301 - Histories of Feminism - SBS+, DIV
IN PERSON - Mon/Wed 9:30-10:50am - Ritch Calvin
ONLINE Asynchronous - Jose Flores Sanchez
A historical study of the theoretical and practical developments that form contemporary
feminism and gender studies. Although the course concentrates primarily on feminist
histories in the United States, it also places those histories within a transnational
frame, paying close attention to class and race as well as gender. Key historical
movements and events examined in the course include the suffrage movement, liberalism,
socialist feminism, feminist internationalism, Black and women of color feminism,
the women's liberation movement, radical feminism, and queer studies.
WST 305: Feminist Theories in Context - HFA+
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 3:30-4:50pm - Vicky Hesford
A study of major feminist and queer texts in the social sciences and humanities, providing
a deeper examination of theories of bodies, power, and subjectivity. Embodiment, intersectionality,
psychoanalysis, political economy, knowledge production, and representational systems
are among the topics covered.
WST 392: Special Topics in Women and Science: "Documenting Mental Illness"- DIV, GLO,
SBS+
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 2:00-3:20pm - Lisa Diedrich
Mental illness often comes into public consciousness in the United States through
the specter of violence, such as in the many horrific mass shootings where the shooter’s
mental health is questioned. The media frenzy that accompanies these tragic events
presents a picture of mental illness that is at best limited and at worst harmful.
Indeed, statistics show clearly that people who are mentally ill are more likely to
be victims of violence than to commit violence. In this course we will explore mental
illness as a category of analysis that comes into being through a multiplicity of
discourses, practices, and institutions. We will look at a variety of case studies
about the experience and event of mental illness in diverse situations and communities,
and as presented in a variety of genres and forms—psychological and sociological analyses,
documentary and feature films, graphic and prose memoirs, and through interviews with
people who deal with mental illness in their daily lives. We will explore how certain
social situations—including, colonialism, incarceration, police violence, sexual violence,
and trauma—produce “nervous conditions” that can be disabling. We will look at historical
and contemporary diagnoses of and treatments for mental illness, as well as forms
of activism, including patient-centered advocacy, anti- and radical psychiatry, and
the Mad Pride and neurodiversity movements. Our goal is to expand and complicate our
understanding of the biopsychosocial politics of mental illness, as well as to think
broadly and creatively about effective, and even radical, ways to treat mental illness
and generate personal and social health and well-being.
WST 395: Topics in Global Feminism: "Immigration, Borders, Identity" - DIV, GLO,
SBS+
IN PERSON -Mon/Wed 2:00-3:20pm - Nancy Hiemstra
This course explores reasons for and consequences of human mobility across borders
in the Americas. The borders we consider are not just territorial borders; we will
also think about how categories such as gender, race, sexuality, ethnicity, and legal
status can work as boundaries in individuals’ lives; how they create inequalities
within and across countries; and how they contribute to the conceptual bordering of
national identity. We draw on case studies of specific regions, countries, and groups
of people to sketch a broad understanding of the role immigration—and the policing
of immigration and national borders—plays in maintaining global hierarchies of power.
While we focus on migration from Latin America and the Caribbean to the United States,
we also consider other migration patterns in the Americas.
WST 398: Topics, in Gender, Race, & Ethnicity: "Black Romance Writers & Resistance"
- DIV, SBS+
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 12:30-1:50pm - LaQuette Holmes
This class is a writing workshop centered on the (popular) romance genre. Through
close reading analysis of Black and Interracial romances, students will explore how
Black romance writers have used their stories to highlight the Black feminist perspective,
subvert stereotypes and controlling images, resist racial oppression, and self-define
the identity of the Black American woman. Students will also learn romance writing
structure and emotional beats. As a culminating project, students will write their
own romance short stories that are grounded in the Black feminist and or feminist
theories we explore in class.
WST 399: Topics in Gender and Sexuality: "Sex and Sexualities" - HFA+, DIV -
IN PERSON - Mon/Wed 11:00-12:20pm - Angela Jones
In this course, students will learn concepts and theories to enhance their understanding
of contemporary sexuality. The class focuses on sexuality, not simply sex, reflecting
on sexual desires, behaviors, identities, relationships, and communities as core dimensions
of our sexualities. We apply an intersectional frame, allowing for analysis of how
factors such as race, nationality, gender, ability, and age shape people’s erotic
lives. In doing so, students will understand the social life of sexuality, and that
while physiology shapes parts of sexuality—it is always political and enacted within
systems of power.
WST 407/WST 408: Senior Research Seminar for Women's & Gender Studies Majors & Minors
- EXP+, SPK, WRTD
IN PERSON - Mondays 2:00-4:50pm - Ritch Calvin
The senior research seminar is the capstone course for the interdisciplinary major
& minor in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Utilizing research skills, concepts,
methods, and materials generated from their coursework in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality
Studies, students conduct interdisciplinary research to produce a research paper and
formal presentation on their topic of choice formulated and developed in seminar activities.
[Fall 2025 WST-Related Electives]
(If you see a course not listed here that you think might qualify as a WST elective,
email Professor Hiemstra: nancy.hiemstra@stonybrook.edu)
Courses still being added!
AFH 382 - Black Women's Literature of the African Diaspora
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 9:30-10:50am - Tracey Walters
Black women's literature presents students with the opportunity to examine through
literature the political, social, and historical experiences of Black women from the
African Diaspora. The course is structured around five major themes commonly addressed
in Black women's writing: Black female oppression, sexual politics of Black womanhood,
Black female sexuality, Black male/female relationships, and Black women and defining
self.
AFS 308/POL 308 - Women Islam and Political Change in Africa
IN PERSON - M/W 6:30-7:50pm - Adryan Wallace
Explores the impact of Islam on political institutions and representation in Africa.
Using the example of how Muslim women in West, North, Southern, and East Africa are
mobilizing to address gender inequality, explores variations in the formation of Islamist
movements and examine the influence of moderate, progressive, and more radical forms
of political Islam on the experiences of women. In order to provide students with
a comprehensive picture, Islam and politics is contextualized by focusing on the experiences
of selected countries from East and West Africa including Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia,
Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal.
ARH 393- Topics in Middle Eastern Art: "Art & Feminism in the Middle East"
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 12:30-1:50pm - TBA
An in-depth exploration of particular themes within the field of Middle Eastern art,
that may include topics on ancient art from Mesopotamia to Rome, and/or on contemporary
Middle Eastern artists, artistic forrms and practices.
COM 346 - Race, Class, and Gender in Media
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 12:30-1:50pm - Matthew Salzano
What does it mean for race, class, and gender to be “in” our media? It is common knowledge
that myriad representations “of” these identities appear “on” our media screens, ranging
from empowering to problematic (and “between”). COM 346 will address the theories
underlying a variety of prepositions that relate race, gender, class and media. We’ll
explore how race, gender, and class are also, in part: products “of” our media environments,
sustained “by” our media practices, and baked “in” our media infrastructures. As we
learn about these different approaches to media, we will learn to examine various
media texts. The course concludes with a project that asks you to explore another
preposition: “through” media, in a multimedia project addressing contemporary media
and race, class, and/or gender.
EGL 319 - Ecology and Evolution in American Literature: "Environmental, Literatrure,
and Film"
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 11:00-12:20pm - Heidi Hutner
This course is a review of 19th- 21st-century primarily North American writers who
trace the evolution of ecological and environmental practices, philosophies, and ideologies
through various socio-political perspectives including ecofeminism, environmental
justice, and social justice. Literature covered will include transcendentalist essays,
a utopian/dystopian novel, a narrative nonfiction memoir, poetry, journalism, and
environmental films. Through the lens of literature and film, we will learn about
environmental issues including climate change, toxic and radiation pollution, animal
rights, food justice, ecofeminism, environmental justice, and environmental activism.
HUI 237 - Images of Italian-American Women
IN PERSON - M/W 5:00-6:20pm- Mary Jane Dempsey
Examination of the role of Italian-American women through literature, film, politics,
and music. The specific ways they have contributed artistically and socially to the
American cultural scene from the first wave of Italian-American immigration to the
present is considered.
PSY 347 - Psychology of Women
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 11:00-12:20pm - Bonita London
The psychological impact of important physiological and sociological events and epochs
in the lives of women; menstruation, female sexuality, marriage, childbirth, and menopause;
women and mental health, mental illness and psychotherapy; the role of women in the
field of psychology.
SOC 247 - Sociology of Gender
IN PERSON - Tu/Th 11:00-12:20pm - Rachelle Germana
The historical and contemporary roles of women and men in American society; changing
relations between the sexes; women's liberation and related movements. Themes are
situated within the context of historical developments in the U.S.
SOC 340 - Sociology of Human Reproduction
IN PERSON - Wednesdays 6:30-9:20pm- Catherine Marrone
A study of the links between biological reproduction and the socioeconomic and cultural
processes that affect and are affected by it. The history of the transition from high
levels of fertility and mortality to low levels of both; different kinship, gender,
and family systems around the world and their links to human reproduction; the value
of children in different social contexts; and the social implications of new reproductive
technologies.