In the Spring of 1989, at the invitation of the
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences a group of approximately fifty University
of Scranton faculty members met to discuss their interest in an academic program
in women's studies. The faculty task force that grew out of this first
discussion group researched women's studies and gender studies programs and in the Fall of1991 proposed a Women's Studies Concentration.The Task Force developed criteria for
women's studies designated courses. Fourteen courses taught in a variety of
departments at the University were cross-listed as women's studies courses for
the Concentration. The development of a capstone course was initiated and
the Women's Studies Concentration was approved.
Course offerings in the Concentration
have expanded as cross-listed courses have been added and as students utilize
readers and honors tutorials to fulfill women's studies course requirements.
The capstone course has been replaced by
a required course for all students: Phil 218: Feminism Theory and Practice, or Soc215: Feminism and Social Change.
The Women's Studies Concentration enrolled
its first students in the Fall of 1992. In the Spring of 1993 the Women's
Studies Concentration graduated it's first student.
