USC Schedule of Classes

Critical study of controversial social issues such as abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, war & terrorism, pornography, and economic justice.

Identification and examination of social and cultural conflicts through the lens of gender, and comparison of such conflicts across cultures, regions, and historical periods.

Theories of feminism; historical, social and cultural perspectives of the women's movement in America, Europe, and in developing countries; men's roles in the feminist movement.

Social, cultural and political contexts of women's spiritualities in Europe from the Paleolithic to the Reformation. Topics include: goddess-worship; Christian and Jewish contexts; male attitudes.

Cross-cultural analysis and comparison of the experience and cultural conception of birth, maternity, parenthood, and childhood in western and non-western societies.

A combination of internships in the community and an intensive seminar on the relationship of the students in the academic community with the larger urban community of which it is a part.

An examination of the role women have played in world politics focusing on issues of war and peace, the environment and the global economy.

Analysis of transgender behaviors, from androgny and transvestism to transexuality. Discussion of changing laws, representations, medical standards, and social attitudes towards transgender and intersex people.

Exploration of shifting social organization and cultural meanings of same-sex desire and cross-gender behaviors in the U.S., primarily during the 20th century.

Comparative examination of family and kinship in tribal, peasant, and complex societies, emphasizing non-Western cultures, societal and normative consequences of forms and functions in family.

Introduction to works of major women writers from the Middle Agesto the 20th century in their literary, social, and cultural contexts.

The impact of conflicting images of reporters in movies and television on the American public's perception of newsgatherers in the 20th century. A decade-by-decade evaluation.

Political theories and philosophies in modern times and their relation to public policy and social reform.

Analysis of the most effective strategies and techniques for reducing prejudice against racial/ ethnic minorities, women, gays and lesbians, and others subjected to stigma.

Study of a selected problem, period, or theme in the study of women and men in society by integrating perspectives from cross-cultural and interdisciplinary studies.

Examines how gender and sexuality are figured in cinema and television with an emphasis on the development of feminist media theory.

Examination of the changing representations of gender and sexuality in Korean cultural texts over the course of the twentieth century.

Problems and resources of the middle-aged and older woman in a changing society; including discrimination, stereotypes, employment, social interaction, etc.

Methods for studying patterns of spatial differentiation of women throughout history from home to city, embodied in gender specific language and gendered spaces.

Examination of the effect of gender stratification in media industries upon the cultural products they create, especially gender and gender/race role portrayals.

Independent research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

Approaches to gender and sexuality within sociology and social theory, highlighting contemporary empirical research on sexualities. Open only to master and doctoral students.

The social organization of gender in the contexts of work, families, intimacy, sexuality, reproduction, violence. Variations by race, ethnicity, social class. Processes of social change.

Interdisciplinary investigation of concepts, theories, and debates in the study of race and its intersection with gay, lesbian, trans, heterosexual and other sexualities/genders.

History of feminist theory and major perspectives of current feminist theory: liberal feminism, socialist/Marxist feminism, radical feminism, psychological feminism, spiritual feminism, and ecological feminism.

Interdisciplinary cross-cultural, historical, psychological, sociological, and contemporary political perspectives on female and male homosexual eroticism, and the emergence of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender identities.

Research leading to the master's degree in cognate fields. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Practical principles for the long-term development of effective teaching within college disciplines. Intended for teaching assistants in Dornsife College.

Readings, discussions and directed research on women's and family histories.