“Man” is the generic term commonly used to represent all of humankind. This linguistic choice reflects our tendency to view men as central actors, thereby ignoring half of the world’s population. Women’s Studies aims to redress this tendency. The mission of the Women’s Studies program is to encourage feminist research, teaching, and programming that employs gender as a category for interdisciplinary analysis. The program strives to incorporate women’s issues, voices, and histories into the Webster curriculum. Particular emphasis is placed on the analysis of gender in relation to race, ethnicity, nationality, class, age, and sexuality in an effort to identify connections between women’s oppression and the oppression of other groups. Students may elect either a minor or a certificate in women's studies.

18 credit hours taken at Webster University and designated as part of women's studies. Although the courses WOMN 1010 Studying Women Across the Disciplines, WOMN 2010 Feminist and Gender Theory, and WOMN 4650 Seminar in Women's Studies are strongly recommended, they are not requirements for the minor in women's studies. Of these 18 credit hours, 9 credit hours must be at the 3000 level or above. To see the Women's Studies Course Listings and a list of courses that count toward the Women's Studies Minor, please click on the link to the Women's Studies Course Catalog (above and to the right).

The certificate in women's studies provides students from diverse academic backgrounds the opportunity to identify women's studies as a particular area of interest and to integrate their academic knowledge with first-hand research and/or activities related to issues of gender. Classes taken as part of a student's undergraduate major or minor may be used toward the certificate.

Certificate Requirements
Completion of the certificate requires 18 credit hours including the following:

1. Two required courses designed for the certificate
   • WOMN 1010 Studying Women Across the Disciplines 3 hours
   • WOMN 3000 Topics in Women's Studies 3 hours
   • WOMN 4650 Seminar in Women's Studies 3 hours
2. Completion of an independent library research project in the field of women's studies and/or a participant action research project within a feminist organization during the last 30 credit hours of study at Webster. This requirement can be fulfilled through WOMN 4650 Seminar in Women's Studies or through a research class where the instructor agrees to work with the student in a project approved by the Women's Studies Advisory Committee.
3. At least three courses from at least two of the following groups. Each group represents important domains of study connected to women's experience.
   • GROUP 1:
   ANSO/PSYC 4275 Gender and Sex Roles 3 hours
   PSYC 2700 Psychology of Women 3 hours
   ANSO 3900 Family and Kinship 3 hours
   • GROUP 2:
   HIST 2060 Gender and Family 3 hours
   POLT 2060 Politics and Gender 3 hours
   HLSC 3200 or NURS 3500 Issues in Women's Health 3 hours
   MNGT 3470 Women in Management 3 hours
   • GROUP 3:
   RELG 2500 Gender, Culture, and Religion 3 hours
   PHIL 3370 Philosophy and Women 3 hours
   ENGL 3140 Women Create Women 3 hours
   ENGL 3150 Men Create Women in Literature 3 hours
4. One additional elective chosen from those courses designated as part of the women's studies minor (see minor above).