Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

The Honors Tutorial Program in Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies provides an opportunity to explore the phenomenon of gender and its intersection with race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, and other elements of diversity.

It is an interdisciplinary HTC program, and as such complements the already rich variety of course offerings across many fields. Students have the opportunity of working in tutorial format with instructors from different disciplines.

A degree in Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies prepares students in critical thinking and effective communication, and can be applied to a variety of careers. A high percentage of Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies graduates go on to graduate school immediately following graduation from OU. They typically pursue careers in academia, law, non-profit organizations, or advocacy work. As graduates of the Honors Tutorial College, they are in high demand.

Program Overview

Students will take at least five non-thesis tutorials prior to their senior year. At least one of these tutorials will be in sexuality studies and at least one will be in global studies.

Two senior-level tutorials are specifically designated research tutorials in which a student enrolls for the purpose of researching and writing the required senior thesis. This thesis is written under the supervision of a member of the Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies faculty or faculty approved by the Director of Study and the Dean of HTC.

Students will also take WGS 3500: Feminist Theory and WGS 4800: Capstone in Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies before their senior year. Additional course requirements include the HTC freshman seminar, freshman composition, and junior composition.

Admissions Criteria

In accordance with Honors Tutorial College practices, admission to the program will be made on the basis of competitive applications from top-ranked high school seniors. 

Students are selected by the Director of Studies of the Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Program and the Honors Tutorial College on the basis of superior ability and sustained motivation. An interview with the Director of Studies is required for acceptance into the program.

Transfer students from OHIO and other institutions will be considered. They must apply by November 15th of their freshman year.

Director of Studies

Assistant Professor, Dr. Patty Stokes
(740) 785-7877
Bentley Annex 127
stokesp@ohio.edu

Education

Ph.D., German History with a minor field in Women's Studies: Cornell University
M.S., Industrial Engineering: Stanford
A.B., History: Stanford University

Scholarly Interests

After spending nearly a decade in Berlin, Germany, Dr. Stokes teaches Women's and Gender Studies as an Assistant Professor at Ohio University. Her dissertation, "Contested Conceptions: Discourses and Experiences of Pregnancy and Childbirth in Germany, 1914-1933," grew out of her broader, longstanding interest in the politics of women's health and reproductive rights. Continuing research interests include the politics of mothering and embodied experience, both historically and in the present.