See Syllabus Below!

Earn credit for on and off-campus experiences, such as:

• Wright State University Women's Center
• Artemis Center for Alternatives to Domestic Violence
• YWCA
• Planned Parenthood
• Women's Recovery Center
• Womanline
• and more...

Opportunities available in the following areas:

• Victim's/Court Advocacy
• Paralegal
• Event Organizing
• Research
• Writing
• Community Outreach
• Accounting
• Presenter/Educator
• Marketing
• Fundraising
• Interviewing
• Counseling

SYLLABUS WMS 498

WMS 498 (1-4 credit hours)
Independent Field Experience in Women's Studies
"Making Connections between Classroom and Community"

Coordinator: Kelli Zaytoun, Director, Women's Studies

149 Millett Hall, Wright State University, 937-775-4818

Course Purpose:

"Social transformation cannot remain at the level of ideas, it must engage practice."
-M. Jacqui Alexander and Chandra Talpade Mohanty, 1996

Recognizing that there are many effective ways to facilitate learning beyond the traditional lecture-style classroom, feminist teachers promote educational opportunities that situate theory in students' experiences and in historical and current states of society.  Women's studies seeks to transform the educational system from one that has produced passive students, passive citizens and passive women, to one that encourages active, confident and capable community members engaged in positive societal change.  Out-of-classroom projects that encourage student creativity, responsibility and self-discipline, can be a valuable part of a Women's Studies education.

Women's Studies empowers students to understand how knowledge is socially and politically constructed, and, therefore, introduces students to the connection between course topics and the women's movement in and outside the academy.  Social and community responsibility, also promoted by Women's Studies, can be realized through a field experience.

Course Description:

Individualized field experiences are available to students seeking opportunities to earn credit for developing a women's studies project idea, for promoting advocacy for women, and for service and activism that challenges the patriarchal social structure.  Internship experiences may take place on or off- campus, such as the WSU Women's Center or a local battered women's shelter. 

Expectations:

1. The student will develop, in consultation with the course coordinator, a description of the experience, goals and objectives.  Students must also consult with another Women's Studies faculty member who has further expertise on issues related to the internship and who will also recommend and review academic work in tandem with the course coordinator.  Also discussed in an initial meeting/s is how the experience will be evaluated and graded.
   
   
2. Internship experiences will include related reading materials to be determined at initial meeting.
   
   
3. The student will schedule a mid-quarter evaluation session with the course coodinator.  Other meetings may also be scheduled based on individual goals (weekly, bi-weekly as needed).
   
   
4. Credit hour determinants:
   
   Number of credit hours awarded is based on the amount of academic work completed for the internship.  Hours of on-site work should average 10-12 hours per week for all internships (1-4 credit hours).  Academic requirements are as follows:  
    
1. 1 credit hour: The student will write a descriptive paper about the internship activities and experience. Paper is due on the Friday before finals week unless otherwise noted in goals and objectives. Papers will be kept on file in the Women's Center and made available to interested students and others.
   
   
2. 2 credit hours: A more analytic summary report than the descriptive report required above. Student will incorporate insights gained and demonstrate connections between the internship experience and feminist theoretical perspectives.
   
   
3. 3 credit hours: Analytic summary report and completion of assigned readings.
   
   
4. 4 credit hours: Analytic summary, assigned readings, research or essay paper and additional assignments.
   
   
5. A student's course grade is based 50% on performance at the site, and 50% on academic work.
   
   
5. A student’s course grade is based 50% on performance at the site, and 50% on academic work.