Dates

• Usage: 2009 - present
• Usage: 1982 - 2009

Biography

In 1975, a women's studies program at Boston College was proposed by the Newton Task Force Subcommittee on Women's Education as part of the Intensive Semester at Newton College. Also in 1975, students in the English department signed a petition for an additional women's writers' course. At this time, there were two courses dealing with women writers: Women in Literature and 18th Century Fiction; the latter was taught in the Analogy Program.

In March 1975, President Monan decided that establishing a task force on women's affairs was not necessary since he believed that many women's issues could be dealt with by current administrative offices and by the Women's Center. Throughout the 1970s, students could create independent majors in Women's Studies that included eight upper division courses from more than one department, but not more than three departments. The proposed major in Women's Studies was to be submitted before the end of a student's sophomore year, and had to be approved by a faculty advisor and the Committee on Independent majors.

A formalized interdisciplinary minor in Women's Studies was instituted in 1982. In 2009, the program was renamed to Women’s and Gender Studies Program to reflect the evolving scope of study. The Women’s and Gender Studies Program continues to offer an interdisciplinary minor at the undergraduate level and guides graduate work in cooperating disciplines, as well as sponsors diverse speakers and events on campus that engage the Boston College community.

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