Women's Studies, 1975-2008

Women's Studies classes began in the late 1970s, offering courses that specially focused on women or women's issues. It wasn't until the mid-1980s that Beloit developed a Women's Studies minor program that included specific courses for the minor that introduced and expanded on women. Although its beginnings were rocky—losing all the founding faculty—and the process slow—only a few students declaring as minors—the program prevailed and gained further interest from students, faculty and other institutions.

[from Paul Campbell and Sonja Darlington. "Proposed major in women's studies." E-mail to Lisa Haines Wright. 31 March 1997. Pg. 1-2] "From Fall 1989 until Fall 1996, the Program's own courses were staffed by one half-time faculty member hired in women's studies and by faculty home based in various other disciplines (English, political science, and sociology, e.g.). Its cross-listings have been and still are taught by many faculty in many disciplines—e.g., anthropology, classics, economics, English, history, music, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology—most of whom also serve on the Women's Studies Governance Committee, which meets regularly (sometimes weekly, and always at least bi-weekly) throughout the term.

"In Fall 1995, the College created a full-time, tenure-track line in women's studies. That position was filled when Ruth Ginzberg joined the faculty in Fall 1996. This addition of a full-time faculty member enables the Women's Studies Program to guarantee six courses per year, and provides it with sufficient staffing stability that it can responsibly offer a major, particularly given more than a decade of steady staffing assistance from persons home-based in departments across the College."

With continuing interest and popularity, Women's Studies, subsequently known as Women's and Gender Studies, then Critical Identity Studies, is offered as either a major or a minor.