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wmst 333 course cover

Women's Studies (WMST) 333
Goddess Mythology, Women's Spirituality, and Ecofeminism
(Revision 1)

Delivery mode: Individualized study; video component.*
*Overseas students, please contact the University Library before registering in a course that has an audio/visual component.

Credits: 3 - Humanities

Prerequisite: None

Centre: Centre for Work and Community Studies

WMST 333 has a Challenge for Credit option.

Overview

WMST 333 examines the evolution, fragmentation and recreation of spiritual traditions, myths and legends associated with the goddess. The course explores the symbolic significance of female divinity and the impact of its loss on all aspects of Western culture. By critically reflecting on how spiritual symbols have been used historically to empower and disempower women, the course draws connections between the sacred legacy of the goddess and women's relationship to the contemporary environmental movement.

Outline

Unit 1: Goddess and Her Mythologies

Unit 2: Upper Palaeolithic and Neolithic Goddess Mythology

Unit 3: Sumerian-Babylonian and Egyptian Goddess Mythology: Introduction to Ecofeminism

Unit 4: Goddesses in Greek Mythology

Unit 5: Goddess Mythology in the Judeo-Christian Tradition

Unit 6: Ecofeminism, Goddess Mythology and Political Action

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Evaluation

To receive credit for WMST 333, you must achieve a grade of at least 50 percent on the assignments and a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Tutor Telephone Review Research Essay (2000-2500 words) Essay (4500-5000 words) Total
15% 35% 50% 100%

 

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

Baring, Anne and Jules Cashford. 1993 The Myth of the Goddess: Evolution of an Image, NY: Penquin.

Carol Adams, ed. 1994. Ecofeminism and the Sacred. NY: Continuum

Other Materials

The course materials also include a study guide and a student manual.

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