Introduction

In MAIS 622 you will have the opportunity to learn about and discuss feminist theory and feminist research, to complete a feminist position statement essay and a feminist research prospectus, and to reflect on links between feminist theory and feminist research. You will also lead an online discussion about your work in this course.

Throughout the course you will be encouraged to work across disciplinary boundaries, so that your work is consciously both feminist and interdisciplinary. The course is designed with the hope that you will learn something new, challenge yourself, engage fully with your fellow students in the course, and have fun.

Course Structure

Part I: Feminist Theory The first six weeks of the course will be devoted to readings, online discussions, finding scholarly sources online, and completing the first assignment.

Week 1 Unit 1: Introduction to Feminist Theory Week 2 Unit 2: Women's Movements Around the World Week 3 Unit 3: Work and Families Week 4 Unit 4: Sexuality Week 5 Unit 5: Reproduction Week 6 Unit 6: Engendering Violence Week 7 Offline Reading Break: Time for Reading and Reflection

Part II: Feminist Research These weeks will be devoted to readings, online discussion about feminist research, and completing the second assignment, which will be a prospectus that outlines a research project that arises from your work in the first assignment. Week 8 Unit 7: Objectivity and Feminist Research Weeks 9-10 Unit 8: Feminist Data Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation Week 11 Unit 9: Feminist Research Ethics Week 12 Unit 10: Presenting and Evaluating Feminist Research

Part III: Integrating Feminist Theory and Method Weeks 13-15 Unit 11: Online Discussions

Course Objectives

The objectives for this course are three-fold:

1. to identify and define various feminist approaches to research and theory that can be incorporated within integrated studies
2. to engage in critical discussion of theoretical and epistemological issues, feminist research ethics, and feminist research methodology with other students and your professor.
3. to complete a feminist theory paper, reflect upon its implications for feminist research, and devise a research project based on your theory paper

Student Evaluation

To receive credit for Master of Arts-Integrated Studies 622: Advanced Feminisms, you must participate in online discussion, complete two essays and brief summary of your work in the course, lead an online discussion, and achieve a final mark of at least 60 per cent. The Master of Arts-Integrated Studies grading system is available online at the MAIS home page. Please note that it is your responsibility to maintain your program status. Any student who receives a grade of "F" in one course, or a grade of "C" in more than one course, may be required to withdraw from the program.

Course Materials

The course materials for Master of Arts-Integrated Studies 622: Advanced Feminisms include the texts below, this course guide, and the forms that you need to submit an assignment or to notify the University of a change in your status as a student. Please note that there is no Reading File for this course. If you find that any items are missing from your course package, please contact the Course Materials Production department at Athabasca University. If you live in Edmonton or Calgary, we encourage you to call the Learning Centre in your city and use the automated telephone attendant to connect with Course Materials Production at extension 6366. If you live elsewhere in Canada or the United States, you may telephone, toll free, at 1-800-788-9041, extension 6366. If you live elsewhere, or prefer not to use the automated system, contact Course Materials Production at (780) 675-6366. You may send e-mail to Course Materials Production at cmat@athabascau.ca, or write to Course Materials Production at Tim Byrne Centre, 4001 Hwy 2 South, Athabasca AB T9S 1A4.

Textbooks

• Crow, Barbara A., and Lise Gotell. 2000. Open boundaries: A Canadian women's studies reader. Toronto: Prentice Hall Allyn and Bacon Canada.
• Kirsch, Gesa E. 1999. Ethical dilemmas in feminist research: The politics of location, interpretation, and publication. Albany: State University of New York Press.
• Morris, Marika. 2002. Participatory research and action: A guide to becoming a researcher for social change. With literature review by Martha Muzychka. Ottawa: Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women.
• Smith, Bonnie. 2000. Global feminisms since 1945. London and New York: Routledge.

Athabasca University materials

Course Guide: This course guide contains the introduction, objectives, reading assignments, participation activities, assignments and evaluation criteria, and other information that you will need to complete the course successfully. Please take time now to look over the entire course guide so that you will be familiar with the design of the course.

Forms: The forms that you will need to submit assignments or to inform the University of a change in status as a student are included with the course materials.

Online Resources: Each course offered through the Master of Arts—Integrated Studies program has a course home page that provides links to additional resources and Web sites. From the MAIS home page at http://www.athabascau.ca/mais/, select Online Learning and proceed to the Moodle interface; select MAIS 622 and enter your username and password.

You are encouraged to browse the university's Web site at http://www.athabascau.ca, as well as the various Web sites that are suggested or referenced throughout this course guide.

Athabasca University Library: Students are encouraged to browse the Library's Web site to review the Library collection of journal databases, electronic journals, and digital reference tools: http://library.athabascau.ca.