Resolution Supporting the Proposal for an Undergraduate Certificate in Queer Studies

The Department of Women’s Studies (soon to be changed to Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies) currently offers three undergraduate programs (BA degree, online BA degree completion program, and an undergraduate certificate), and a graduate certificate in Advanced Women’s Studies. Recent political situations that undermine the rights of gender and sexual identities and expressions of marginalized people, and the growing need and demand for better and more nuanced understanding of related issues necessitate that we offer an undergraduate certificate specifically in Queer studies. The name, “Queer studies” is indicative of broader trends within the changing fields of LGBT/Sexuality/Queer studies that have shifted to endorse Queer studies as an umbrella term to study sexual identities, heteronormativity, and other expressions. WS majors and certificate students, along with those enrolled in WS 141 Intro to LGBTQ Studies (Fall 2020) responded that they wanted the certificate to be called “Queer studies” (45.8%).

The new certificate program will remain distinct in that it emphasizes sexuality with a focus on Hawai‘i, Asia and the Pacific, from a transnational, interdisciplinary, and intersectional perspective. Currently there are fourteen courses regularly taught that would count toward the Queer studies certificate, this includes cross-listed courses in American studies, English, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Biology, and Ethnic studies. The College of Social Sciences has shown strong interest and support for the certificate and there would be significant crossover with departments in the College of Arts and Humanities where sexuality is a common topic in English and American studies courses. The certificate advisory committee also hopes to build relationships with Asian studies, Hawaiian studies and Pacific Island studies faculty who are interested in including or developing elective courses.

Updates

Presented to the Mānoa Faculty Senate by the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning (CAPP) for a vote of the full Senate on March 24, 2021, a resolution supporting the proposal for an Undergraduate Certificate in Queer Studies.  Approved by the Mānoa Faculty Senate on March 24, 2021 with 42 votes (95.45%) in support; 2 votes (4.55%) opposed; and 6 abstentions.

 

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PROPOSAL FOR AN
UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN QUEER STUDIES

WHEREAS, the Department of Women’s Studies had put forth a proposal for an Undergraduate Certificate in Sexuality Studies; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Women’s Studies then changed their proposal to Undergraduate Certificate in Queer Studies; and 

WHEREAS, the Women’s Studies Department’s mission is to provide multicultural and global education and research on issues of gender, sexuality, ethnic and national diversity, and social justice with a focus on women in Hawai’i, Asia, and the Pacific; and

WHEREAS, recent political situations that undermine the rights of gender and sexual expressions of marginalized people, and the growing need and demand for better understanding of sexuality issues necessitates the need for an undergraduate certificate specifically in Queer Studies; and

WHEREAS, the new certificate program will emphasize sexuality with a focus on Hawai’i, Asia, and the Pacific, from a transnational, interdisciplinary, and intersectional perspective; and

WHEREAS, surveys of students by the Department of Women’s Studies and the College of Social Sciences indicated there is a strong demand for more LGBTQ+ course content; and

WHEREAS, the certificate program is open to all enrolled UHM undergraduate students interested in the topic, has no pre-requisites, and will require 15 credit hours; and

WHEREAS, the certificate will be evaluated every two years with the goal of assessing the certificate’s enrollment, connections and collaborations on events, campus impact, and benefit for students; and

WHEREAS, student learning will be assessed with the same assessment instruments that are used in the Undergraduate Certificate in Women’s Studies; and

WHEREAS, no additional resources are needed for this certificate; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate recommends approval of the proposal to establish an Undergraduate Certificate in Queer Studies in the Women’s Studies Department at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.

Supporting document: