BIOL 1108 - Biology of Women
Credits: 3
Catalog Description
This course studies the biological aspects of being a woman. Analysis of assumptions concerning women’s biology and women’s health care, including the importance of taking a responsible role in personal health care, will be addressed. The course explores female and male reproductive anatomy and physiology, sexual development, issues related to women’s health and disease, pregnancy and birth, contraception and infertility, menopause, and other topics. It also includes a reproductive anatomy and physiology-based lab-like experience. Open to both women and men.
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) Goal Area(s) fulfilled: Goal 03: Natural Sciences, Goal 07A: Human Diversity, Race, Power, and Justice in the United States
Cross-Listed Course(s): WGST 1108
Additional fee to student: No
Learner Outcomes
- Identify myths and stereotypes related to women’s biology in the major content areas.
- Illustrate an understanding of issues relating to women’s biology through personal interviews, journaling, book reports, current article analyses, personal experience writing projects, analyses of internet resources regarding women’s health, or other similar projects.
- Demonstrate an understanding of major areas of course content.
Major Areas of Course Content
- Structure and function of female (and male) reproductive anatomy
- Sex determination and sexual development
- Theories of onset, causes, and changes that occur with puberty in the female (and male)
- Physiological relationship of the endocrine system with the female (and male) reproductive system(s)
- Menstrual cycle, including normal physiology, history of societal views and abnormal occurrences, including treatments
- Ovarian cycle, including meiosis and oocyte development, ovulation and post-ovulatory events
- Female and male sexual response (including the history of research in this area and stereotypes of female v male sexuality)
- Processes of fertilization, pregnancy, labor, and delivery, including current delivery options
- Current contraception methods (and the history of using women for testing of contraceptives)
- Infertility, including causal theories, types, and current treatment methods and options
- Causes, symptoms, and treatment methods of various female reproductive system disorders and diseases, including cancers, eating disorders, STDs, etc.
- Reasons for and expected results from basic procedures that occur during gynecological examination
- Causal theories, indicators, history of treatment vs. non-treatment, and changing societal views of menopause
- Scientific method and its relationship to medical information regarding women
- The role that the Women’s Health Movement played in changing the views of the medical profession and women toward each other
- History of the treatment of women by the medical profession and how recent changes in the system are benefitting women
NOTE - Parenthetical portions are optional.
Credit for Prior Learning Options
No credit for prior learning option is available for this course.
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