University of Montana Department of Women's Studies Records, 1971-2003

Women’s Studies is an interdisciplinary program at the University of Montana that first began development in the early 1970s. The first step in the development of Women’s Studies occurred in 1971 when eight faculty and community members collaborated to present a symposium on campus entitled, “Realities and Reaction: A Symposium on Women.” Following the symposium, faculty members began to offer courses focusing on women’s contributions to knowledge. Many of these courses were offered in collaboration with the Women’s Resource Center on campus.

In 1975, the first proposal for establishing a women’s studies concentration within the Liberal Arts major was presented to the faculty senate. Although the Senate approved the proposal, the program was not funded or implemented. The program continued to develop though the efforts of faculty on campus. In 1984 a brochure entitled “Women in Curriculum” was published. The brochure outlined over forty courses with an emphasis on women at the University of Montana. In September 1990, a final proposal to create a Women’s Studies emphasis within the department of Liberal Studies was submitted to the Board of Regents and accepted. The emphasis was implemented in the fall of 1991.

Fall of 1992 marked the first year of a significantly funded program with Professors Deborah Slicer and Bari Burke acting as co-directors. Fall of 1993 brought the authorization of a half-time director of Women’s Studies and Dr. Julia Watson served as director from 1993-1995. Since 1996, various directors and co-directors have developed and expanded the program. As of 2007, the Department offers a minor in Women and Gender Studies open to students of all majors, and a continually evolving course list.