First-Year Seminars 110GS - Gender in Science

This course examines explanations for the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with an eye to identifying how to increase the participation of women in science. The course will address questions about gender differences in cognition and ability, the role of stereotyping, as well as the "leaky pipeline" issue, that is, the rate and timing of the departure of women from scientific fields. Course readings will explore the psychology of gender, as it relates to STEM. In addition, we will read research from physical scientists, reports from professional organizations such as the American Physical Society, and reports from congressional committees.

First-year students only, by placement.