REPORT: THE FIRST SUMMER INSTITUTE IN WOMEN'S STUDIES CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, 1974

Abstract

Traditionally, Summer Institutes at Concordia University (Sir George Williams) have been organized to offer courses which are not part of the regular Winter program, and which would otherwise not be available. Over the past few years a number of departments, such as English, Education, Sociology, and History, have invited renowned scholars, writers, and academics to give six week intensive courses in the Summer (July and August) during the day. The Summer Institute in Women's Studies followed this general format and also served to introduce a new program in Women's Studies which was to begin in the Fall. Under this new program, it is now possible to follow a joint-major at Concordia by taking five courses in various disciplines including an introductory, interdisciplinary course on "The Nature of Woman - Historic Attitudes and Present Approaches." The program is based on the recognition that the systematic study of the role and contribution of women has been hitherto neglected by all academic disciplines.