Women's and Gender Studies

About the Women’s and Gender Studies Department

As an interdisciplinary field, Women’s and Gender Studies trains students to use various research tools and theoretical approaches to problem-solving.

Students at Ұ�� can pursue a major, minor, or co-major in Women’s and Gender Studies. Together, professors and students examine how gender shapes the human experience. We use an intersectional perspective that understands gender is affected by race, religion, ethnicity, class, ability, culture, citizenship, age, and sexuality.

A degree in Women’s and Gender Studies ensures students are able to ask incisive questions, think innovatively about solutions, ground their ideas in real world application, and work cooperatively with people holding different points of view.

Some questions you may encounter in the classroom include:

What does gender have to do with race, class, or sexuality?
How do gender stereotypes affect one’s opportunities?
Is gender inequality real? If so, what does it look and feel like?
What are the historical contributions of women and trans people?
Are men affected by gender in the same way as others?
How do culture, ethnicity, and power influence gender?
Where does gender come from? Is it learned or biological?
What is the relationship between gender and sexuality?
How do representations in the media and popular culture shape understandings of gender?
Do differences between people of the same gender matter?
What happens if someone doesn’t conform to gender norms?
Why are the stories of female ancestors important?
Does gender change over time?
What does gender look like in other parts of the world?
How does masculinity inform the world?

What are my job prospects with a women’s and gender studies degree?

In a 2013 study by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, employers reported that a job candidate’s ability to demonstrate innovation and critical thinking were pivotal in their hiring decisions. In fact, they noted, “a candidate’s demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than their undergraduate major.”

Women’s and Gender Studies students learn these marketable skills. Students who major or minor in Women’s and Gender Studies develop a complex understanding of social, political, economic and cultural issues making them highly valuable members of their communities and workplaces. Our graduates are sophisticated critical thinkers: they can synthesize different kinds of information and apply academic knowledge to real world situations. Because our curriculum includes diverse forms of assessment (ex. academic essays, oral presentations, video production, role-playing, social media posting, etc.), Women’s and Gender Studies students practice communicating complex ideas to a variety of audiences. Those who choose to pursue graduate work are prepared for the rigors of intellectual inquiry and analysis.

A major (36 credits) in Women’s and Gender Studies readies students to work in diverse settings. Some of our graduates have pursued a variety of careers including:

Education (Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education)
Health Services
Criminal Justice
Social Work
Psychological Services and Counseling
Public Administration
Community Organizing
Political Consulting
Public Advocacy
Law

A minor (18 credits) in Women’s and Gender Studies enhances any program of study. Students hoping to pursue careers in health care, social work, business, criminal justice, education, etc. will become better health care workers, counselors, managers, teachers, and community leaders who understand how gender influences social life.

Women’s and Gender Studies is an approved co-major for the Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education programs.

A hallmark of the Women’s and Gender Studies degree at Ұ�� is the internship requirement, which gives students the ability to apply course concepts to real-life environments. In an increasingly competitive job market, an internship is great way to gain experience before graduating while networking with professionals in a desired field.

What Can I Do With a Degree in WGST?

Panel for the New Jersey Women's and Gender Studies Consortium hosted on December 1, 2021.

A Women’s And Gender Studies Degree Sets You Apart From Other Job-Seekers