Career outlook

What can I do with a degree in gender, sexuality, and women's studies

Gender and sexuality studies (GSW) is a field of study that allows students to move in a variety of career directions based upon their interests. The social-justice focus of our degree program enables students to think about how to best channel their efforts and advocacy. For those looking to change the world on a systemic level, GSW serves as a solid pre-law major.

GSW enables pre-med students with a more rounded profile to escape the sea of applicants and provides the social constructs for those looking to specialize in areas of medicine pertinent to women or gendered issues. For those looking to change the world on a more personal level, GSW students look toward careers in psychology or social work. Some are drawn more deeply into the explosive academic and political dynamics inherent in the construction of gender and sexuality and look forward to advanced academic degrees.

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Transferable skills

A degree in gender, sexuality, and women's studies offers skills in:

Research

How to locate resources that will inform the topic at hand
Understanding the difference between primary and secondary sources
Weighing the importance and validity of internet resources

Critical thinking

What are the social, political, and economic repercussions surrounding privilege?
Identifying the arguments being made or rebutted in the literature
Identifying the perspectives and biases of the writers
Weighing your own perspective
Understanding where your research fits into the discussions in the field

Strong writing

Clarity in communication
To change the world, you must be able to explain the research, the inequities, and communicate to others the urgency of the issues

Graduate study

This degree also provides a solid foundation for graduate study in: