Employment Opportunities and Career Information

What do you do with a Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor/major?

Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies graduates gain knowledge, self-awareness, intercultural competency, and breadth of perspective, which are valuable in their own right and which public service organizations, private industry, government, and graduate schools need. Recent graduates have gone on to law school, graduate school in many fields, public service and private sector careers, political leadership positions, and teaching in both K-12 and higher education. For more information about career options, please visit the Western Career Services Center.

Here’s a look at what some Western alumni are doing with their Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies background:

  • domestic violence and sexual assault services
  • child welfare services 
  • armed forces
  • childhood education
  • sales and marketing
  • Peace Corps
  • AmeriCorps
  • healthcare professional
  • K-12 education
  • journalism

Skills Gained through the WGSS curriculum:

  • Ability to critically interpret information
  • Advocacy and social analysis
  • Research and information management
  • Ability to apply theory to practice
  • Highly developed written and oral communication
  • Ability to work well with diverse populations and build communities

 

Graduate/Professional School

Students may continue their education in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the Master's or Ph.D. level, as part of their graduate program in a professional school in law, business or medicine, or a disciplinary graduate program in, philosophy, student affairs in higher education, gerontology, cultural studies, history, religious studies, sociology, social work, psychology, art history, music, family studies, journalism, English, education, languages, or other fields.

 

Experiential and Internships

The following experiential possibilities are available: summer and/or part-time work with government agencies, law offices, women's/LGBTQ advocacy programs, historical associations and foundations, research institutions, museums, art galleries, and community cultural programs, public archives and libraries, publishing companies, newspapers, magazines, theatrical or musical organizations; involvement in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Awareness programs, and community organizing.