Women's and Gender Studies

Women's and Gender Studies

Are you looking for a way to combine your commitment to social justice with other academic and professional pursuits?

About

The women’s and gender studies program provides an integrated, interdisciplinary, intersectional approach to understanding the social and cultural constructions of gender that shape the experiences of women and men. Women’s and gender studies courses in the humanities, social sciences and health professions promote critical thinking, intellectual growth, and self-awareness. The scholarly focus on experiences of gender across history, cultures, and societal institutions and structures, requires the women’s and gender studies program to cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and analytical frameworks, and to ask critical questions about social and power structures and the status quo. These learning opportunities foster development of new knowledge, perspectives and understandings of social justices and injustices.

Why is Women's and Gender Studies in Demand?

  • Look at the news! Social injustices and inequalities are in the headlines every day. Racism, sexism, classism, xenophobia, heterosexism, ableism, and a host of other injustices affect individuals and communities daily.
  • Leaders and people around the globe are seeking professionals who understand the complex systemic problems that create injustices, and are inspired and qualified to address those problems. Women’s and gender studies majors learn to identify and challenge intersecting oppressions and how to address the systemic problems that cause them. Women’s and gender studies transforms bystanders into engaged community members.
  • Managers in public, private for-profit, and private non-profit organizations know that with academic course work in women’s studies, you are prepared to hit the ground running on practical social issues and daily interactions with diverse people. Course work is infused with practice-oriented projects and leadership training.

Is it for me?

Are you:

  • Looking for a major that applies to everything: from your personal life and relations to your career?
  • Someone who enjoys the freedom to cross boundaries and challenge traditions, including traditional academic disciplines?
  • Committed to creating a more equitable society?

Five Reasons to Choose Scranton for Women's and Gender Studies

1.
Major or concentration available.   The University of Scranton offers you the choice to pursue either a six-course (18-credit) women’s and gender studies concentration that complements every major or a ten-course (30-credit) major in women's and gender studies.
2.
Be a name, not a number.    Small classes are capped at 25-30 students. Undergraduate studies are our focus. Faculty get to know you on an individual basis and are generous with their time and attention inside and outside of class.
3.
Supportive learning environment.    Students are members of a unique and supportive learning environment that allows for exchange among faculty, students and community members, both inside and outside the classroom.
4.
Students who excel.    Women’s and gender studies students have won major awards recognizing their academic achievements, including Fulbright Teaching Fellowships, Truman Scholarships and the USA Today Academic All-Star Team.
5.
Strong sense of community.   Departmental activities are integrated with co-curricular opportunities to serve diverse communities and work toward positive social change.
  • Preparing You For Personal & Professional Successplus or minus

    Women's and Gender Studies:

    • Promotes critical thinking, intellectual growth and self-awareness
    • Offers opportunities for participation in study abroad and internships
    • Combines the strength of a solid liberal arts education with marketable, hands-on knowledge about gender issues and leadership roles in diverse workplaces and communities 
    • Prepares students for graduate study and careers involving gender justice
  • What You'll Learnplus or minus

    Curriculum

    The women’s and gender studies major provides an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to understanding the social and cultural constructions of gender that shape the experiences of women and men in society. The curriculum offers a solid foundation in women’s and gender studies, preparing students for graduate study and careers involving gender justice and leadership roles in diverse workplaces and communities.

    Women’s and gender studies faculty members have active scholarly research agendas. Some topics of recent scholarly research, presentation and publication include women in Latin America, feminist perspectives in visual culture, rhetoric and public policy, women’s political engagement in the United States, and migration and refugees. 

    The major requires the completion of two foundational courses and one course in each of the three following areas: historical knowledge, representations and expressions, and social and behavioral sciences, as well as five elective courses or four electives and an internship. Students work carefully with advisors to choose additional cognate courses that will supplement and enrich the major and prepare students for their futures.

    Click here to see the curriculum for the major. 

    With careful planning, students enrolled in any major or college can complete the women’s and gender studies concentration without taking extra courses. Most students double major with another field of interest. Women’s and gender studies is an excellent option for students who wish to organize their GE courses around a coherent theme. Women’s and gender studies courses are cross-listed with other academic departments.

    Click here to see the curriculum for the concentration.

  • Pursue Your Passion and Make a Differenceplus or minus

    Students find an outlet for their interest in advocacy and social justice through volunteer work in the Scranton community. Some women’s studies students also volunteer at the Jane Kopas Women’s Center on campus and participate in peer education programs such as PACT (Promoting Awareness of the College Transition).

    Women’s and gender studies students are encouraged to participate in learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom, including internships, public presentations of their scholarly work and volunteer work, and social gatherings with peers, faculty members and members of the local community.

Careers

Where will Women’s and Gender Studies take me?

Students who major or concentrate in women's studies, whether or not they choose to go on to professional or graduate school, are especially well positioned to work in education, policy institutions, development, media, social work, the private sector and the nonprofit sector. 

Graduate Schools

Graduates have attended graduate programs in women’s studies, public policy, law, education, counseling, philosophy, public health, health administration, social work and medicine at institutions such as:

  • Columbia University
  • George Washington University
  • The University of Pennsylvania
  • Temple University
  • American University
  • Vanderbilt University

Leading Employers

Graduates of the program are employed at many prestigious public and private organizations, including:

  • AmeriCorps
  • Random House Publishers
  • Morgan Stanley 
  • Bronx District Attorney’s Office
  • Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
  • New York State Division of Human Rights
  • Institute for Women’s Policy Research in Washington, D.C.
  • Renfrew Center in Philadelphia

How Scranton Gives You a Competitive Edge

Competitive Edge

One of the many things students tell us they love about Scranton is that our faculty are active in helping them achieve their career goals.  As you walk across campus, you’ll often see students chatting with faculty over coffee to share ideas.

Whether it’s advising or providing letters of reference for a competitive graduate school or that dream job, faculty make it their priority to get to know each student on an individual level.  That deep level of understanding means that our faculty are not only dedicated teachers and strong researchers, but also advocates for you professionally. 

Take the Next Step

Get the Facts

View PDF with Program Overview
& Curriculum

For More Information

Office of Admissions
The Estate
Scranton, PA 18510
1-888-SCRANTON or (570) 941-7540
570-941-7572
admissions@scranton.edu

Department of Latin American Studies/Women's Studies
Marzia Caporale, Ph.D.
Director, Women's & Gender Studies
(570) 941-4165
marzia.caporale@scranton.edu