Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What Can You Do With a Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Minor?
A: Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies provides you with all the benefits of a liberal arts degree. Liberal arts education emphasizes critical thinking, which can be applied to a multitude of careers. It demonstrates to a potential employer that you have the confidence, skills, and maturity to earn a college degree; that you are well-rounded, having studied a wide variety of topics rather than one narrow skill area; that you likely are able to think more globally than many other job applicants. Managers often prefer employees schooled in the liberal arts because they think they are better at organizing material, writing well, and making oral presentations.
Moreover, a minor in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality studies equips you with significant additional advantages.
The interdisciplinary nature of this program produces innovative and flexible thinkers who understand and respect the increasingly diverse and multi-cultural world in which they live. The minor encourages you to develop important skills of analysis and research, writing and communication, leadership and organization that can be applied in a broad range of occupations. Graduates with an emphasis in gender and sexuality studies have successful careers in law, politics and public service, education, business, medicine, social work, community leadership and the arts. The development of women's agencies and gay/lesbian/ bisexual/transgender organizations is spurring demand for graduates with specializations in these areas. There is growing demand in the professions of law, medicine, social work, teaching, counseling, and government service for expertise on gender issues. Similarly, specialists in gender are increasingly being used as consultants in industry, higher education, insurance companies, and personnel firms. Many female graduates say that their education gave them the confidence to pursue careers traditionally held by men. Many continue their educations in graduate or professional school programs.
Common professions for graduates with an emphasis in women's, gender, and sexuality studies:
- Public Service: public interest lawyer, city planner, health science administrator, director of public interest group or human rights organization
- Human Services: psychotherapist, physician, social worker, minister, youth counselor, director of a crisis center
- Education: professor, academic administrator, student services director, university librarian, teacher, principal
- Business: manager, personnel director, attorney, market researcher, publications coordinator
- Communications: writer, journalist, editor for publishing company, television programming director
- Women's Studies, UC Los Angeles
- Master's Program in Applied WS, Claremont Graduate University
- Doctoral Emphasis in Women's Studies, UCSB
- Cultural Studies, Claremont Graduate University
- History of Consciousness, University of California at Santa Cruz
Q: What courses are best for first-year students to take?
A: First-year students would benefit most from taking one of the following courses:
ANTH/SOC 333: Women Across Cultures
ANTH/SOC 334: Women's Experience in America
PSY 490: Gender and Sexualities
These courses provide a broad introduction to this field of study.
Q: How do I apply for the program minor?
A: Declaring a minor in WGSS is easy! Visit the Academic Advising office (Woody Hall) and fill out the "Advisor Major Change Form." The form allows you to officially declare your intent to minor in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. The Academic Advising Office will then contact the Program Coordinator who will work with you to determine your advisor. You can view the list of advisors for the WGSS Program on our website. You are always welcome to contact the Program Coordinator or any of the advisors to discuss the program.
Q: Will I be required to write a thesis for the minor?
A: The minor does not require a thesis.
Q: How do I find a WGSS Advisor?
A: In order to find a WGSS Minor Advisor, you can speak with the Program Coordinator. You can also view the list of faculty and make an appointment with a faculty member who teaches in the program.
Q: What if I want to major in WGSS?
A: Currently, ULV does not offer a major in Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies. However, ULV does offer the opportunity to develop your own major in consultation with your faculty advisor. Speak to the Program Coordinator for more information.
Q: Where is the WGSS Program Office located?
A: The Program Director's office is located in Miller Hall, 211.
