Why Major in Women's Studies?

Women's Studies is a vital academic discipline that explores women's experiences-placing women at the center of inquiry as subjects rather than objects.  Women's Studies examines women's lives, voices, histories, roles, and ideas in an effort to understand how women-of various classes, races, ethnicities, sexualities, religions, and ages-have been constructed, identified, oppressed, acclaimed, and developed. Women's Studies argues that women's experiences are important if we are to understand human society and to make changes cross-culturally. Gender alone does not yield a full understanding of women's lives, so Women's Studies courses also examine other factors, such as race, class, culture, and sexuality.

Women's Studies prepares students to live and work in an increasingly diverse culture as the program enables students to understand the role of diversity within the nation and the world, especially pertaining to the ways in which gender is linked to race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality, among other differences. Through a cohesive curriculum, WMS majors develop lifelong learning skills as they learn to self-reflect on both their place and their responsibilities within their local community. Students also develop self-confidence, critical thought processes, and communication skills that contribute to academic achievement and successful post-university careers. A WMS degree enables students to pursue a variety of fields and occupations, including but not limited to the arts, business, education, health care, media, politics, law, social services, and psychology.