A Premiere Program in WGSS
Why Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies?
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) is an interdisciplinary field that examines gender and sexuality through historical, cultural, and global perspectives. Using an intersectional approach, WGSS investigates how power, sociopolitical context, and social statuses shape people’s lives and experiences in the contemporary world. Rooted in a commitment to addressing social inequalities and promoting social justice, WGSS explores the many dimensions of human experience—including human rights, health and science, war and peace, technology, the environment, and the arts—through a critical and reflective lens.
With cross-listed courses in communications, criminology, history, political science, psychology and more, students can approach WGSS from almost any angle of interest. WGSS offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree, both of which can be combined with other disciplines for a multiple major. WGSS also offers an undergraduate minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. See our “Majors and Minors” descriptions for more information about requirements.
The Competitive Advantage
Nine in 10 employers aim to hire graduates who have “gained knowledge through interdisciplinary study and by addressing “real-life” problems while in college” (American Association of Colleges and Universities, 2023). Students’ learning outcomes in WGSS are well aligned with recent hiring priorities. WGSS courses cultivate students’ critical and analytical skills, strengthen their persuasive verbal and written communication, enhance their capacity for effective teamwork and leadership, and equip them to articulate and solve complex problems from multiple perspectives. WGSS students have a distinct professional advantage due to the interdisciplinary nature of WGSS that enables students to succeed in a wide range of careers, as evidenced by the diverse and successful placements of our graduates.Through the various hands-on learning opportunities offered through our department, including research assistantships, internships, and study abroad opportunities, WGSS students gain translating classroom learning into real-world settings, working collaboratively, and developing the professional confidence and versatility that prepare them for future success beyond Penn State.
Graduates enter their post-graduate world sensitive to diverse perspectives that can either facilitate or impede team-building, problem-solving, and negotiation. WGSS graduates—no matter where their career paths lead—are committed to creating positive social change that values all voices and works toward greater equity and justice. Our recent graduates work in a wide variety of professions and industries including:
- Counseling and social services
- Law
- Communications (e.g., social media, journalism)
- Medicine and healthcare
- Research (e.g., academia, STEM, library science)
- Business (e.g., marketing, advertising, entrepreneurship)
- Human resources
- Policy and civic engagement (e.g., non-profits, advocacy groups, government)
You might like WGSS if:
- you want to translate your curiosities, experiences, passions, and interests into actionable and meaningful work;
- you seek out inclusive environments, with persons of different backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and identities to understand their points of view;
- you are passionate about gender equity, human rights, and social justice;
- you want to explore how gender and sexuality play a role in culture, the arts, literature, health, politics, the sciences, law, and education; and/or
- you see yourself as a change agent in this world.