Gender and Women's Studies

Career Areas

• Training and Development
• Human Resources
• Management
• Marketing
• Advertising
• Public Relations
• Sales
• Consulting

Employers

• Public and private corporations, particularly:
  • Women's divisions
  • Female-focused industries
• Consulting firms
• Marketing companies
• Public relations agencies
• Organizations for research on and advancement of women in business (i.e., Catalyst)

General Information

• Obtain a minor in business or take some general business courses.
• Earn a graduate degree in an area of interest.
• Gain experience through internships or other employment.
• Become current with business and industry literature and news.
• Develop strong computer skills.
• Gain leadership experience through campus involvement or volunteer work.
• When job searching, seek employers interested in hiring "any major."
• Understand the top skills employers desire and be prepared to demonstrate them, such as communication (oral and written), computer, interpersonal, leadership, and teamwork, etc.
• Be willing to start in a management-trainee program or other entry-level positions.

Career Areas

• Medicine Specializing in Women's Issues:
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology
  • Breast Cancer
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Fertility
• Nursing
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Dentistry

Employers

• Healthcare settings exclusively for women
• Organizations devoted to women's health including:
  • National Women's Health Organization
  • CDC Women's Health Department
• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Private or group practice
• Health networks
• Wellness centers
• Nursing homes
• Mental health institutions
• Federal, state, or local health departments
• Centers for reproductive health
• Planned Parenthood

General Information

• Maintain a high grade point average needed for graduate school and professional programs.
• Take prerequisite courses required by professional program, or obtain a related double major or minor.
• Meet with a pre-health advisor periodically to discuss curricular decisions.
• Prepare for and take appropriate admissions tests.
• Obtain summer jobs, volunteer positions, or internships to test field of interest and gain experience.
• Talk to professionals in your field of interest and arrange shadowing opportunities.

Career Areas

• Counseling
• Psychotherapy
• Mental Health Services
• Case Management
• Programming
• Community Relations
• Administration

Employers

• Private and group practice
• Mental health institutions
• Hospitals and clinics
• Federal, state, or local government, including:
  • Department of Human Services
  • Veterans Administration
• Women's service organizations, e.g. Girl Scouts, Women for Women, AWARE, About-Face, etc.
• Organizations for women's aid, e.g. rape crisis centers, abortion clinics, eating disorder treatment centers, battered women's shelters, adoption agencies, etc.

General Information

• Obtain essential practical experience through part-time or summer jobs and internships.
• Volunteer with organizations for women's aid such as crisis hotlines, Big Sisters, women's resource centers, etc.
• Learn to work well with different types of people and gain experience working with diverse clientele.
• Acquire knowledge of government and community resources available for those in need.
• Obtain a graduate degree in psychology, counseling, or social work for substantive counseling work and advancement into administrative work.
• Research and pursue specific degrees of interest at the graduate level, including marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, social work, counseling psychology, etc.

Career Areas

• Teaching
• School Counseling
• Student Affairs
• Administration
• Research
• Information/Library Science
• Community Education

Employers

• Universities and colleges (Women's Studies departments)
• Women's resource centers
• Non-profit organizations
• Government programs, e.g. classes for displaced homemakers, parenting, etc.
• Libraries (for Women's Studies departments, women's organizations, museums, etc.)

General Information

• Earn a Ph.D. to teach and research in the field of Women's Studies at four-year institutions. A Master's or Ph.D. is required to teach at two-year colleges.
• Obtain a master's degree in library/information science or student affairs if interested in those areas.
• Join related professional associations as a student member.
• Gain experience through volunteer work or internships.
• Get involved in leadership roles on campus such as peer mentor, resident advisor, or orientation leader.
• Develop strong communication and public speaking skills.

Career Areas

• Journalism
• Creative Writing
• Freelance Writing
• Copy Writing

Employers

• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Broadcast media companies including television and movie industry
• Trade, professional, or consumer publications
• Internet sites
• Advertising agencies
• Publishing houses
• Large corporations
• Self-employment

General Information

• Pair an interest in Women's Studies with communication skills to write about women, write on topics of interest to women, or for publications targeting a female audience.
• Obtain a minor in English or journalism or take some general writing-focused classes.
• Write for campus publications such as college newspapers, magazines, or department/program newsletters.
• Volunteer to assist or tutor students in a writing center.
• Create a portfolio of writing samples, especially those that have been published.
• Seek opportunities for recognition and networking through writing contests and freelance writing submissions.
• Become familiar with the proposal and submission process involved in freelance writing.

Career Areas

• Law
  • Corporate Practice
  • Public Interest Law
  • Civil Law (family, discrimination, sexual harassment, etc.)
• Lobbying
• Government Relations
• Elected or Appointed Leadership
• Public Policy
• Research
• Intelligence
• Campaign Management
• Special Interest Advocacy
• Program Administration

Employers

• Law firms
• Corporate legal departments
• Public defenders offices
• District attorneys
• Government agencies
• Public interest groups
• Legal aid
• Sole practitioner
• Lobbying groups

General Information

• Supplement curriculum with relevant courses.
• Maintain a high grade point average.
• Prepare for and take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
• Participate in activities that develop strong debate and public speaking skills; participate in mock trial.
• Obtain the J.D. for law positions or an advanced degree in political science or public administration for government positions.
• Gain relevant experience through jobs or internships with law firms or government agencies.