What can I do with a major in gender and women's studies?

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)

Sample occupations

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.

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

Sample occupations

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.

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. Girlscouts, Women for Women, AWARE, About-Face, etc.
Organizations for women's aid, e.g. rape crisis, abortion clinics, eating disorder treatment centers, battered women's shelters, adoption agencies,etc.

Sample occupations

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.

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.)

Sample occupations

Earn a Ph.D. to teach and research in the field of Women's Studies at four-year institutions. 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.

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

Sample occupations

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.

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

Sample occupations

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.