Women's Studies: What Can I Do With This Degree?

Business and Industry 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)

Information & Strategies 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.

Healthcare 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

Information & Strategies 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.

Human Services 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, abortion clinics, eating disorder treatment centers, battered women's shelters, adoption agencies, etc.

Information & Strategies 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.

Education Teaching School counseling Student affairs Administration Research Information/Library Science Community education

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

Information & Strategies Earn a PhD to teach and research in the field of Women's Studies at four-year institutions. Master's or PhD is required to teach at two-year colleges. Obtain master's 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.

Writing 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

Information & Strategies 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.

Law and Politics 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

Information & Strategies 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 JD 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.

General Information

• Women's Studies provides a broad, liberal arts background that helps build skills in critical thinking and problem solving, data collection and analysis, oral, written, and presentation skills, and co-operative teamwork skills.
• Women's studies also provides in-depth knowledge of the conditions of women in various cultures and societies, gender dynamics, strategies and organizational skills needed to address gender inequalities, women's struggles, achievements, and contributions in past and present societies and across cultures, the courses and consequences of women's subordination, gender-based assumptions and biases and their consequences, social-change agents, and sensitivity to social concerns and other view points.
• Some students may choose to study women's studies because they enjoy the subject but wish to pursue careers requiring "any major." In this scenario, it is critical to develop desirable skills through internships, part-time or summer jobs, or volunteer experiences.
• Women's studies majors are excellent candidates for a number of graduate school options because of their broad liberal arts background as well as specific interests that may set them apart from other students. For those wishing to pursue graduate education, maintain a high GPA, establish relationships with faculty to secure strong recommendations, and gain experience through volunteer, work, or research opportunities.

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