Political Science Minor
Advantages
Develop your understanding of politics and power from domestic, international, and comparative perspectives and learn how to legally solve confrontations.
Outcome
Lobbyist
Undergraduate Major
Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Major (BA)
A gender, women & sexuality studies major will enrich any career path you choose through intersectional, interdisciplinary study.
At a Glance
Click to OpenOffered as
Major & Minor
Format
On Campus
College/School
Campus Location
- Chester, PA
Explore Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies
Uncover underrepresented voices and engage with diverse people and ideas when you major in gender, women & sexuality studies (GWS).
You'll study historical and contemporary gender dynamics across a wide range of cultural, political, and social contexts, identifying and challenging injustices as you go. GWS faculty come from a wide range of disciplines across the university, so you'll be sure to find a mentor who shares your unique gender studies interests. From international perspectives to intersectional examinations of gender with race and class identities, you'll constantly be learning about yourself as you grow in your understanding of others.
Want to propose a research project examining materials in the sexualities archives, take on an internship at a nonprofit, study abroad, or volunteer at a local community event? The GWS major is as hands-on and flexible as it is supportive. No matter what your future holds, a gender studies major will help you imagine and create sustainable social change for your future clients, patients, or community.
Gender Studies Program Options
From a core curriculum exploring an introduction to gender and society, you'll have the flexibility to create a program that fits your unique interests. With courses in more than 10 disciplines to choose from—including criminal justice, psychology, art history, and computer science—you'll constantly be engaging with new perspectives.
View the Loading... for curriculum and coursework requirements for the gender, women, and sexuality studies major.
Interested in taking your gender studies degree into the social work field? You can earn a BSW/BA in social work/gender, women, & sexuality studies in this unique program.
Complement your gender and sexuality knowledge with practical instruction on social work research methods and best practices with individuals, families, and groups. You'll be supported in your capstone and practicum work by expert social work faculty and a tight-knit cohort of peers.
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Widener's pre-professional pathways give you the flexibility to follow your interests while preparing for a professional career.
Gender, women, and sexuality studies majors can participate in the following pathways:
Take Your Gender Studies Degree Further
Pair Your Gender Studies Major with a Minor or Certificate
Career Outlook & Outcomes for Women's Studies Majors
Why Study GWS at Widener?
Grow Your Gender Studies Network
At Widener, you'll find a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, and can even live in gender inclusive housing from your first year. The Lambda House features gender dynamic rooming and all-gender bathrooms, with the Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) student organization and a Multicultural Student Affairs staff offices located in the building as well.
Along with clubs, organizations, and honor societies like the Q&A Queer Zine and SAGA, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to meet new people and nourish your passions outside of the classroom.
Learn Beyond the Classroom
From your first semester, you'll learn how to apply the feminist theories you learn in class to real-world projects. Check out our extensive Sexuality Archives and create a research project and presentation to share your findings.
Faculty have mentored students like you and aided them in finding internships, setting up events on campus, and even appearing on NPR. In and beyond the classroom, we're ready to help connect you with the resources you need to thrive in your gender studies education.
Experience Mentorship & Support From Day One
Student Stories
Our Faculty
I encourage students to see writing and reading as ways of making connections: connecting with a community, connecting with other texts, and connecting with the self.
"One thing that attracted me to the fields that I teach is their interdisciplinary nature--studying literature involves understanding history, psychology and gender, Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies engages with race, class, politics, and literature, and it's impossible to study human sexuality without also studying religion, sociology, ethics, and psychology."
"What I love most about teaching are those moments when students say 'I never thought about it this way,' or when I walk into a classroom and students are already talking in Spanish or discussing the readings without me. I love watching young people learn and grow, taking ownership of the learning process."
"Through individualized mentorship and one-on-one advising, our students gain a close relationship with all of the faculty in our department. By teaching a seminar on career development, overseeing student internships, and mentoring student research projects, we develop meaningful, lasting connections with all of our undergraduate majors and minors."
"My approach to teaching is best described as embracing an existentialist and social reconstructivist perspective, emphasizing respect for what each student brings to the classroom and students’ responsibility for their own learning. In my teaching at Widener, these methods have resulted in positive outcomes as measured by student course evaluations and verbal feedback."
"Students become historians by "doing history" – they learn to think critically about the past, to develop research questions and conduct research, . . . and to have fun! History is an endlessly fascinating inquiry into the human past that can yield essential insights into the human present."
I enjoy mentoring students inside and outside the classroom. It is a pleasure to watch individuals grow from being criminal justice students to criminal justice professionals, influencing and bettering the system. Seeing their success as alumni is so rewarding for me! In addition, our flexible curriculum allows students to direct their academic career in a way that makes the most sense for their career goals. I am also excited about our accelerated 4+1 program that allows strong students to complete an undergraduate and graduate degree in five years.
"Our criminal justice programs provide students with one-on-one individualized attention to nurture the student's growth academically and professionally. I enjoy the small class sizes and teach by facilitating discussions and welcoming diverse worldviews. This pedagogy fosters student participation, listening, and critical thinking skills."
Recent News
New Grant Funding Creates Student Research Opportunity on Sexual Consent
Widener’s Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies program and the Wolfgram Memorial Library's Sexuality Archives secured $10,000 from the Council of Independent Colleges to fund undergraduate research.
Admissions & Aid
Our admissions and financial aid teams are here to support you every step of the way. Have a question? Ask away!
Admissions
Financial Aid
Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to getting you the financial assistance to make the cost of college—an investment in your future—affordable. This free, online application is the gateway to grants, loans, and other forms of financial aid. Every year, the U.S. Department of Education offers billions of dollars in financial aid to eligible students. Widener gets in on the action, too, annually awarding aid to students with need.
You and at least one parent or caregiver will need a separate FSA ID to access the Federal Student Aid's online system and serve as your legal signatures. Make sure to create your unique FSA IDs before you get started. Our school code is 003313.
Paths to Savings
Nearly 100% of Undergrad Students Receive Financial Aid
Nearly 100% of new full-time undergraduate students receive significant financial aid offers that reduce out-of-pocket costs and make a Widener education not only affordable, but well worth the investment. In fact, once your total financial aid is calculated, the cost of a Widener education is often equal to if not lower than other competitive universities–but with far superior outcomes for your career and earning potential.
The first step to see how much aid you qualify for is submitting the FAFSA.
Scholarships Start at $100,000 Over 4 Years
(including $20,000 per academic year for transfer students)
Funding you don't have to pay back after graduation? That's a win-win! Scholarships and grants are a way for the university and other organizations to honor the academic, merit, and talent-based achievements of our students.
4+1 Students Save Time & Tuition
In the Accelerated Advantage 4+1 program, you can save up to a year of tuition by pursuing a master's degree—resulting in thousands of dollars in savings. During your fifth year of study, you can also apply for graduate-level scholarships and assistantships to further reduce education costs. To learn more about graduate scholarships and assistantships, please speak with your academic advisor during the spring semester of your senior year.
Undergraduate Admissions Office
-
Muller Hall
University Pl
Chester, PA 19013
- 888-WIDENER
- admissions.office@widener.edu
Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies Department
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Kapelski Learning Center, Room 323
- 610-499-4646
- mschug@widener.edu
Mariah G. Schug
Chair, Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies
-
Freedom Hall
Room 205 - (610) 499-4379
- mschug@widener.edu