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
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Offered as
Major
4+1 Bachelor's + Master's
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
At Widener, you can earn a bachelor's and a master's degree with only one additional year of study—regardless of your chosen major. Through our Accelerated Advantage 4+1 program, you'll earn your bachelor's of choice and choose from a range of master's degrees that will enhance your job opportunities and prepare you for rapid career growth—all while saving you time and money.
It's never too early to get real-world work experience to set you apart from the crowd and dive deeper into your discipline! Worried about scoring a paid internship? Worry, no more! Widener's Experience MORE! program can help bridge the gap between unpaid or underpaid experiences.
After perfecting your résumé and cover letter with the help of Widener’s Career Design & Development team, you'll work to score an internship and apply for the Experience MORE! program to get the financial support you need to pursue the internship of your dreams. If selected as an awardee, you will receive a grant to subsidize your internship work.
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
We want to get to know you and see you succeed. Professors will pay attention to how you learn and what you want to accomplish. Your Personal Student Success Team—faculty and peer mentors and liaisons for campus resources—will make sure your first year runs smoothly.
Without skipping a beat, you’ll have what you need to make Widener your second home. And you’ll know how to invest in the greater community, from professional opportunities in Philadelphia to volunteer experiences in your new backyard.
Lean more about faculty mentorship
Explore resources for academic & career support
Find support for health & wellbeing
Our Faculty
"My role as a mathematics teacher is to help students make sense of mathematics and develop conceptual understanding. I do this by helping students become actively involved in their learning through solving new and challenging problems rather than passively absorbing information."
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.
"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."
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.
"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 believe that studying French should not be an end in itself, but rather a means to connecting with others around the world. Studying language, literature, and culture requires a willingness to grow as both student and instructor seek to understand people from other countries and from other times."
"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."
"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
Applying to Widener is easy—and free! Simply complete our Widener Application or the Common Application. You'll also need your official high school transcript and either an admissions essay or your SAT/ACT scores. We're a test-optional school, so there's no need to submit both.
Know you're interested in applying to Widener but unsure if you're ready to zero-in on a major? You can apply as an Exploratory Studies student with an undecided major. This program will help you start your college journey on the right foot while you explore which undergraduate program is the right fit for you.
When to Apply
We accept applications on a rolling basis—there are no hard deadlines. Apply when you're ready and we'll take a look as soon as we receive your app.
Key dates to keep in mind:
- October 1: FAFSA opens for the next academic year (Widener's school code is 003313)
- November 1: Early Action deadline and decision notifications begin
What to Expect After Applying
Once we receive your application and all materials, you can expect to hear back from us quickly. Along with your application decision, you'll also find out about any merit-based scholarship awards. You're automatically considered for merit scholarships as soon as you apply—you don't need to apply separately.
If you apply before November 1, you are considered an Early Action applicant which comes with benefits like:
- Receiving your admissions decision by Thanksgiving
- Early consideration for merit-based scholarships
- Early notification of financial aid offers, including need-based awards
- Priority enrollment for summer registration—where you sign up for classes!
All applications are non-binding, so why wait? Apply today!
Our admissions team will help you make the most of college-level credits earned after high school. We maintain strong partnerships and articulation agreements with numerous local community colleges and also accept a wide range of course credits earned at accredited colleges and universities.
Curious about how many credits may transfer? Email your transcripts to transfer@widener.edu and our transfer coordinator will personally review your coursework as an unofficial credit evaluation. Applicants are given priority during busy seasons, but you don't have to apply to work with our transfer coordinator.
Transferring doesn't have to be a guessing game—share your stats and we'll take it from there!
Widener University serves as a "second home" for students from around the world. We are located just outside of Philadelphia and close to New York City and Washington, D.C.—offering many unique professional and personal opportunities to explore.
Want to know what it's like to be an international student on campus or need assistance navigating English proficiency requirements? We're here to help, and our international admissions director will support you through the application process.
This support doesn't end with admissions—our International Student Support team will serve as a valuable resource throughout your Widener journey—meeting Visa/immigration requirements, getting acclimated to campus, and much more.
Financial Aid
Because Widener is a private institution, we're able to offer financial assistance that brings an exceptional education within reach. Complete your admissions application today to determine your financial aid package, including scholarships and grants.
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 $90,000 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
- 888-WIDENER
- admissions.office@widener.edu
Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies Program
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Kapelski Learning Center, Room 323
- 610-499-4646
- acastaldo@widener.edu
Mariah G. Schug
Director, Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies
-
Freedom Hall
Room 205 - (610) 499-4379
- mschug@widener.edu