What can you do with a degree in Women's & Gender Studies?
Graduates in Women's and Gender Studies pursue a range of career paths following graduation. By the time they complete their degree, Women's and Gender Studies students are subject experts in the areas of gender, intersectionality, and equity, with an understanding of what it takes to empower themselves and others to become change makers. This makes them highly competitive on the job market, as employers increasingly seek candidates with intersectional expertise.
Additionally, our students develop key professional skills, including leadership, self-reflection, communication, and community building competencies. Our graduates are equipped to think critically, and from multiple angles, about the most complex issues facing our societies today, applying conceptual knowledge towards social transformation.
- Our courses examine gender in historical and contemporary contexts with an emphasis on women's lives and perspectives.
- But our classes aren’t just about gender. We study how gender intersects with race, sexuality, religion, immigration, the environment, disability, art, labor, health, technology, fashion, the body, design, making, and more!
- Most importantly, we are a community that cares deeply about social justice in every aspect of life.
We learn how to become change-makers in our communities by:
- Working directly with social justice organizations
- Leading queer walking tours of Norfolk
- Conducting and presenting original research at conferences
- Partnering with local refugees
- Training to become doulas
- Creating zines and social media campaigns
- Networking with local professionals
- Meeting with nationally celebrated feminist leaders and writers
- Law
- Non-profit work
- Teaching at elementary, high school, and college levels
- Public relations
- Counseling
- Human rights advocacy
- Journalism and media
- Health and medicine
- Business
- Professional Writing
- Take our Gen Ed offerings, WGSÌý201: Introduction to Women’s Studies and WGSÌý390T: Women and Technology.
- and then talk to us about how to get started.
- (it’s only four classes total!) and then talk to us about how to get started.
- Follow us on and to keep up with the amazing work of our students and faculty.
Business
- Diversity and Inclusion Managers
- Events Leaders
- Human Resources Managers
- Leadership and Talent Developers
- Project Managers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
- Union Organizing
Education
- Academic Success Directors
- Early Childhood Educators
- Education Managers
- English as a Second Language Teachers
- Intervention Specialists
- Librarians
- Professors
Law & Politics
- Attorneys
- Human Rights Advocates
- Lobbyists
- Mediators
- Policy Analysts
- Political Aides
Communications
- Communications Specialists
- Cultural Interpreters
- Editors / Editorial Assistants
- Graphic Designers
- News Anchors and Producers
- Media Analysts
- Public Relations Managers
- Public Speakers and Podcasters
- Social Media Coordinators
- Writers
Health
- Health Care Providers and Administrators
- Medical Assistants
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Public Health Advocates
- Therapists
Not-For-Profit & Advocacy Work
- Not-For-Profit Coordinators and Founders
- Human Services Managers
- Refugee Resettlement Coordinators
- Social Workers
- Social Services Supervisors
- Volunteer Coordinators
- Victims' Advocates
- Veteran Affairs Coordinators
See Where Our Alumni Are Now
Featured Alumni
Shamina Singh
Shamina is the President of the Center of Inclusive Growth and Executive Vice President of Sustainability at Mastercard. She is a graduate from Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a minor in Women's Studies. In this video, Singh shares her journey and some advice with ODU students.
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