The List of All U.S Colleges With a Gender Studies/Gender and Sexuality Studies Major
Sometimes called gender and sexuality studies, gender studies focuses on the relationship between the sexes along with the ways in which gender is a social and cultural construct. Additionally, students will examine the interplay between gender and other facets of identity, including race, religion, and sexuality. The goal is to help students gain a more thorough understanding of gender and how it affects our relationships both personally and professionally.
Although women’s and gender studies programs only emerged on the scene in the 1970s, they’re now a common feature at top school throughout the U.S. and beyond. This rise in popularity means that prospective gender studies majors have an array of options when it comes to choosing a college or university. Read on to discover the benefits of pursuing a gender studies degree, along with tips on how to optimize your applicant profile and gain admission to your school of choice.
Why Should You Major in Gender Studies in College?
A gender studies program can help prepare students for success in a wide range of disciplines. As part of your coursework, you’ll learn to think critically about established practices and beliefs with regard to gender. Additionally, you’ll develop your research skills and expand your talent for communicating ideas both verbally and through writing.
While few companies and organizations advertise their need for gender studies graduates, the truth is that the skills learned in this field can prepare students to succeed in a wide range of disciplines and may even impact their ability to take on leadership roles down the line. Whatever career you choose, you’ll need to learn how to work well with others and navigate interpersonal relationships. A gender studies degree prepares you to interact with and manage people from a wide range of races and backgrounds. According to Beverly Guy-Sheftall, founding director of the Women’s Research and Resource Center, gender studies majors pursue gainful employment in public health, journalism, politics, film, and education, among other fields.
How Can You Boost Your Odds of Getting Accepted Into a Gender Studies Program?
There’s no one high school curriculum that can guarantee you acceptance into a gender studies program. Still, aspiring GS majors can take steps now to become more attractive college candidates down the line. Demonstrate your passion for the subject by taking classes in women’s history or literature while you’re still in high school. If you attend a smaller school with a limited curriculum, you may be able to design an independent study program that lets you explore your interest in the field.
Of course, getting into a gender studies program isn’t just about the classes you take. Students can also convey their enthusiasm by pursuing volunteer work in a related field. For example, you might want to spend time helping out at a shelter for homeless women or volunteering at a local advocacy organization that prioritizes gender equality. You could even start a gender studies club at your high school to explore issues affecting your own student body.
Additionally, students can boost their odds of getting into a gender and sexuality studies program by seeking expert advice while still in high school. At CollegeVine, we created our Early Advising Program to help high school freshmen and sophomores get a head start on their academic goals. We pair students with expert personal advisors who can help them on their journeys. From providing a custom roadmap for academics and activities to helping students narrow down their college lists, you can count on CollegeVine’s mentors to be there every step of the way.
What Colleges Have a Gender Studies Major?
Wondering what schools to consider for your future as a gender studies major? Below is a complete list of U.S. colleges and universities with a program in this field:
American University
Amherst College
Antioch University
Appalachian State University
Augsburg University
Ball State University | BSU
Beloit College
Biola University
Bowdoin College
Bowling Green State University | BGSU
Brandeis University
Brown University
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University
Butler University
Cabrini University
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Cal Poly Pomona
California State University, Bakersfield | CSU Bakersfield
California State University, Chico | CSU Chico
California State University, East Bay | CSU East Bay
California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach State
California State University, Northridge | CSUN
California State University, Stanislaus | Stanislaus State
Carleton College
Carlow University
Castleton University
Central Michigan University | CMU
Central Washington University | CWU
Clark University
Coe College
Colby College
College of St. Benedict | CSB
College of Staten Island | CUNY CSI
College of the Holy Cross | Holy Cross
College of William & Mary | William & Mary
College of Wooster
Colorado College
Connecticut College
Cornell College
Cornell University
Davidson College
Denison University
DePaul University
DePauw University
Dickinson College
Dominican University (Illinois)
Duke University
Duquesne University
Earlham College
Eastern Connecticut State University | ECSU
Eastern Michigan University | EMU
Eastern Washington University | EWU
Eckerd College
Florida International University | FIU
Georgetown University
Gettysburg College
Goucher College
Governors State University
Grand Valley State University | GVSU
Grinnell College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Hamilton College
Hanover College
Harvard University
Hobart and William Smith Colleges | HWS
Hollins University
Humboldt State University | HSU
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indiana University Bloomington | Indiana
John Jay College of Criminal Justice | CUNY John Jay
Kalamazoo College
Keene State College
Knox College
La Sierra University | LSU
Lake Erie College
Lawrence University
Loyola Marymount University | LMU
Marquette University
Mills College
Minnesota State University Moorhead | MSUM
Minnesota State University, Mankato | MNSU
Mount Holyoke College
New England College | NEC
North Carolina Central University | NCCU
North Carolina State University | NC State
Northeastern Illinois University | NEIU
Northwestern University
Oberlin College
Ohio University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Oklahoma Baptist University | OBU
Pace University
Pacific University
Pomona College
Portland State University | PSU
Prescott College
Ramapo College of New Jersey | RCNJ
Regis University
Rhode Island College | RIC
Rice University
Rollins College
Roosevelt University
Rutgers University–Camden
Saint Mary’s College (Indiana)
Saint Mary’s College of California | St. Mary’s
San Diego State University | SDSU
San Jose State University | SJSU
Scripps College
Seton Hall University
Sewanee: The University of the South | Sewanee
Simmons College
Skidmore College
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | SRU
Smith College
Sonoma State University | SSU
Southern Illinois University Carbondale | SIU
St. Cloud State University | SCSU
St. Michael’s College
Stanford University
State University of New York at New Paltz | SUNY New Paltz
State University of New York at Oneonta | SUNY Oneonta
State University of New York at Oswego | SUNY Oswego
State University of New York at Plattsburgh | SUNY Plattsburgh
State University of New York at Potsdam | SUNY Potsdam
State University of New York at Purchase | SUNY Purchase
Stonehill College
Swarthmore College
Temple University
Tennessee Wesleyan University | TWU
The College at Brockport, State University of New York | SUNY Brockport
The Ohio State University | OSU
The State University of New York at Albany | SUNY Albany
The State University of New York at Binghamton | SUNY Binghamton
The State University of New York at Buffalo | SUNY Buffalo
The State University of New York at Geneseo | SUNY Geneseo
The State University of New York at Stony Brook | SUNY Stony Brook
Trinity College
Tufts University
Tulane University
Union College (New York)
University of Arizona
University of California, Berkeley | UC Berkeley
University of California, Davis | UC Davis
University of California, Irvine | UC Irvine
University of California, Los Angeles | UCLA
University of California, Riverside | UC Riverside
University of California, San Diego | UCSD
University of Central Florida | UCF
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati
University of Dayton
University of Denver
University of Hawaii at Hilo | UH Hilo
University of Illinois at Chicago | UIC
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Mary Washington | UMW
University of Maryland, Baltimore County | UMBC
University of Maryland, College Park | Maryland
University of Massachusetts Boston | UMass Boston
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | UMass Dartmouth
University of Michigan
University of Michigan–Dearborn | UM-D
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Minnesota
University of Montana
University of Nebraska Omaha | UNO
University of Nebraska–Lincoln | UNL
University of Nevada, Las Vegas | UNLV
University of North Carolina at Greensboro | UNC Greensboro
University of North Dakota | UND
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania | UPenn
University of Pittsburgh | Pitt
University of Puget Sound
University of Redlands
University of Rhode Island | URI
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
University of Southern California | USC
University of Southern Maine | USM
University of Texas at Austin | UT Austin
University of Toledo
University of Tulsa
University of Vermont | UVM
University of Virginia | UVA
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Virginia Commonwealth University | VCU
Wake Forest University
Washington and Jefferson College | W&J
Washington State University | WSU
Washington University in St. Louis | WashU
Wayne State University | WSU
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
West Chester University
West Virginia University | WVU
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Western Washington University | WWU
Westfield State University
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Willamette University
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