Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

What is Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies?

Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies is your pathway to becoming a leader and change-maker through dynamic interdisciplinary study that examines history, social structures and current events while building essential skills for transformative careers across all sectors. Our field empowers you to address pressing community issues through groundbreaking initiatives — from our historic Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality Studies to innovative programs like our Women in Entrepreneurship minor that builds business leadership skills. 

Whether you're pursuing our bachelor's degrees, our 3+3 track to law school, or our joint degree with the Kent School of Social Work, our distinguished faculty guide you through transformative learning that connects theory with practice through required community internships where you apply research to real-world problems. You'll develop theoretical and empirical perspectives for studying gender and sexuality as crucial categories for understanding the world, learning to apply analysis at both micro and macro levels to inform research and promote understanding. 

Here, your commitment to understanding complex social issues transforms into the analytical expertise and advocacy skills that create positive change in communities, organizations and institutions worldwide — where passion meets purpose to build a future where everyone has a voice and opportunity to thrive.

Career Prospects

Where Passion for Understanding Becomes Your Power to Transform Lives

Unlock your potential to create meaningful change through careers that champion understanding, advocate for underserved communities and build more supportive institutions. Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies graduates don't just study social issues — they become the advocates, leaders and innovators who address barriers and create pathways for others to thrive. With 47% medical school acceptance rates, $208,630 salaries for organizational leadership roles and companies actively hiring for cultural competency positions, your commitment to understanding social structures becomes your foundation for both transformative impact and exceptional professional success.

Healthcare and Medical Advocacy

Salary Range: $45,000-$150,000 
Champion health access and advocate for patient rights in healthcare systems that need your voice. Your understanding of intersectional identities and health disparities positions you perfectly for careers that heal communities and transform medical practice.

Career Opportunities:

• Medical Social Worker advocating for patient needs and rights
• Healthcare Specialist addressing disparities in treatment and access
• Women's Health Advocate promoting reproductive rights and wellness
• Health Coordinator creating supportive healthcare environments
• Community Health Worker connecting underserved populations to care
• Public Health Policy Analyst developing health initiatives
• Medical Researcher studying gender and sexuality in health outcomes

Organizational Leadership and Cultural Competency

Salary Range: $65,000-$250,000 
Lead organizational transformation by building supportive workplaces where all people can thrive. Your expertise in intersectionality and social analysis becomes essential for companies committed to meaningful change.

Career Opportunities:

• Organizational Development Director creating comprehensive workplace strategies
• Cultural Competency Consultant helping companies create belonging for all employees
• Chief People Officer setting enterprise-wide supportive initiatives
• Employee Resource Group Coordinator building communities within organizations
• Training Facilitator educating teams on cultural awareness and understanding
• Workplace Culture Specialist designing policies and practices
• Corporate Responsibility Manager integrating social awareness into business strategy

Law and Legal Advocacy

Salary Range: $55,000-$200,000 
Fight for understanding through legal systems that protect civil rights and advance progress. Your deep understanding of discrimination and social issues positions you at the forefront of transformative legal advocacy.

Career Opportunities:

• Civil Rights Attorney defending constitutional protections and freedoms
• Family Law Specialist advocating for legal rights
• Immigration Lawyer supporting refugees and asylum seekers
• Public Interest Lawyer providing legal aid to underserved communities
• Policy Advocate working with legislators to advance legislation
• Legal Research Specialist analyzing discrimination cases and precedents
• Victim Rights Advocate supporting survivors of violence

Social Services and Community Organization

Salary Range: $40,000-$90,000 
Make direct impact in communities through programs that address systemic challenges and support vulnerable populations. Your passion for understanding social issues becomes the driving force for grassroots change.

Career Opportunities:

• Community Organizer mobilizing residents for awareness campaigns
• Violence Counselor providing support and safety planning
• Youth Program Director creating safe spaces for young people
• Assault Advocate supporting survivors through healing journeys
• Homeless Services Coordinator addressing housing insecurity and poverty
• Resettlement Specialist helping newcomers rebuild their lives
• Crisis Intervention Counselor providing immediate support during emergencies

Education and Youth Development

Salary Range: $45,000-$95,000
Shape future generations through educational programs that promote understanding and critical thinking. Your expertise in social analysis becomes transformative for young minds and communities.

Career Opportunities:

• Student Affairs Administrator creating supportive campus environments
• Cultural Education Specialist developing awareness curricula
• Gender Studies Professor advancing scholarship and student learning
• Youth Development Coordinator designing programs for at-risk youth
• School Counselor supporting students facing identity and social challenges
• Educational Consultant helping institutions address achievement gaps
• Program Coordinator ensuring educational safety

Human Resources and Organizational Development

Salary Range: $50,000-$130,000 
Transform workplace cultures by developing policies and practices that promote understanding and employee wellbeing. Your knowledge of power dynamics becomes crucial for organizational improvement.

Career Opportunities:

• HR Generalist ensuring fair hiring and promotion practices
• Compensation Analyst identifying and addressing pay gaps
• Employee Relations Specialist mediating workplace conflicts with sensitivity
• Training and Development Manager designing leadership programs
• Recruitment Specialist building talented workforces
• Organizational Development Consultant improving company culture and practices
• Benefits Administrator designing supportive programs for all employees

Policy Analysis and Government Service

Salary Range: $45,000-$120,000 
Shape public policy that advances social understanding and protects civil rights. Your analytical skills and commitment to progress become essential for evidence-based policy development.

Career Opportunities:

• Policy Analyst researching and developing legislation
• Legislative Assistant supporting elected officials in advancing awareness initiatives
• Program Evaluator assessing effectiveness of social interventions
• Grant Writer securing funding for community-based organizations
• City Council Aide helping local governments address challenges
• Federal Policy Researcher analyzing the impact of national social policies
• Think Tank Researcher influencing public discourse on social issues

Media, Communications and Advocacy

Salary Range: $40,000-$110,000 
Amplify underrepresented voices and advance social understanding through strategic communications and storytelling. Your knowledge of representation and power becomes vital for authentic narrative change.

Career Opportunities:

• Communications Director crafting messages that advance social understanding
• Marketing Manager building awareness for important causes
• Social Media Strategist engaging audiences in education and awareness
• Grant Communications Specialist telling compelling stories to secure funding
• Public Relations Manager managing crisis communications with cultural sensitivity
• Documentary Producer creating films that highlight social issues
• Content Creator developing educational materials about cultural understanding

Your Journey to Social Leadership Awaits

Every path in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies connects your passion for understanding with the power to create lasting change in institutions, communities and individual lives. Whether you're drawn to the $250,000 potential in executive organizational roles, the meaningful impact of healthcare advocacy or the emerging opportunities in corporate responsibility, your degree provides the analytical foundation for careers that matter deeply. With higher-than-average medical school acceptance rates, growing demand across sectors for professionals who understand intersectionality and cultural competency, and the opportunity to lead transformative change in a more understanding world, your investment in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies becomes your gateway to both personal fulfillment and professional success that grows with every barrier you address and every life you empower.