- Nazareth Strengths
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Example Careers/Outcomes
- Non-profit agencies
- Human resources
- Public policy
- Psychology
- Social work
- Law
Internships/Field Experiences
- YWCA, Rochester, NY
- Safe Journey, Fairport, NY
- American Association of University Women, Rochester, NY
Graduate Schools/Employers
- 81% of the respondents in a survey of a recent graduating class (with 67.5% reporting) indicated that they are either employed or attending graduate school.
Alumni Spotlight
Kaitlin Legg '11
“What is most valuable about women and gender studies is its interdisciplinary nature. It connects to every field, from science to writing to health care to education. It involves both the way we approach our careers and duties as well as the way we handle others and imagine ourselves."
Women and Gender Studies is a structured, interdisciplinary program that teaches students to:
- Understand key concepts and issues associated with the study of women, gender, and sexualities from an interdisciplinary perspective
- Use feminist theoretical frameworks to understand complex intersecting structures of power
- Analyze historical and current gendered experiences, representations and systems critically and comparatively across cultures and contexts
- Demonstrate knowledge of the significance of gender in social and political contexts and in social and political movements
- Engage in praxis, applying theoretical frameworks to involvement in working toward social justice
Required Courses
Students in this program must take the following courses. Internships are required for WGS majors and are strongly encouraged for WGS minors.
- Introduction to Women and Gender Studies*
- Gender & Society
- Human Sexual Behavior
- Human Diversity
- Feminist Theories and Methods*
- Senior Seminar in Women and Gender Studies*
- Internship in Women and Gender Studies
Electives
In addition to the 7 required courses for the major, students must take four elective courses that are clustered to represent a coherent focus. This selection should be done in consultation with the student's advisor. Students can use the "WGS Electives Petition" form to aid in this process.
Minor
Students can also declare a women and gender studies minor by taking the 3 required courses above with asterisks and 3 additional electives.
Program Director
Rachel Bailey Jones
585-389-5139
rjones3@naz.edu
Dr. Jones received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Teaching with a specialization in Cultural Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her main research interests include gender and sexuality in education and the relationship between popular culture and education. She has a special fascination with Disney and its role in shaping and educating us about normal and appropriate gender and sexual roles.
Program FAQs
What is women and gender studies?
Women and Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary field that is committed to the study of women in society within both historical and contemporary contexts. Women and Gender Studies pays particular attention to the examination of intersections between gender and race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, age, ability, nation and other categories for analysis. Courses in Nazareth's Women and Gender Studies program draw upon the social sciences, humanities and the natural sciences as well as professional programs. Women and Gender Studies students learn to understand and address gender specific social injustices and develop skills to initiate social change.
At Nazareth College, this program's mission is to provide an intellectual community for students, faculty, and staff, where alternatives to western and masculine paradigms can be fostered. We are committed to inclusivity across the curriculum - i.e., to transform curricula into which the study of gender issues are fully integrated.
By heightening awareness that women's gendered experiences and status are in fact the concerns of all, Women and Gender Studies programs encourage students to reach their full potential and support them to become leaders in their private and public lives. The program's interdisciplinary focus enhances students' career options helps prepare them for ongoing graduate education.
Why should I major in women and gender studies?
A major in Women and Gender Studies prepares students for work in a variety of academic fields and professions. Students can combine a major in Women and Gender Studies with coursework in any department at Nazareth which enhances learning in other disciplines. Women and Gender Studies has an interdisciplinary perspective which prepares students for further study in multiple fields of graduate study or work within agency or non-profit environments that focus on women's, gender and/or sexuality issues. Graduates can be especially well prepared for human resource environments, law, medicine, public health, public policy, education, social work, psychology, business, communication, student personnel services, history, politics, etc.
How will this major help me in the future?
A major in Women and Gender Studies heightens awareness that gender issues are pertinent to everyone. Our students acquire an interdisciplinary perspective and critical thinking skills that are essential for graduate study in a wide range of fields. In addition, students acquire a broader sense of community and a global perspective, which prepare them for careers that are committed to social responsibility.
Some courses offer opportunities for experiential learning; students may participate in feminist research, activism and make site visits to people and places in the greater Rochester area that are pertinent to the field.
In cooperation with Mr. Al Cabral, Director of the College Internship Program, Women and Gender Studies majors will be able to arrange internship opportunities with a special focus on women's and gender issues.
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