Organizations for research on and advancement of women in business, (e.g., Catalyst)
Strategies
Obtain a minor or double major in business.
Earn a graduate degree in an area of interest.
Gain experience through internships or other employment.
Become current with business and industry literature and news.
Stay abreast of current technology.
Gain leadership experiences through campus involvement or volunteer work.
When job searching, seek employers interested in hiring “any major.”
Understand the top skills employers desire and be prepared to demonstrate them, such as communication (oral and written), technology, interpersonal, leadership, and teamwork, etc.
Be willing to start in a management-trainee program or other entry-level positions.
Healthcare
Medicine specializing in women’s issues:
Obstetrics & gynecology
Breast cancer
Multiple sclerosis
Fertility
Nursing
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Dentistry
Public health
Medical assistant
Employers
Healthcare settings exclusively for women
Organizations devoted to women’s health (e.g., National Women’s Health Organization, CDC Women’s Health Department)
Hospitals
Clinics
Private or group practice
Wellness centers
Nursing homes
Mental health institutions
Federal, state, or local health departments
Centers for reproductive health
Strategies
Maintain a high GPA for admission into graduate schools or professional programs.
Take prerequisite courses required by graduate programs or obtain a related double major or minor.
Meet with a pre-health advisor periodically to discuss curricular decisions.
Prepare for and take appropriate admissions tests.
Obtain summer jobs, volunteer positions, or internships to test field of interest and gain experience.
Talk to professionals in fields of interest and arrange shadowing opportunities.
Human Services
Counseling
Psychotherapy
Mental health services
Case management
Social work
Vocational/career counseling
Programming
Community relations
Administration
Employers
Private and group practice
Mental health institutions
Hospitals and clinics
Federal, state, or local government:
Department of Human Services
Veterans administration
Women’s service organizations (e.g., Girl Scouts, Women for Women, AWARE, About-Face, etc)
Organizations for women’s aid (e.g., rape crisis, pregnancy support organizations, eating disorder treatment centers, battered women’s shelters, adoption agencies, etc)
Youth and family agencies
University and college counseling and career centers
Strategies
Obtain essential practical experience through part-time or summer jobs and internships.
Volunteer with organizations for women’s aid such as crisis hotlines, Big Sisters, women’s resource centers, etc.
Learn to work well with different types of people and gain experience working with diverse clientele.
Acquire knowledge of government and community resources available for those in need.
Earn a graduate degree in fields such as, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, social work, counseling psychology, etc. for substantive counseling and administrative roles.
Maintain a high GPA and secure strong faculty recommendations.
Research state licensure requirements in fields such as counseling and psychology.
Education
Teaching
Research
Information/library science
Higher education administration and student support services:
Admissions, financial aid, academic advising, development, alumni affairs, international education and study abroad, career services, residence life, student activities and Greek life, orientation, leadership
Community education
Employers
Universities and colleges
Women’s resource centers
Non-profit organizations
Government programs (e.g., classes for displaced homemakers, parenting, GED prep, etc).
Earn a Ph.D. to teach and research in the field of Women’s Studies at four-year institutions.
Master’s or Ph.D. is required to teach at two-year colleges.
Obtain master’s in library/information science or student affairs if interested in those areas.
Join related professional associations as a student member.
Gain experience through volunteer work or internships.
Seek leadership roles on campus such as peer mentor, resident advisor, or orientation leader.
Develop strong communication and public speaking skills.
Writing
Journalism
Creative writing
Freelance writing
Copy writing
Employers
Newspapers
Magazines
Broadcast media companies: television and movie industry
Trade, professional, or consumer publications
Internet sites
Advertising agencies
Publishing houses
Large corporations
Self-employment
Strategies
Pair an interest in Women’s Studies with communication skills to write about women, write on topics of interest to women, or for publications targeting a female audience.
Obtain a minor in English or journalism or take some general writing-focused classes.
Write for campus publications such as college newspapers, magazines, or department/program newsletters.
Volunteer to assist or tutor students in a writing center.
Create a portfolio of writing samples, especially those that have been published.
Seek opportunities for recognition and networking through writing contests and freelance writing submissions.
Become familiar with the proposal and submission process involved in freelance writing.
Nonprofit
Administration
Program management and development
Fund raising/development
Grant writing
Research
Policy analysis
Volunteer coordination
Community education
Public relations and marketing
Employers
Nonprofit organizations
Social service agencies
Hospitals and medical centers
Private foundations (e.g., The Ford Foundation)
International organizations (e.g., The World Health Organization, The International Red Cross)
Special interest groups
Trade or professional associations
Libraries
Educational institutions
Cultural heritage organizations
Women’s service organizations
Human rights organizations
Strategies
Seek multiple volunteer and internship positions to gain experience and build contacts in the field.
Obtain leadership roles in relevant campus and community organizations.
Develop strong communication and research skills. Learn how to write grants and gain an understanding of budgeting and fiscal management.
Investigate term of service or service corps positions as a way to gain entry into the field.
Research organizations’ values to find a good fit with yours.
Consider earning a graduate degree for more job opportunities and advancement.
Law and Politics
Law
Corporate practice
Public interest law
Civil law (e.g., family, discrimination, sexual harassment, etc.)
Lobbying
Government relations
Legislative aid
Elected or appointed leadership
Public policy
Research
Intelligence
Campaign management
Special interest advocacy
Program administration
Employers
Law firms
Corporate legal departments
Public defenders offices
District attorneys
Government agencies
Public interest groups
Legal aid
Sole practitioner
Lobbying groups
Women’s advocacy organizations
Strategies
Supplement curriculum with relevant courses to enhance research and writing skills.
Maintain a high GPA.
Prepare for and take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
Participate in activities that develop strong debate and public speaking skills such as mock trial.
Run for office in student government or work on a political campaign.
Gain relevant experience through jobs or internships with law firms or government agencies.
Obtain the J.D. for law positions or an advanced degree in political science or public administration for government positions.
General Information
Women’s Studies provides a broad, liberal arts background that helps build skills in critical thinking and problem solving, data collection and analysis, oral, written and presentation skills, and cooperative teamwork skills.
Women’s studies also provides in-depth knowledge of the conditions of women in various cultures and societies, gender dynamics, strategies and organizational skills needed to address gender inequalities, women’s struggles, achievements, and contributions in past and present societies and across cultures, the courses and consequences of women’s subordination, gender-based assumptions and biases and their consequences, social change agents, and sensitivity to social concerns and other view points.
Women’s Studies also explores how intersecting oppressions such as racism, sexism, and ableism are comparable and intertwined. It works to address the systemic problems that create oppression.
Some students may choose to study Women’s Studies because they enjoy the subject but wish to pursue careers requiring “any major.” In this scenario, it is critical to develop desirable skills through internships, part-time or summer jobs, or volunteer experiences.
Women’s Studies majors are excellent candidates for a number of graduate school options because of their broad liberal arts background as well as specific interests that may set them apart from other students. For those wishing to pursue graduate education, maintain a high GPA, establish relationships with faculty to secure strong recommendations, and gain experience through volunteer, work, or research opportunities.
