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John Carroll University / Academics / Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies / Programs / B.A. in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies

The study of gender, sexuality, and women investigates how the social construction of gender/sexuality can shape personal identities, beliefs, and opportunities. It’s a lens into history, psychology, sociology, law, art, literature, and beyond that flips the perspective of traditional learning models in these fields to better understand a diverse world. It’s challenging stereotypes, power dynamics, and norms. It’s recognizing oppression both throughout history and today, and the systemic inequities that cause it.  It’s understanding intersectionality, examining forms of identity including race, class, ability, gender and sexuality, and how they interact.

Gender studies prepares you to meet the societal needs of analyzing social inequities, initiating change, and confronting social injustice. GSW graduates are educated, mindful citizens who are socially and politically active in the broadest sense. Bring compassion, perspective, and insight to a future in education, health care, the media, the arts, politics, law, social work, psychology, sports, business, and industry.

Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at John Carroll

GSW at John Carroll is an interdisciplinary program with requirements which are intentionally flexible and integrated with the Core Curriculum so you can focus on the areas within the major or minor that most interest you.

As a GSW student, you will learn to:

  • Articulate a critical understanding of the impact of gender and sexuality within your own life;
  • Describe how constructions of gender/sexuality have socially, historically, and globally shaped the experiences of both women and men;
  • Describe the importance within people’s lives of the intersections of gender and sexuality with other social hierarchies such as race, ethnicity, class, religion, and disability;
  • Analyze gender and sexuality using interdisciplinary and feminist theories, methodologies, and paradigms;
  • Identify ethical and social justice dimensions and implications within the study of gender/sexuality; and
  • Demonstrate the development of knowledge and skills to deal positively with gender and sexuality-based inequality within your communities.

This major helps prepare students for living in a diverse and global society by examining how the social construction of gender shapes personal identities, beliefs, and structured opportunities. The major contain 36 credit hours (12 courses) and includes critical inquiry into gender studies, feminist literature, philosophy, history, theology, language, and more – each from a feminist or gender-focused lens.

The GSW minor is very flexible and complements almost any major. The minor requires 18 credit hours (six courses), including an introductory course and five additional courses of your choosing. Broadening your perspective will be relevant and applicable to any career goal.

37%

GSW students pair a Psychology major with Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies.

13%

GSW students are also studying Peace, Justice, and Human Rights.

70%/30%

GSW students are also majoring/minoring in humanities and social sciences (70%) or STEM and Education (30%)

Current Trends

The curriculum examines a range of issues across both national and international contexts. This includes gendered violence, sexual harassment, queer theory, inequality, social justice, power dynamics and human interaction. The analytical skills you acquire in the study of gender and society can be applied beyond the campus to other activities and eventually to your professional careers.

Real Teaching

The GSW faculty comes from a range of disciplines at John Carroll so you are sure to gain a variety of perspectives and ideas related to so many careers. The Gender Studies Advisory Board Members include professors from sociology, chemistry, philosophy, history, and from the Violence Prevention and Action Center.  Your class sizes will be small and intimate – featuring many discussion-based models related to relevant trends in gender studies.

Jobs & Internships

As a Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies major, you will complete an internship as an integral part of your senior capstone course. Internship sites throughout Cleveland, Ohio are broad and relevant, because gender, sexuality and women’s studies crosses disciplines. In the past, students have interned at: public service and not-for-profit organizations; advocacy and special interest groups; media organizations; at businesses, including both the public and private sectors; government and politics at varying levels. Graduates of GSW are prepared for any career that requires comprehensive thought, empathy, and communication skills. You will be prepared to meet the societal needs of analyzing social inequities, initiating change, and confronting social injustice. As an educated, mindful citizen who is socially and politically active in the broadest sense you can work in a variety of fields after graduation, including education, health care, the media, the arts, politics, law, social work, psychology, sports, business and industry.

Student Organizations and Events

On campus, our program collaborates with other University and student groups on special events and lectures. Examples of events include Cultural Awareness lecturers, and the Women’s Lives speaker series. Other student organizations related to gender studies include: Allies; Her Campus; Students for Social Justice; Students Empowering Women; and Take Back the Night.

“Examining from an interdisciplinary perspective how gender, race, class, and sexuality intersect and interact within both individual identity and society prepares Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies students to challenge oppression and promote social justice in a diverse and complex world.”

—Diana Taylor, Program Director

Featured Courses

HS 242 INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

This course will introduce you to the historical roots of contemporary social problems as they relate to gender and women's issues. Topics may vary, but will generally include complex issues such as maternal mortality, rape as a weapon of war, the ethics of prostitution, human trafficking, and other forms of gendered violence. You will also learn about the history of social movements that have improved the lives of women and girls worldwide.

SC 303 WOMEN, GENDER RELATIONS, AND SPORTS

This course is a dive into the cultural and structural relationships of women and gender (relations) in sports and other popular culture in society. Particular focus on issues of culture, structure, and organization as they relate to masculinities and femininities, gender relations, and sex and sexuality. Includes a survey of past and current developments of women and gender in sport in North America.

PS 289 PSYCHOLOGY OF TRAUMA: MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT

You will examine how trauma physically affects the brain and body, as well as the complex psychological underpinnings associated with the various forms of trauma. It also discusses the various approaches to healing the body and mind, including traditional and alternative approaches such as yoga, theatre, EMDR, movement.

Notable Alum

Autumn Franz

Autumn Franz, Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies ‘20

Status: Child Advocacy Specialist, Geauga County Job and Family Services

“I am ambitious about the goals I develop and want to promote justice and understanding of cultural differences worldwide while working with others who wish to do the same.”

Alumni Across The Region Map

Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Alumni Across the Region

John Carroll University alumni live, work, teach and support communities throughout the region from Northeast Ohio to Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, Rochester, Pittsburgh, New York City, Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Mylane

Career Opportunities

Generally Gender Studies prepares students to meet the societal needs of analyzing social inequities, initiating change, and confronting social injustice. GEND graduates are educated mindful citizens who are socially and politically active in the broadest sense. Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies majors work in a variety of fields after graduation, including education, health care, the media, the arts, politics, law, social work, psychology, sports, business and industry.

Download the checklist for GSW majors Minor, Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion Student Accessibility Services