Bachelor of Arts: Women’s and Gender Studies
Looking for a well-rounded interdisciplinary education? Are you passionate about gender issues? Do you want a degree that will keep you involved?
if you answered yes to these questions, the Women’s and Gender Studies program at Concordia University Chicago could be a perfect match for you -- a unique program focused on academic analysis within a faith-based context.
Program Overview
The first program of its kind in the Concordia University System, this interdisciplinary major explores gender as a theory and as a practice. The program intersects the women’s and gender studies discipline with psychology, sociology, art, media studies, communication, history, political science, theology and a range of other disciplines.
The core faculty for our program are housed in multiple departments and are all trained in women’s and gender studies in their respective fields. The scope of our program also makes it a perfect minor for many majors here at Concordia-Chicago.
Because women’s and gender studies is an interdisciplinary field of study, students may major in women’s and gender studies, minor to complement their designated major or simply take a class to learn more about women’s and gender studies.
General Course Information
If you major in Women’s and Gender Studies at Concordia-Chicago, you will take two required fundamental courses. You will also take courses in your desired area of specialization, such as art, psychology, sociology, history, English, communication or philosophy.
Our courses strongly encourage using your critical thinking skills to participate in discussion and analysis on gender roles, while examining how these issues impact society.
If you minor in WGS, you are required to take Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies, a popular general education course in the College of Arts and Sciences. As with the major, the rest of your coursework will consist of individualized study in an area of interest to you.
For details about required courses and course descriptions, please visit our online catalog pages.
Opportunities
Studying gender is beneficial for any student and sets them apart in the job market. You can work in the arts, business, education, health, human services, political action, research and many other fields. According to a recent online study about women’s and gender studies graduates, they are working in more than 200 occupations across the nation.
Each March, Concordia-Chicago hosts a series of events in honor of Women’s History Month. Throughout the year, our faculty host lectures and panels where you can meet speakers, contribute to discussions and give a presentation. We also partner with Dominican University annually to host a Women’s and Gender Studies Conference, where students and faculty present and discuss current gender issues. Presentations have explored feminism in literature, theories on gender stereotypes, gender issues in counseling, and more.