[Why Women's Studies] Women's Studies :: Montclair State University

WHY WOMEN'S STUDIES

The Women's Studies Program at MSU offers students a strong education in the newest theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding and examining how gender and related factors contribute to the diverse economic, political, and cultural institutions and relationships that shape people's lives. Women's Studies challenges students to employ a new analytical lens to investigate current issues in business, policy analysis, education, the arts, and other important arenas.

Workplace dynamics, gender equity, diversity issues, and processes of globalization--core topics in MSU's Women's Studies courses--are important in a range of career fields. Graduates with majors or minors in Women's Studies find meaningful careers in private enterprise as well as governmental bureaus, non-profit organizations, and community agencies that demand insight into the interconnected complexities of contemporary life along with an expertise in women's issues. Corporations want employees who can think critically, develop innovative approaches to problems, and set new standards of leadership performance. Women's Studies graduates are just such people. Additionally, the Women's Studies program offers a foundation for graduate work in professional degree programs such as teaching, counseling, social work, legal studies, public health, business administration, and advocacy.

The Women's Studies major is designed for students who desire a thorough understanding of the history, theories, actions, and issues constituting the interdisciplinary field of Women's Studies. For these students the major allows for a concentrated course of study culminating in a self-generated research project. Our major also works effectively with a second major without unnecessary duplication of courses, but with the added intellectual enhancements and skills that come from thinking about gender, race, culture, and sexuality in relation to other disciplinary topics and methodologies.

The Women's Studies minor is best suited to students who have already declared a primary field of study but desire an additional way of approaching issues in that field. The minor introduces students to the significant issues in Women's Studies and allows students to pursue their intellectual questions through a variety of

The GLBTQ Studies minor offers a unique opportunity to examine relevant questions involving national and international GLBTQ subjects and communities from multiple perspectives. Established in 2008, the minor consists of one core course and five electives. All courses address GLBTQ issues from different fields of study, hence producing an interdisciplinary dialogue that promotes critical thinking and develops critical perspectives on the complexities of gender, sexuality, and sexual identities.