Department of Gender and Women's Studies

Study equality and justice

Choosing to major in gender and women’s studies involves looking at gender, race, class sexuality, and other identity categories from historical and contemporary perspectives. These issues are present in today’s headlines every day and affect people around the country and the globe. This interdisciplinary program is an inclusive approach that will allow you to develop a deeper understanding of how gender plays a role in our world.

• 100%of students participate in an internship
• 18average class size at Saint Mary's
• 100%of students conduct research on a topic of their choice

Gender & Women's Studies majors and minors are featured in a 1990s-style feminist 'zine workshop, at a Deconstructing Gender workshop tied to their experiential learning Feminist Theory class, and at the December 2024 end-of-term hot cocoa party.

Internship preparation and beyond

At Saint Mary’s, you have the opportunity to jumpstart their careers with internships in a variety of fields and roles. Whether locally or around the country, you will be prepared to present yourself confidently and earn internships that will give you insight into a desired career path.

• Jordan Lolmaugh ’19
  Gender and Women’s Studies and Psychology double major
  Intern at Transgender Resource, Education and Enrichment Services (TREES)
  South Bend, IN

• Kayla Zellmer ’18
  Gender and Women’s Studies and Psychology double major
  Intern at the Center for Missing Exploited Children
  Washington, DC

• Taylor Thomas ’18
  Psychology major, minor in Gender and Women’s Studies
  Intern at the Family Justice Center
  South Bend, IN

Phoenix McClellan '25

Phoenix McClellan '25 (they/them) is currently a Women's Studies and Gender Studies MA student at Loyola University Chicago. They work as a Teaching Assistant within their current program. At the moment, Phoenix is currently applying to PhD programs in American history with an imagined focus on the public history of gender, sexuality, and women.

"The GWS program really helped prepare me for my graduate studies! I learned how to conduct feminist research through the lens of various disciplines, experienced what it meant to be an activist, and discovered new ways of producing knowledge. All of the knowledge that I gained within the program affects everything that I do as I apply these lessons to understanding global issues, creating scholarship utilizing high theory, and working alongside professors to help teach undergraduates fundamental texts within the field."

Unique courses and research opportunities

Award-winning faculty will teach your courses and guide you through feminist history and inequality from different perspectives. All students conduct a research project in an area of interest to them and have the opportunity to present at conferences locally and around the country, including the New Directions 2018 Midwest Undergraduate Conference in Gender Studies at the University of Notre Dame co-hosted by the Department of Gender and Women's Studies.

A career that makes a difference

Many students who pursue a major in gender and women’s studies seek to advocate for others, organize and plan coalitions, work in public policy, law, media, or business. The opportunities are endless for graduates with critical thinking skills, public speaking, theory, and interdisciplinary research methods.

• Payton Moore ’15
  Gender and women’s studies minor
  PhD candidate in Gender and Women's Studies
  University of Kentucky

• Julia Sturges ’18
  Gender and women’s studies major
  Law School Student
  Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.