Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies is a major and minor at F&M. Unlike other programs — which focus solely on the West or on the United States — F&M's global focus weaves together a unique blend of lenses including: languages, psychology, biology, sociology, history, anthropology, American studies, film and media, and more.

As a major or minor, you’ll explore how social, historical, philosophical, and scientific constructions of gender and sexuality shape both academic discourses and lived experiences. Through coursework and independent research, you’ll learn to apply feminist theories, queer theory, and other critical theories to reflect on how experiences are shaped by gender and sexuality within historical, economic, and cross-cultural contexts.

By the time you graduate, you will: 

• Be familiar with the major issues related to gender and sexuality, and understand the scholarly debates about their causes
• Understand the ways in which gender and sexuality intersect with other axes of power including race, class, ability, nation
• Differentiate among a variety of feminist theories and use them in argument and activism
• Apply cross-cultural, historical, and global frameworks to the analysis of experiences and representations of gender and sexuality

Wondering what a Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies course is like? Take a look at our course catalog to explore what’s available to you.

Research Opportunities 

Every student at F&M has extraordinary opportunities to engage in independent or faculty-led research. As a Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies student, you can join one of the 40 F&M faculty members across 22 academic disciplines who have conducted research incorporating the study of gender or sexuality into their areas of expertise. You can also dive into a relevant topic that interests you most through an independent study.
Explore research at F&M

Annual Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Conference

The Central Pennsylvania Consortium (CPC) — composed of Franklin & Marshall, Dickinson, and Gettysburg Colleges — holds an annual undergraduate Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Conference each spring at one of the three consortium colleges. Our students have presented their research at this conference, covering topics ranging from reproductive justice to queer politics.

Off-Campus Study

Extend your understanding of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies beyond borders. F&M’s exceptional off-campus study program empowers you to study abroad and further explore gendered experiences in other parts of the world. 
Explore off-campus study at F&M

The Alice Drum Women’s Center

​The Alice Drum Women's Center was founded in 1992 to encourage dialogue on women’s and gender issues, advocate for women, and promote equality and mutual respect on the F&M campus. The Center offers resources and information on gender and sexuality, as well as a myriad of opportunities to develop leadership skills.​ Many Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies students engage with the Center, attending events or serving on the Center’s board. 

Explore the Alice Drum Women's Center

The Phillips Museum of Art

Located right in F&M’s Steinman College Center, the Phillips Museum of Art fosters an understanding and appreciation of the arts, including contemporary, historical and multicultural materials. The museum often partners with academic departments to offer opportunities for faculty and staff to extend the walls of their classrooms and engage students in tours, object-based learning workshops, and research opportunities. 

Students of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies have turned to the museum to curate their own exhibitions, working with F&M’s collection of art and objects under the direction of College faculty and museum staff.

Explore the Phillips Museum of Art

What happens after you graduate with a degree in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies? The skills you gain — including the ability to critically analyze the ways gendered perspectives inform fundamental concepts like race, class or ethnicity — are valuable for any post-graduate pursuit. 

Graduate School

Many Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies majors go on to study in graduate programs in the U.S. and abroad. They have pursued advanced degrees in:

• Business Administration
• Criminal Justice
• Food Studies
• Global Health and Development
• Education
• Journalism
• Law
• Mental Health Counseling
• Public Administration
• Public Policy
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Career Paths

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies graduates are prepared for a wide array of careers including in healthcare, education, law, and the nonprofit sector. They hold positions such as:  

• Agrarian Apprentice
• Attorney
• Care Advocate
• Director of Student Affairs
• Editor
• ESOL Specialist
• Law Clerk
• Marketing Account Director
• Media Strategist
• Mental Health Intake Coordinator
• Police Officer
• Program Manager
• School Administrator
• Social Justice Program Coordinator
• Social Media Specialist
• Social Worker
• Teacher
• Technical Recruiter
• Title IX Coordinator