OpportunitiesGender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Program

The Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Program at Gustavus Adolphus encourages you to take an active role in your education and personal growth. Students come from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, and this diversity enriches the learning environment. You will benefit from the strong relationships built with peers and faculty members. The program's small class sizes allow for personalized attention and opportunities for one-on-one interactions with faculty. These relationships extend beyond the classroom, with many students and faculty participating in extracurricular activities and community events together.

Discover the Opportunities with Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies

  • Feminist Fikas Join other students and faculty regularly at a Feminist Fika. These gatherings provide an opportunity for students and faculty to discuss queer and feminist topics, share ideas, and build connections. The Feminist Fikas create a space where individuals can engage in meaningful conversations and explore queer and feminist issues from various perspectives.

  • Explorations Talks Several times a year the GWSS program hosts an Explorations Talks to provide a platform for intellectual exchange related to student or faculty research findings, insights, and experiences with the community. These informal sessions provide students with a supportive setting to gain confidence presenting and to learn more about topics outside of your coursework. They're also an opportunity for students to hear about faculty research in progress and to ask questions and provide suggestions as a member of a shared intellectual community.

  • GWSS Research Students regularly participate in research within class settings. GWSS faculty are among the country's top scholars whose research expertise is matched by their dedication to innovative course design and collaborative research projects. Established through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, you may collaborate with a faculty member through a humanities research “lab.” Faculty specialize in topics ranging from public health, trauma, and addiction to representations of girl power, Blackness, and queer identities in cultures and societies across the globe.

  • Student Groups GWSS students are involved in many groups on campus, such as Students for Reproductive Freedom, Gustavus Dems, Women Action Coalition, and the Body Positivity House. Participating in a student group provides you with opportunities for leadership development, event planning, and community organizing. The GWSS program is active in providing support to these student groups to help magnify their message and collaborate on events.

  • Moe Lecture The Moe Lectureship allows the GWSS program to bring top feminist scholars to the Gustavus community. The Moe Lectures represent the interdisciplinary and intersectional nature of the GWSS program, bringing expertise from various fields including anthropology, cultural studies, biology, literature, philosophy, history, and law.

  • Study Away There are many programs around the world offering classes connected to the GWSS major. You are encouraged to further explore different perspectives by studying away from campus. The Center for International and Cultural Education has information on many programs that may be particularly interesting to you. The GWSS faculty work with you in selecting courses that may be applied to the major or minor requirements.

  • Internships Many students have internships in public policy, social work, and nonprofits during the year or in the summer. Students also may work as paid interns for the Moe Lectureship planning and hosting the event, from the creation of marketing materials to budget planning and accompanying our invited speaker during their time on campus.

  • Career Preparation You will develop career-oriented competencies around diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness; identifying problems and working proactively on solutions; developing sophisticated frameworks to work through complicated issues; navigating difficult conversations; advocating for an idea or person; and analyzing and shaping social institutions. Many students complete another major or minor since the work of GWSS intersects with many other disciplines. Faculty and the staff of the Career Development Office will help you take your experience and interests to start your career journey.

Watch this short video to hear from our students about their experience in the GWSS program and their career preparation.