Women’s Studies
Why Major in Women’s Studies?
Women's Studies gives students an opportunity to explore gender issues in an interdisciplinary context, and it offers a useful complement to other fields. The required courses provide a framework for understanding the gender-based aspects of knowledge, power, and society.
The interdisciplinary Women's Studies Program, established in 1986, offers students the opportunity to study the experiences and achievements of women, with a view to gaining a more complete and balanced understanding of women's and men's lives, both historically and in contemporary society.
Women's Studies represents a new approach to knowledge; it examines the gender-based aspects of human experience and women's roles in society. Women's Studies includes a wide variety of academic disciplines and professions.
The main goals of Women's Studies are to compensate for the neglect of women traditionally in university teaching and research, to examine critically some basic assumptions underlying the academic disciplines, to encourage and promote scholarship which recognizes and reflects the diversity of women's lives, and to link up with community organizations working for women's equality and social justice.
Women's Studies courses provide perspectives on women's lives and on women's work, both paid and unpaid, which will be useful to anyone trying to understand women's realities in the world today. Employers in the private sector, government, and non-government organizations hire people who have expertise in gender, equity, and human rights issues.
What Can You Be With a Major in Women’s Studies?
A major does not dictate your career; it provides you with invaluable skills and knowledge that you can apply to many areas of life and work. Here are some the careers you may want to consider pursuing with your major:
- Career Counsellor
- Community Activist
- Consultant
- Director, Nonprofit Organization
- Editorial Writer or Assistant
- Family Planning Counselor
- Feminist Organization Worker
- Freelance Writer
- Human Resources Manager
- Market Researcher
- Search for Careers for more career possibilities.
With additional education/training…
- Social Worker
- University/College Professor
- Paralegal
- Negotiator
- Psychologist
Where Can You Work?
- Government Agencies
- Non-government Organizations
- Universities/Colleges
- Schools
- Health Care Industry
- Labour Relations Industry
- Personnel Management Departments/Firms
- Legal Aid Agencies/Law Firms
- Counselling Departments/Companies
- Research Centres
What Skills Can You Develop?
An Arts degree helps you develop transferable, functional skills such as writing, critical thinking and communication skills that employers and most work situations require. Concentrating your studies in a major allows you to gain specific transferable skills, such as those below, which are attractive to particular employers and industries.
- Ability to think logically and critically and make analogies
- Oral and written expression skills
- Ability to make critical observations and evaluations
- Research skills
- Ability to understand ideas and values
- Proficiency in analytical reasoning
- Understanding of popular culture and trends
- Ability to understand women's realities and experiences and to do gender analysis
- Orientation to critical thinking, political activism
- Awareness of intercultural conflicts and perspectives
- Knowledge of historical events and politics
- Comprehensive command of grammar and vocabulary
- Ability to think clearly and form arguments
- Ability to effectively discuss controversial topics
- Knowledge of issues relevant to women and society
Professional Associations
Professional associations can be a great way to meet, learn from and network with professionals in your field of interest. Some associations offer student memberships, often at a reduced rate. Below is a sample of professional associations you can explore.
Contact the Department
UNB Faculty of Arts
P.O. Box 4400
Fredericton NB E3B 5A3
