Career Opportunities for Majors in Women's and Gender Studies

Introduction

The Women's and Gender Studies major offers and interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes multicultural and global perspectives of women's lives, presently and historically. Whilt the major focuses on the impact of cultural, educational, familial, institutional and political influences upon women, it also explores the differences and similarities among women across races, classes and ethnicities.

As a liberal arts major, students can seek employment with various types of organizations - public, private, government and Nonprofit. Graduates find job opportunities in a variety of fields, such as government, communications and media, law, public relations, human services, research, international relations, public health and other career fields.

While many graduates work in related occupations and/or choose to obtain an advanced degree, others choose different career paths. Many careers do not require a specific major, but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless of your career choices, increase your marketability to employers through internships, service-learning, work experience, good grades and involvement in college activities.

A Sample of Related Occupations

Admissions Counselor	Employee Relations Manager	Market Research Analyst
Biographer	Financial Planner	Planned Parenthood Counselor
Business Manager	Health Policy Planner	Psychologist
Career Counselor	Hospital Administrator	Public Policy Specialist
Child Welfare Worker	Human Resources Administrator	Public Relations Specialist
Community Affairs Specialist	Investment Counselor	Sales Rep/Manager
Community Service Director	Job Developer	Social Worker
Consumer Advocate	Journalist	Women's Rights Advocate
Customer Relations Rep.	Lawyer	Writer/Editor/Journalist

Types of Employers

Private & Nonprofit Organizations
Advertising Agencies	Community Organizations	Management Consulting Firms
Book Publishers	Economic Development Councils	Market Research Firms
Chambers of Commerce	Economic Research Foundations	Newspapers/Magazines
Childcare and Adoption Agencies	Educational Institutions	Public Relations Firms
Civic/Consumer Organizations	Financial Service Firms	Retail Stores
College Alumnae Associations	Health Organizations	Social Service Agencies
Colleges and Universities	Judicial System	Television & Radio Stations
Community Affairs Agencies	Labor Unions	Women's Rights Organizations

Government Agencies
Civil Rights Commission	County Probation Department	Health and Human Services
Commerce Department	Department of Labor	National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Consumer Affairs Office	Environmental Protection Agency	Small Business Administration
Consumer Product Safety Commission	Federal Communications Agency

Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

First Jobs of Recent Graduates:
Administrative Assistant, NJ Dept. of Community Affairs	Editorial Assistant, American Baby Magazine
Advisor, Alternatives Inc.	Monitor, Community Correction Council
Assistant Manager, Joyce Leslie, Inc.	Program Coordinator, Women's Rights Info. Center
Assistant, B'nai B'rith International Membership	Real Estate Coordinator, Avaya, Inc.
Bank Teller, First Fidelity Bank	Research Assistant, Eagleton Institute, Rutgers
Case Manager, Cumberland Family Shelter	Teacher, Autistic Children, The Children's Institute
Consultant, Center for Women	Television Producer, NBC News
Counselor, Crawford House

Jobs of Experienced Alumni:
Account Manager, The Travel Company	Program Coordinator, Morris County Youth Shelter
Accountant, Cohen, Harrison & Co.	Project Manager, J.P. Morgan & Co.
Admissions Counselor, Rutgers University	Psychiatric Emergency Worker, UMDNJ Community Mental Health Center
Assistant Producer, Clear Cuts Music	Psychotherapist, California Pacific Medical Center (MA)
Assistant-Loans and Syndications, The Bank of Fukuoka, Ltd.	Research Account Executive, McCann-Erickson Advertising (MA)
Director of Grants, Educational Foundation of America	Research Associate, NY State Assembly (MPA)
Educational Developer, USA Today	Residence Hall Director, Beaver College
Log Analyst, Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory	Security Operations Associate, Prudential Financial
Major Gifts Officer, Fordham Law School	Teacher, The English Academy in Spain
Police Officer, Irvington Police Dept.

Graduate Schools Attended

Rutgers - Camden, MA, Liberal Arts/General Studies

Rutgers - New Brunswick, MLER, Labor & Employment Relations

Rutgers - Newark, MA, Public Administration

Vermont Law School, PhD, Environmental Law

Additionally, you may:

Explore the career paths of RU Alumni Career Network mentors.
Go to the Rutgers Online Career Planning Site to explore your interests, skills and values. Use the program for either: High School Students | College Students.
Explore Rutgers University academic department information related to this major.
See the Occupational Outlook Handbook for additional career information.
Pick up your "Career Opportunities" handouts at any New Brunswick Career Services office.

Still Have Questions? Ask a Career Counselor.