Women's and Gender Studies, BA
New York, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 52,924 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* subject to change
Key Summary
About: Pace University’s Women’s and Gender Studies BA examines gender as social, cultural, and political practice. The curriculum focuses on intersectionality—race, class, sexuality, disability, nationality—mixing theory with practical skills. You’ll study inequality, identity, social justice, and activism, and tailor your degree with electives and internships for real-world experience.
Career Outcomes: Graduates work in advocacy, policy, law, public health, and nonprofit sectors. Roles include Gender Equality Advocate, Social Policy Analyst, Diversity Program Coordinator, Community Outreach Specialist, and Nonprofit Program Manager. Employers include law firms, LGBTQIA+ and migrant advocacy groups, city government, sexual health nonprofits, the United Nations, and justice reform institutes.
The Women's and Gender Studies bachelor’s program offers students a chance to explore the social, cultural, and political aspects of gender and how these shape individual and collective experiences. The curriculum encourages critical thinking about gender-related issues and promotes a deeper understanding of how gender intersects with race, class, sexuality, and nationality. Students engage with a range of topics such as inequality, identity, social justice, and activism, preparing them to analyze and challenge gender-based injustices in various contexts.
The program emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, aiming to develop well-rounded individuals ready to contribute to positive change. Students can customize their studies through electives and internships, gaining real-world experience. The curriculum is designed to support diverse perspectives and foster inclusive dialogue, helping students become informed advocates and leaders. This flexible approach ensures that students are equipped with the tools to pursue careers in advocacy, education, policy, or further academic study in women’s and gender studies.
As a student, you will be welcomed into a department with outstanding faculty who are invested in your success. By the time you graduate, you will join a new generation of leaders, visionaries, and thinkers who will address our world's problems.
Through its flexible, this degree enables student to easily create a double major with: psychology, English, political science, history, peace and justice studies, sociology/anthropology, economics, and more.
Take Courses Like…
- WS 180 Nonprofit Skills for Social Justice
- WS 297X Gender and Human Rights
- WS 297S Inclusive Sex Education and Reproductive Health in the Nonprofit Sector
Getting Involved
Your Pace education in Women’s and Gender Studies extends well beyond the classroom. Students have the opportunity to get involved in a wide variety of programming that furthers their unique interests and area of study:
Conduct Independent Research:
Work on independent projects and conduct research with faculty. Recent examples include:
- Sydney Tisch and Natalia Villarreal’s work with Professor Nayak on feminist activism published in International Feminist Journal of Politics
- Duke Huang’s work with Professor Bent on girls’ activism in climate justice
Health Promotion Career Path:
Against the backdrop of Pace's signing of the Okanagan Charter for wellness and our Campus Pride-ranking as the most queer-friendly campus in the country, our department has pioneered an inclusive approach to sexual, reproductive, and disability health through a combination of specialized courses, opportunities to learn grant writing and fundraising, and a senior seminar on feminist leadership skills, all of which train you to excel in multiple sectors. You can even declare a joint degree with the Master of Public Health in your junior year and have a meaningful career in creating global health equities.
LGBTQA+ and Social Justice Center:
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Asexual, and Ally (LGBTQA+) Social Justice Center exists to create campus environments that are inclusive and supportive of students, faculty, and staff diversity in the areas of sexuality and gender identity and expression. The office promotes identity expression, self-determination, and exploration on all levels for all members of Pace University through advocacy, education, activism, programming, and a commitment to social justice.
Center for Community Action and Research:
For more than a decade, the Center for Community Action and Research (CCAR) has supported civic engagement, social responsibility, and reciprocal partnerships with the community, resulting in enriched learning for positive change. Housed within the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, the CCAR’s programs serve the entire University through curricular and co-curricular initiatives, coordination of national civic engagement programs, and support of ongoing community partnerships.
A degree in women’s and gender studies signals to employers that you have the tools to create equitable social change regarding gender and its intersections with race, disability, sexuality, class, the environment, and more. Our graduates have gone on to make a difference in a wide variety of fields ranging from law, to politics, to non-profit work.
As a Pace student, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with our robust career services team to develop a career plan that best fits your goals.
Our graduates are prepared for jobs like:
- Gender Equality Advocate
- Social Policy Analyst
- Diversity Program Coordinator
- Community Outreach Specialist
- Nonprofit Program Manager
- Public Health Advocate
Where Pace Graduates are Employed
- Law firms and legal advocacy organizations
- LGBTQIA+ nonprofits
- Migrant advocacy organizations, such as Al Otro Lado
- NYC Mayor’s Office
- Safe Horizon and other anti-violence organizations
- Sexual and reproductive health nonprofits
- United Nations
- Vera Institute for Justice
- Self-employed as consultants or founders of nonprofits