Why WGSS At Ohio State? 

A message from our Chair

Now more than ever, WGSS helps us to ask and answer the most pressing questions of our time. With a commitment to analyzing relationships of power, challenging forms of oppression, and building knowledge that liberates, WGSS gives us the tools to understand our world. WGSS is a field born from struggle, and our departmental community strives to honor and build upon that legacy. WGSS has been a thriving department at Ohio State for the past 50 years and ranks among the top in the nation. The College of Arts and Sciences pledges its full support for the department and continues to support WGSS students. There is no language in Senate Bill 1 about cuts to WGSS major or minor programs. We are here to stay, and we invite you to join us! Consider a major or minor in WGSS, or a minor in LGBTQ+ Studies or in Women, Gender, and Public Policy. –Professor Mytheli Sreenivas 

A message from a WGSS Major 

This major was one of the best decisions I could have ever made for myself because it stretches how you think and therefore how you approach your day-to-day life, as well as how you approach others. It empowers you as an individual, as a student, and embraces who you are while providing a sense of academic rigor that challenges your mind and perception of what’s around you. –Evelyn S. (class of 2026) 

What can you do with a WGSS degree? A lot.  

WGSS students become innovative thinkers and engaged citizens who understand the increasingly diverse world in which they live. They are prepared to make an impact in their communities and pursue a myriad of career paths.  

Through WGSS programming, students develop the following core competencies that can be applied in the nonprofit sector, education, public policy, law, health care, and so many other fields and industries: 

• critical thinking
• effective communication
• efficient collaboration
• scholarly writing and research skills
• and leadership experience 

This development of transferable skills is increasingly important for today's students, who need flexibility to adapt to a rapidly changing job market. For instance, consider what alumna Miriam Noble (BA 2006) shared with us at the 50th Anniversary of our department about the demand for WGSS in the age of AI: