Academic Program Code: 526
The purpose of studying gender at Grand Rapids Community College is to challenge students to consider how a variety of areas of study are shaped by gender and how gender impacts people’s understanding of all elements of systems and cultures. The interdisciplinary coursework in Gender Studies focuses on gender formation and history, communications, sociology, linguistics, literature, gender empowerment, the humanities and social sciences, and social justice and politics, among other topics. The courses also consider how gender intersects with culture, race, class, ethnicity, society, law and sexuality. The curriculum will encourage the development of critical thinking skills to assess scholarly work done in the discipline and to use that assessment to challenge and expand upon current knowledge. An understanding of gendered group dynamics will help students to become effective leaders. Gender Studies courses will provide students the opportunity to practice listening to and engaging with others’ points of view. The courses will also prepare students to appropriately challenge gender-based inequities and consider how they can be involved in their communities. Students will gain an appreciation for a variety of perspectives and they will understand the impact of diversity on their lives and on society.
This program is designed to offer a clear pathway for students wanting to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program in gender studies at a senior institution. Some of the jobs students with degrees in gender studies pursue include: human services and human relations, advocacy for domestic violence, human rights, women’s health, social services, rape crisis, and social justice issues, community health care, and academic research. By declaring this Pre-Major, students are on track to graduate with an Associate of Arts degree from GRCC and transfer to a 4-year college or university to major in gender studies.
