Department of Women’s & Gender Studies

Are you interested in learning about women’s history; media images of masculinity; sexual and gender identity; or the political activism of women of color in the U.S. and globally? Are you aware of important women’s health issues, ready to work on solutions for domestic violence, or want to examine workplace policies on gender?

The Women’s and Gender Studies program at Towson is one of the oldest such programs in the country, spanning a period of more than 40 years. This interdisciplinary major in an exciting and fast-growing field focuses on the power relations that shape people's lives. Examine the diversity of women’s experiences by exploring the intersection of gender, sexuality, race, class and nation. Apply your knowledge to enhance the well-being of women and men, their families and the communities and society in which they live. Active learning strategies are combined with service learning and civic engagement activities both in the undergraduate and graduate programs.

LGBT Studies Program

Do you want to know more about trans identity, or the LGBT rights movement, or LGBT writers, or discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity? The first university in Maryland to recognize Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Studies as a legitimate academic field, Towson offers a program that provides an academic foundation for understanding LGBT issues from an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary perspective. The LGBT program represents a field of scholarship that is in the forefront of developing theoretical and methodological innovations in interdisciplinary studies.

Gain Firsthand Experience

Arrange an internship through Towson’s Career Center or the department. Whole Woman’s Health, My City 4 Her and Fair Girls are among those organizations that regularly provide internship opportunities for students.

Join a Student Group

Share your experiences with peers in one of the department’s student groups. The Feminist Collective addresses contemporary issues with strong ties to activism. Half the Sky is committed to ending oppression for women worldwide. The Queer Student Union is a driving force on campus for awareness and activism.