Ethnic and Gender Studies (EGS) students become critical readers, thinkers and writers who are able to analyze problems from multiple perspectives and theorize nimble solutions to respond to constantly shifting global conditions. Our majors will be particularly versed in the ability to think and to communicate across cultural differences. Developing a broad knowledge base and skills to articulate why and how a policy harms or benefits citizens, to foster coalitions that can actualize change, and to create content that builds upon shared values: all of these skills are fundamental to twenty-first century professions.
The B.A. in Ethnic and Gender Studies provides students with a unique opportunity to combine two related and complementary fields of study in a way that situates them well to compete for jobs in areas including all professions focused on public and community health (for example, counselors, social work positions, sexual health educators, nurses), law, non-profit management, community organizing, media (including journalism, social media management, and digital publishing), entrepreneurship, government and public policy positions, and public relations. This major also provides a rich complement for students seeking dual majors in the sciences, education and business fields.
Ethnic and Gender Studies (EGS) was not what I was expecting to be graduating with when I got out of Fredonia. I began as an acting major, transitioned to an English major, and then found myself getting comfortable within the EGS major. I came to the realization in my second semester that I wanted to go into library science and pursue a career in libraries and that the transition to EGS with an English minor was better fitting for me as it gave me a wider variety of knowledge to best cater to any patron that could walk through my door.
--Owen Wagner, B.A. in Ethnic & Gender Studies '26
