Women’s and Gender Studies, BA/Public Health, MPH

Create Health Equity for the Most Marginalized Populations

Pace is home to the only undergraduate Women's and Gender Studies program in the tri-state area focused on careers in nonprofits, the third-largest workforce in the United States. You'll learn to critically examine how intersecting identities shape life experiences, investigate social inequalities, and advocate for people to be who they are. Then, you'll build on that foundation with a Master of Public Health from one of only 15 U.S. universities to have signed the Okanagan Charter, demonstrating Pace's commitment to promoting health and wellness at every level.

Build on the WGS foundation to earn a Master of Public Health. Prepare for a rewarding career that combines innovative community health strategies, data-driven and technology-enabled approaches, and effective public health leadership and practice that will open doors to leadership positions at impactful institutions including nonprofit organizations, the private sector, state and county health departments, universities, foundations, and federal health agencies. Pace is only the 15th university in the U.S. to have signed the Okanagan Charter, which requires signatories to promote health and wellness at multiple levels.

Curriculum for Women’s and Gender Studies, BA/Public Health, MPH

Combine the BA in Women's and Gender Studies and its unique intersectional focus on sexual, reproductive, and disability rights, with a Master of Public Health, and you'll be equipped to drive real, lasting change in public health equity.

View Curriculum

Take Courses Like…

• WS 291 Global Activism and Transnational Feminist Theories
  Examine transnational feminist theories in order to better understand contemporary global feminist campaigns.
• WS 299 Sexuality, Disability, and Society
  Consider the tension between the social construction and control of sexuality, and explore the resistance to both.
• PH 610 Health Policy and Systems Reform
  Examine the structure of health systems, analyzing main actors, mechanisms and dynamics that influence health policy-making processes, including health sector reform.

Program Highlights

Women's and Gender Studies

Your Pace education in Women's and Gender Studies goes well beyond the classroom. Get involved, dig deeper, and make your mark:

Conduct Independent Research

Work directly with faculty on independent projects and original research in your area of interest.

Health Promotion Career Path

Pace is one of only 15 U.S. universities to have signed the Okanagan Charter for wellness, and has been ranked by Campus Pride as one of the most queer-friendly campuses in the country. Our department has pioneered an inclusive approach to sexual, reproductive, and disability health through specialized courses, grant writing and fundraising training, and a senior seminar in feminist leadership. Declare a joint degree with the Master of Public Health as early as your junior year, and build a career creating real change in global health equity.

LGBTQA+ and Social Justice Center

This is your home for advocacy, education, and community at Pace. The center champions identity expression and self-determination for all students, faculty, and staff through programming, activism, and an unwavering commitment to social justice.

Center for Community Action and Research (CCAR)

The CCAR connects you to more than a decade of civic engagement, community partnerships, and social responsibility initiatives across Dyson College and the wider university. Get involved through curricular and co-curricular programs that put your values into action.

Master of Public Health

• Study on your terms. On-campus, web-assisted, hybrid, and fully online courses give you flexibility without sacrificing rigor.
• Full-time students earn the MPH in 16 months; part-time students complete in 24 months
• Open to both domestic students and international student visa holders (50% +1 minimum of the program is in-person, with only one online course taken per semester)
• Eligible for the STEM 24-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension
• Choose electives across disciplines to tailor your MPH to your interests and career goals
• Complete an Applied Practice Experience starting in your second semester, with hands-on work experience and employment leads facilitated by a dedicated in-house team
• Rolling admissions for Fall and Spring entry
• Graduate assistantships available to qualified students

Careers

Position yourself for one of the 200,000 public health jobs available in New York State, according to Glassdoor statistics. Build specialized expertise in sexual, reproductive, and disability health care; leadership in the social impact sector; and evidence-based approaches to improving public health. Pace's career services team is here to help you identify your goals and take the next step toward a meaningful career.

Contact Us

Admission Contact

Office of Undergraduate Admission
Phone: (914) 773-3746
Email: undergradadmission@pace.edu

Office of Graduate Admission
Mickael Pollard
Graduate Admission Counselor
Phone: (914) 773-3096
Email: mpollard2@pace.edu

Departmental Contact

Women’s and Gender Studies Department
Meghana V. Nayak, PhD
Chair
Phone: (212) 346-1465
Email: mnayak@pace.edu

Master of Public Health Program
Joshua Mendelsohn, PhD
Program Director
Phone: (212) 618-6012
Email: jmendelsohn@pace.edu