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Multicultural and Gender Studies

Our Mission

Multicultural and Gender Studies (MCGS) is the academic face of diversity and inclusion at CSU Chico, ever striving to embody, inculcate, promote, and celebrate the values of multicultural respect, awareness, and understanding as fundamental to the socially and environmentally responsible democratic citizen. We are a diverse community of scholars and activists working together to critically examine gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity-primarily within the U.S.-in historical and contemporary cultural contexts.

The BA in Multicultural and Gender Studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to cultural analysis and activism within and across ethnic groups in the U.S., studying intersectionalism with gender, sexuality, socioeconomic class, and other issues of identity.

  • Students pursuing the General option choose one ethnicity/cultural group for close analysis.
  • The Women's Studies option in MCGS includes emphasis on women, gender, and transfeminist analysis.

The African American Studies Minor focuses on Black history, sociology, politics, literature, religion, and culture to analyze the African American experience.

The American Indian Studies Minor prepares students to understand cultural practices, contributions, identities, gender roles, worldviews, and legal issues of U.S. Native American tribes.

The Asian American Studies Minor examines the diverse cultures, histories, experiences, concerns, and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans.

The Intersectional Chicanx/Latinx Studies Minor gives students insight into the historical and contemporary experiences of people with Latin American origin living in the United States, with special focus on cultural, socioeconomic, and political elements.

Managing Diversity in Organizations is a joint minor between MCGS and the Department of Management. Students learn about working together across cultural and gender lines, considering products and services in relation to cultural variables and leading in an increasingly diverse world.

The Multicultural Studies Minor offers an introduction to the theory and practice of cultural analysis, study of cross-cultural and interethnic issues, and analysis of gender and sexuality.

The Sexual Diversity Studies Minor provides knowledge about the LGBTQ spectrum and human sexual diversity across cultures, nationalities, and eras, facilitating more effective interactions with people of diverse sexual identities and orientations.

The Women's Studies Minor introduces students to the theory and practice of transfeminist cultural analysis, basic issues and perspectives in the field of women's studies, and modes of feminist inquiry.

Given that rigorous academic learning is most effective when linked with community-based learning, an internship is required for all majors and minors. Our students put theory into practice through activist and advocacy internships on campus and throughout the North State. With support from MCGS faculty, our students work with campus and community organizations such as the Gender and Sexuality Equity Coalition (GSEC), the Cross Cultural Leadership Center (CCLC), Catalyst Domestic Violence Services, the Chico Peace and Justice Center, the African American Family and Culture Center, and the Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians. Students participate in a variety of campus forums, lectures, and workshops such as the Conversations on Diversity series, aimed at cultivating an inclusive and just environment.

Program Goals

  • PLO #1 MCGS majors will be able to identify, explain, and analyze major issues related to diverse identities and experiences through various theoretical lenses; particular areas of focus include women, gender, U.S. race and ethnicity, sexuality, socioeconomic class, and ability.
  • PLO #2 MCGS majors will be able to effectively apply field-specific vocabulary, concepts, theories, and interdisciplinary analytical frameworks in activities and assignments.
  • PLO #3 MCGS majors will be able to interpret the concept of intersectionality, as well as the interlocking systems of power including racism, ethnocentrism, classism, ableism, sexism, and heterosexism.
  • PLO #4 MCGS majors will be able to:
    • Engage in interdisciplinary scholarly research.
    • Employ effective data collection.
    • Apply diverse analysis methods.
    • Make informed, professional uses of technology.
  • PLO #5 MCGS majors will be able to compose comprehensible, well organized, and substantive verbal presentations in the discipline.
  • PLO #6 MCGS majors will be able to compose comprehensible, well organized, and substantive scholarly writing in the discipline.
  • PLO #7 MCGS majors will be able to demonstrate capacity for leadership and work effectively in teams with a diverse range of individuals.
  • PLO #8 MCGS majors will be able to apply their knowledge of women, gender, U.S. race and ethnicity, sexuality, socioeconomic class, and ability to an organization or community effort.

Career Outlook

A major or minor in Multicultural and Gender Studies emphasizes critical thinking, collaborative learning, intercultural competency, activism, and advocacy, all skills which can be applied to a host of careers--especially leadership positions.

A degree in MCGS demonstrates to potential employers that, in addition to having the determination and focus to earn a college degree, you are well-rounded, having studied across a wide range of academic disciplines. Additionally, you have learned to look beneath the surface, to see and analyze complexities of issues and situations; you are sensitive to and value human diversity.

Our majors tend to enter positions of leadership and service in a variety of fields. There is a growing demand in the professions of management, public health and health services administration, public administration, non-profits, government service, and public policy for individuals with educational backgrounds in diversity issues. Similarly, there are increasing opportunities for consultant work in industry, higher education, insurance companies, and personnel firms.

Our MCGS graduates have become:

  • Advisor to a U.S. Senator

  • Associate Director of Catalyst Domestic Violence Services

  • Senior Associate Attorney

  • Director of Strategic Planning and Research at Audrey Sheppard Women’s Health Consulting

  • Deputy Press Secretary, Rapid Response at Human Rights Campaign

  • Regional Manager at Women's Health Specialists

  • Associate Director of External Affairs at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • Community Organizer, National Center for Transgender Equality

  • Outreach/Counselor at Rape Crisis Intervention and Prevention

  • Product Manager, Access & Publishing Group at California Digital Library

  • Assistant Press Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security

  • Associate Director of Student Life for Social Justice and Service, Southern Oregon University

  • Sr. Communication Specialist at Kiewit and advocate for "at-risk" youth

  • Recruiter for Bay Area tech companies

  • Operations Manager at Girls Leadership, SF

  • General Manager at Old Navy, GAP Inc.

  • Marketing Coordinator at Zephyr Real Estate

  • Medical Services Coordinator at Planned Parenthood Northern California

  • Education Coordinator at American Institute for Social Justice

  • Program Assistant at ACTION Council of Monterey County

  • Professor of English, CSU Chico

  • Lecturer of Multicultural & Gender Studies, CSU Chico

  • Events Associate, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

  • Facilities Coordinator, JLL at Verizon

  • Crisis Intervention Manager at Verity
Catalog Cycle:20