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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.

Program Offerings

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 BA in Intersectional Chicanx/Latinx Studies facilitates an in-depth and interdisciplinary understanding of U.S. Latinx communities in all their diversity, now comprising 18% of the national population and more than 50% of California residents. Learn about the multifaceted Latinx cultural and political heritage, serving the needs of Latinx communities, and leading social change.

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 analyzes historical and contemporary LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, communities, cultures, and activist movements through an intersectional lens. Courses in the minor center queer and trans voices and experiences, especially those of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

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.

Research and Activism

All seniors—majors and minors—complete a research project under faculty supervision and take part in a research seminar with their fellows. 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.

MCGS 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. Opportunities to practice direct activism are made available on a regular basis. MCGS offers dedicated awards and scholarships for our students; our graduates have an excellent record of post-college professional placement and acceptance into graduate schools.

Program Goals

  1. MCGS majors will be able to identify, explain, and analyze major issues and social movements related to diverse identities and experiences through various theoretical lenses; particular areas of focus include women, gender, U.S. race and ethnicity, sovereignty, LGBTQIA2S+, socioeconomic class, and ability.
  2. MCGS majors will be able to effectively apply field-specific vocabulary, concepts, theories, and interdisciplinary analytical frameworks in activities and assignments.
  3. MCGS majors will be able to interpret the concept of intersectionality, as well as the interlocking systems of power including racism, ethnocentrism, nationalism, settler colonialism, religious hegemony, classism, ableism, sexism, and heterosexism operating in a given situation.
  4. MCGS majors will be able to:
    • Engage in interdisciplinary scholarly research.
    • Assess and evaluate sources.
    • Employ effective data collection.
    • Apply diverse analysis methods.
    • Make informed, professional uses of technology.
  5. MCGS majors will be able to compose comprehensible, well organized, evidence-based, and substantive verbal presentations in the discipline.
  6. MCGS majors will be able to compose comprehensible, well organized, evidence-based, and substantive scholarly writing in the discipline.
  7. MCGS majors will be able to demonstrate capacity for leadership and work effectively in teams with a diverse range of individuals.
  8. MCGS majors will be able to apply their knowledge of women, gender, U.S. race and ethnicity, sovereignty, LGBTQIA2S+, socioeconomic class, and ability to an organization or community effort.

Career Outlook

A major or minor in Multicultural and Gender Studies emphasizes leadership, critical thinking, collaborative learning, intercultural competency, activism, and advocacy, all skills which can be applied to a host of careers. You will learn to look beneath the surface, to see and analyze complexities of issues and situations. You will be able to lead efforts toward inclusivity and equity.

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. 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

  • Labor Relations Representative, California School Employees Association

  • Education Specialist, Four Winds of Indian Education

  • Consultant and Speaker on Gender Identity, national-level

  • 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:21