Women and International Development - BS
The Women1 and International Development major prepares students to lead and influence in global development work, with a focus on equity, sustainability, and the vital roles women play in shaping resilient communities. Drawing from disciplines such as economics, political science, sociology, and global studies, students examine the forces that drive poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment while learning how to promote more just and inclusive solutions.
Students develop core competencies in applied research, data analysis, policy evaluation, professional writing, and advocacy. The curriculum emphasizes the intersection of gender with global development challenges, helping students understand how structures of power, culture, and economics affect resource distribution and human rights. Whether analyzing the impact of microfinance programs or evaluating public health policy, students gain practical tools to assess needs and recommend data-informed strategies.
This major is especially well-suited for students pursuing careers with NGOs, international aid organizations, government agencies, foundations, or private sector initiatives that promote sustainable development and gender equity. Through coursework, internships, and research opportunities, students graduate ready for roles such as program analysts, policy advocates, research associates, and community development leaders.
Women and International Development majors are encouraged to pursue internships and study abroad experiences that deepen their understanding of global challenges and cross-cultural collaboration. Graduates leave St. Kate’s equipped with the skills and global awareness to lead efforts for justice, equity, and sustainable change—living out the university’s mission to shape a more just and compassionate world.
1 Women are people with diverse backgrounds of gender, class, race, sexuality, nation, age and ability. This vision of women is central to St. Catherine University Women’s Studies.
See also: Gender and Women's Studies
his major is offered in the College for Women.
The women1 and international development major prepares students for development careers in such contexts as NGOs, government agencies, foundations, and private development initiatives. The program emphasizes issues of justice and sustainability, women’s roles in communities and organizations, applied research, and women’s leadership in development.
With an emphasis on development practice, this major helps students use economic, social, cultural, and political structures to understand the process of development, women’s crucial roles in that process, and persistent inequities in the distribution of social and economic goods. Students will learn the context of globalization to understand how to build a just and sustainable global society with equal rights for men and women across nations and cultures.
- 1
Women are people with diverse backgrounds of gender, class, race, sexuality, nation, age and ability. This vision of women is central to St. Catherine University Women’s Studies.
See also: Gender and Women's Studies
Curriculum
This major is offered in the College for Women.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 1120 | Economics of Social Issues | 4 |
| ECON 2620 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 4 |
| ECON 3450W | Haves and Have Nots: Development, Poverty, and Inequality | 4 |
| SOCI 2200 | People, Stories and Images: Qualitative Social Research | 4 |
| or ECON 3050 | Quantitative Impact Evaluation: Applied Research Skills | |
| WOST 2050W | Foundations of Gender and Women's Studies | 4 |
| WOST 4850W | Senior Seminar | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Environmental Biology with Lab | ||
| Environmental Health | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Women and Globalization | ||
| Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | ||
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| Communicating across Cultures, Identities and Differences | ||
| International Economics: Trade and Immigration | ||
| Global Health | ||
| Intro to the Nonprofit Sector | ||
| Politics of Global Cities | ||
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Women's Issues from Global Perspectives | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Statistical Analysis for Decision Making | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Statistical Methods in Psychology | ||
| Statistical Analysis with Corequisite | ||
| Statistical Analysis | ||
| Total Credits | 44 | |
WOST Courses: Students must take a minimum of five WOST or WOST cross-listed classes (many in the major are cross-listed, see specific classes).
Substantive International Experience: Majors are encouraged to engage in a substantive international experience (such as study abroad, an internship, an independent study, or work/lived experience abroad) during their studies.
Students are encouraged to check course prerequisites prior to planning their individual program of study.
Women1 and international development majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing WOST 2050W Foundations of Gender and Women's Studies and WOST 4850W Senior Seminar. They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with two other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman and CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice).
- 1
Women are people with diverse backgrounds of gender, class, race, sexuality, nation, age, and ability. This vision of women is central to St. Catherine University Women’s Studies.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Term | ||
| ECON 1120 | Economics of Social Issues | 4 |
| Spring Term | ||
| Select one from: | 4 | |
| Statistical Analysis for the Social Sciences | ||
| Statistical Analysis for Decision Making | ||
| Statistical Methods in Psychology | ||
| Statistical Analysis | ||
| Fall Term | ||
| ECON 2620 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 4 |
| WOST 2050W | Foundations of Gender and Women's Studies | 4 |
| Spring Term | ||
| Select one from: | 4 | |
| Environmental Biology with Lab | ||
| Environmental Health | ||
| ECON 3050 | Quantitative Impact Evaluation: Applied Research Skills | 4 |
| or SOCI 2200 | People, Stories and Images: Qualitative Social Research | |
| Fall Term | ||
| ECON 3450W | Haves and Have Nots: Development, Poverty, and Inequality | 4 |
| Select one from: | 4 | |
| International Economics: Trade and Immigration | ||
| Global Health | ||
| Intro to the Nonprofit Sector | ||
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Women's Issues from Global Perspectives | ||
| Spring Term | ||
| POSC 3150 | Women and Globalization | 4 |
| or POSC 3350 | Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | |
| Fall Term | ||
| Complete other graduation requirements | ||
| Spring Term | ||
| WOST 4850W | Senior Seminar | 4 |
| Select one from: | 4 | |
| Communicating across Cultures, Identities and Differences | ||
| Global Health | ||
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Total Credits | 44 | |
WOST Courses: Students must take a minimum of five WOST or WOST cross-listed classes (many in the major are cross-listed, see specific classes).
Substantive International Experience: Majors are encouraged to engage in a substantive international experience (such as study abroad, an internship, an independent study, or work/lived experience abroad) during their studies.
Students are encouraged to check course prerequisites prior to planning their individual program of study.