Why Study Women’s Studies at Assumption?
The Women’s Studies minor is ideal for students interested in learning about issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), the intersection of gendered poverty and migration, the complex issues surrounding the changing nature of gender roles, the persistence of gender-based discrimination in the workplace and in education, and the complex issues of unpaid care and work, among other important topics.Learn By Doing
A valuable aspect of the Women’s Studies Program is the opportunity to participate in internships focused on girls and women in our community. For example, for human services or psychology majors, an internship at the YWCA’s Young Parents Program allows students to explore in great depth the impact of single parenthood on the psychological health of young mothers. At Abby’s House, a shelter for homeless women, sociology majors might gain a firsthand view of the feminization of poverty. A history major might obtain valuable research skills by serving as a member of seminars conducted at the American Antiquarian Society, while a Spanish major might participate in the collection and translation of oral histories from Worcester’s Spanish-speaking population in conjunction with the Worcester Women’s Oral History Project.Research Opportunities
Working with a faculty mentor, students have conducted research on:- Women and Poverty
- Women in STEM
- Studies Evaluating Sexual Assault Prevention Programs
- Collegiate Female Athletes
- Post Partum Depression and Maternal Mental Health
- Gender Disparities in Mental Health Services
- Factors Contributing to Higher Maternal Mortality: A Cross-Country Comparison
- Understanding the Specific Barriers of Immigrant Women Facing Intimate Partner Violence
- Understanding the Intersection of Postpartum Depression & Grief Following Infant Loss
Students who complete the course, HUS/SOC/CRM 301 Victim Advocacy: Working with Survivors of Violence will be eligible, at minimum, for the NACP Provisional Credential, but potentially at a higher level of Credentialing based upon their verifiable field experience. For more information, please visit the NACP.
Program Contact
Cinzia Pica, Ed.D.
Director of the Women’s Studies Program, Professor, Human Services
Experiential Learning
Assumption's Rome Campus
At Assumption's campus in Rome, Italy, the city and the country become your classroom through daily and weekend-long excursions throughout "the eternal city" and the Italian countryside. This unique study abroad experience will enrich your academic and cultural pursuits as you walk in the footsteps of emperors and gladiators then enjoy delectable Italian cuisine or perhaps a cappuccino after class in a local cafe. (Did you know that your financial aid follows you to Rome?)
Explore the Rome CampusLearn the Skills Employers Seek
Faculty/Student Research
The Assumption curriculum encourages scholarly and real-world experience. With hands-on research conducted alongside faculty mentors, students gain a depth of knowledge and skills that lead to professional success and personal fulfillment.Study Abroad
At Assumption University, the world is your classroom. Students can study and explore abroad in over 50 places from Vienna to England, South Africa, and even our own campus in historic, yet modern, Rome, Italy. Assumption’s study abroad program offers culture, history, and a living classroom for all.Internships
Assumption starts planning for your future the day you arrive on campus. Our Career Development and Internship Center helps students secure exciting and fulfilling internships where you’ll apply knowledge obtained in the classroom in a professional setting, preparing for a future career or additional study. Assumption connects students to internship opportunities in corporations, government agencies, research hospitals, non-profit organizations, and more.
Kaelin Lozier
Women's Studies 2021
Double Major in Women’s Studies and Psychology; Graduate Student at Southern Connecticut State University
“The Women’s Studies Program and its advisors invested in the expansion of my feminist worldview. I began to comprehend my own unique being and understand the impact of societal norms on the performance of gender. The program cultivated my desire to continue my education and attend Graduate school to receive my Master's in Social Work and Women and Gender Studies.”
Caitlin Mathers
Women's Studies 2022
Minor in Women’s Studies
“The Women's Studies Minor has allowed me to take my knowledge of social justice to a deeper level. I hope to become a social worker in the future and this program has given me insight into various issues on the macro and micro level that affect women globally. I love that this minor offers a wide variety of classes that you can tailor to your preferences.”
Antonia Kosnoski
Women's Studies 2022
Sociology & Criminology Major with a Minor in Women’s Studies, WMS Student Representative
“I am a better woman for minoring in women's studies. The women's studies minor at Assumption University has opened my eyes to the many issues that women face, and continue to fight, in our society. I am a better woman for minoring in women's studies and I will continue to fight for other women in times of need.”
Mia Hoyos Murray
Women's Studies 2022
Psychology and Music Double Major
“The diverse variety of classes allowed me to tailor my experience to my field and related issues. Women’s Studies gave me knowledge and awareness of social justice that facilitates a better understanding of the communities I will serve. Consistent focus on intersectional oppression and interlocking identities made me re-evaluate my beliefs and relationship to the world.”
First-rate Academics in a Catholic University Setting
Assumption University awakens in students a sense of wonder, discovery, and purpose, forming graduates known for their intellectual seriousness, thoughtful citizenship, and devotion to the common good. Students are provided an education that shapes their souls, forms them intellectually, and prepares them for meaningful careers. Enlivened by the harmony of faith and reason, here, students’ minds and hearts are transformed.
Celebrating Women's History Month
Since 1987, the month of March has been designated as Women’s History Month in the United States. To honor this month at Assumption, the Director of Assumption’s Women’s Studies Program, Cinzia Pica, and student members of the program, Katy Cannistraro and Lizzy Cappelli, shared the importance of highlighting women’s history and women’s studies and their favorite aspects of the program.
2024 Women's Studies Event Focused on Feminist Economics
In Spring 2024, the focus of our programming was on feminist economics. In collaboration with the Economics Department, we invited Dr. Sarah Small, Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Utah, and Assumption University alumna (major in Economics and minor in Women’s Studies) to deliver a lecture and engage in an interactive program with our students. The event was attended by over 110 participants.
2023 Women's Studies Programming on Women's Leadership
The program invited Massachusetts Senator Robyn Kennedy (a distinguished Assumption alumna) to Assumption and drew over 120 participants to the event.
Senator Robyn Kennedy serves as the State Senator of the First Worcester District with a specific focus on the care economy, from childcare to elder care, investing in our workforce, improving regional public transportation, and reducing the gap on racial and health inequities. Sen. Kennedy is an alumna of Assumption University and in her lecture and Town Hall included a story about her journey from Assumption College, where her education focused on service and giving back to the community, to her run for public office to serve the people of Worcester as their representative.