A school in California recently made it easier for students to earn a bachelor's degree in women's studies.

According to the The State Hornet, the college eliminated a petition process that required individuals to provide justification as to why they wanted to major in women's studies. The degree officially became an accredited program this past summer, and the school is now the eighth in the state's university system to offer a bachelor's in this field.

A professor told the news source that the accreditation gives legitimacy to women's studies as a serious academic discipline. The department was originally established by Sally Wagner, a historian and women's rights activist, in 1971.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that social advocacy organizations promote the interest of groups such as women, persons with disabilities and other minorities. Humans rights leaders aim to protect the civil liberties of sociological groups - like women - who may suffer from abuse or exploitation.

The BLS projects that the number of employment opportunities in social advocacy fields will grow by 10.3 percent over the next eight years.