Women's and Genders Studies Program Information

Program Description

Women's and Gender Studies examines human behaviour, institutions and cultural contexts in order to reveal and analyze the prevailing assumptions about gender, sexuality, and social diversity on which they are based. The program provides students with a broad analytical vision of the world, and explores a wide variety of topics ranging from changing economic and political roles to representations of gender and sexuality in popular culture.

It examines the changing positions of women, men, and people of all genders, racialized and cultural groups, abilities, ages, and ethnicities, creative and resistant practices that contribute to evolving understandings of gender as it intersects with other identity categories, primarily within Western societies but also in cross-cultural and transnational contexts. It utilizes interdisciplinary approaches to such topics as the relation between gender constructions, gendered patterns of language use in contemporary society, the role of gender in processes of identity formation and socialization, representations of gender in literature, art, music, performance and religion, and the changing economic and political roles of women and other marginalized groups. While Women's and Gender Studies sometimes utilizes concepts developed within longer-established disciplines, it has developed distinctive conceptual frameworks and analytic methodologies which challenge and complement those of other academic disciplines.

Featured Courses

WGST 201.3: Images of Gender and Sexuality in Popular Culture

An introduction to the ways gender, sexuality and identity are represented and produced in popular culture, mainstream media and populist feminist culture. Focuses on critical analysis and intervention, the production of culture and a variety of cultural forms, mainstream media and representational practices.

WGST 210.3: Gendered Perspectives on Current Events

Interdisciplinary examination of current events relating to gender, race, sexuality, ethnicity, ability and class. Special attention will be paid to how recent/ ongoing wars, ecological crises, terrorism, economic recession, etc., impact the lives of women, children and subaltern men, and how such events are represented in mainstream and alternative media.

WGST 312.3: Feminist Research Methodologies

Examines various feminist methodologies and approaches to the formal construction of knowledge. A survey of the major methods of research in diverse fields is presented in the context of feminist critique and epistemology. Androcentric bias, feminist epistemology, ethics and subjectivity are central themes of the course.

WGST 420.3: Challenging Ways of Understanding Sexuality and Gender

This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of how queer theories and lenses can be applied to various bodies of knowledge, including sexualities studies. It engages critically with the interconnections among feminist, queer and trans studies, and their intersections with other marginalized fields of academic inquiry.

Career Opportunities

Today there is a demonstrated need for people with a background in Women's and Gender Studies to work within the areas as social services, education, policy development, welfare, health care, counselling and therapy, law, media, advertising, public administration, finance, and management. Whether you pursue advocacy for social justice, policy shaping, education, or entrepreneurship, your insights into gender dynamics provide a valuable lens for impact. From influencing corporate culture to contributing to global initiatives, your degree equips you to make a meaningful difference in various spheres.

Some career opportunities include:

  • Volunteer services administrator
  • Human support services coordinator
  • Political campaign staff member
  • International human rights program assistant
  • Family services administrator
  • Women’s centre director
  • Resource centre coordinator
  • Community development worker

Program Requirements

Please note that all students must meet the program requirements as they are listed in the University Calendar for the year they entered their program. To see the program requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women's and Genders Studies, click here.

Completion of 9 credit units of college requirements:

  • English Language Writing (3 credit units)
  • Indigenous Learning (3 credit units)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (3 credit units)

Completion of 18 credit units of breadth requirements: 

Choose 9 credit units from the following areas, with a minimum of 3 credit units from each:
  • Humanities
  • Languages

Choose 3 credit units from the following:

  • Sciences

Choose 6 credit units from the following areas:

  • Fine arts
  • Humanities
  • Languages
  • Science
  • Courses with no program type

Completion of 6 credit units of cognate requirements: 

Completion of 36 credit units of major requirements:

Choose 3 credit units from the following:

  • HIST 259.3 Canadian Women from Pre Contact Period to 1918
  • HIST 260.3 Canadian Women History from 1919 to Present
  • INDG 216.3 The Presence of the Past in Contemporary Indigenous Life
  • INDG 230.3 Gender in Traditional and Contemporary Indigenous Societies
  • INDG 255.3 Cultural Survival of Aboriginal Family
  • INDG 256.3 A Critical Survey of the History of Indigenous Child Welfare in Canada
  • INDG 320.3
  • INDG 330.3 Critical Perspectives on Indigenous Sexualities and the Law

Choose 3 credit units from the following:

Choose 21 credit units from the following(at least 6 credit units must be at the 300-level or above):

  • WGST — 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • As well as courses from anthrolpology, art history, economics, education foundations, enlglish, history, Indigenous studies, internation studies, linguistics, philospophy
    • Please see the program catalogue for specific courses that meet the degree requirements. religious studies, sociology. 

Completion of 51 credit units of elective requirements.  

Completion of 9 credit units of college requirements:

  • English Language Writing (3 credit units)
  • Indigenous Learning (3 credit units)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (3 credit units)

Completion of 18 credit units of breadth requirements: 

Choose 9 credit units from the following areas, with a minimum of 3 credit units from each:
  • Humanities
  • Languages

Choose 3 credit units from the following:

  • Sciences

Choose 6 credit units from the following areas:

  • Fine arts
  • Humanities
  • Languages
  • Science
  • Courses with no program type

Completion of 6 credit units of cognate requirements: 

Completion of 48 credit units of major requirements:

Choose 3 credit units from the following:

  • HIST 259.3 Canadian Women from Pre Contact Period to 1918
  • HIST 260.3 Canadian Women History from 1919 to Present
  • INDG 216.3 The Presence of the Past in Contemporary Indigenous Life
  • INDG 230.3 Gender in Traditional and Contemporary Indigenous Societies
  • INDG 255.3 Cultural Survival of Aboriginal Family
  • INDG 256.3 A Critical Survey of the History of Indigenous Child Welfare in Canada
  • INDG 320.3
  • INDG 330.3 Critical Perspectives on Indigenous Sexualities and the Law

Choose 6 credit units from the following:

Choose 30 credit units from the following(at least 12 credit units must be at the 300-level or above):

  • WGST — 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • As well as courses from anthrolpology, art history, economics, education foundations, enlglish, history, Indigenous studies, internation studies, linguistics, philospophy
    • Please see the program catalogue for specific courses that meet the degree requirements. religious studies, sociology. 

Completion of 39 credit units of elective requirements.  

Completion of 9 credit units of college requirements:

  • English Language Writing (3 credit units)
  • Indigenous Learning (3 credit units)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (3 credit units)

Completion of 18 credit units of breadth requirements: 

Choose 9 credit units from the following areas, with a minimum of 3 credit units from each:
  • Humanities
  • Languages

Choose 3 credit units from the following:

  • Sciences

Choose 6 credit units from the following areas:

  • Fine arts
  • Humanities
  • Languages
  • Science
  • Courses with no program type

Completion of 6 credit units of cognate requirements: 

Completion of 30 credit units of major requirements:

Choose 3 credit units from the following:

  • HIST 259.3 Canadian Women from Pre Contact Period to 1918
  • HIST 260.3 Canadian Women History from 1919 to Present
  • INDG 216.3 The Presence of the Past in Contemporary Indigenous Life
  • INDG 230.3 Gender in Traditional and Contemporary Indigenous Societies
  • INDG 255.3 Cultural Survival of Aboriginal Family
  • INDG 256.3 A Critical Survey of the History of Indigenous Child Welfare in Canada
  • INDG 320.3
  • INDG 330.3 Critical Perspectives on Indigenous Sexualities and the Law

Choose 18 credit units from the following:

Choose 3 credit units from the following:

Choose 18 credit units from the following(at least 9 credit units must be at the 300-level or above):

  • WGST — 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • As well as courses from anthrolpology, art history, economics, education foundations, enlglish, history, Indigenous studies, internation studies, linguistics, philospophy
    • Please see the program catalogue for specific courses that meet the degree requirements. religious studies, sociology. 

Completion of 27 credit units of elective requirements.  

Completion of 6 credit units of the following courses:

Choose 18 credit units from the following:

If you require further assistance, please contact the Arts and Science Undergraduate Student Office.