The women’s studies program examines the diversity of women’s experiences, explores how traditional theories and analyses have failed to take gender into account, and uncovers the ways in which social and cultural assumptions and structures are shaped by gender, class, race, sexual orientation, and other variables. The program, housed at Thorneloe University, encourages a critical perspective and teaches highly developed analytic skills while challenging students personally and politically.
- Three or four-year (honours) programs lead to a bachelor of arts in women’s studies, with combined concentration or specialization
- Two full-time women’s studies faculty members teach interdisciplinary courses on a range of topics including work, health, aging, violence, and reproductive issues
- Departments of classical studies, economics, English, history, law & justice, modern languages, music, philosophy, political science, religious studies, social work, and sociology
- Also offer courses on gender within the program
Prospects: counselling services, crisis centres, daycare centres, government, graduate studies, high schools, hospitals, journalism, law, medicine, midwifery, nursing, small and large business, teaching, women’s advocacy groups, women’s shelters…
Offered in English, but some courses may be available in French.
Admission requirements
Ontario secondary schools
- 1 grade 12 4U English
- 5 other grade 12 4U/M courses
See Admissions for other requirements.
General information
The Women’s Studies program is administered by the coordinator in conjunction with the Women’s Studies Committee made up of the chair or designate from each of the participating departments and full-time Women’s Studies faculty members. Inquiries for further information should be addressed to the coordinator, Women’s Studies program.
By focusing on the extent to which traditional questions, theories and analyses fail to take women’s experiences into account, the program adopts a critical perspective toward and attempts to transform academic curricula and methods. Increasingly it is concerned with examining the diversity of women’s experiences and the ways in which class, race, sexual orientation and other variables intersect with gender.
Although it puts particular emphasis on studying women, the program also studies men and the ways in which social and cultural assumptions and structures are shaped by gender. It is interdisciplinary, integrating insights from many different experiences and perspectives. Drawing from scholarly work within various disciplines and from the work of "grassroots" feminism, Women’s Studies has its own distinctive, evolving theories and methodologies.
Programs
Course descriptions
See also: Women's Studies Electives