The School of Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies at York University offers academic bridging courses for women who want to upgrade their writing and speaking skills and explore the possibility of university study.
Bridging courses, for many participants, make the seemingly impossible, possible. Individuals who would not otherwise consider, or who may not have had access to university studies discover that they can develop the skills and the confidence to continue their education.
Learn ... in a supportive group environment
Improve ... reading, writing and speaking skills
Explore ... your education options and potential
Prepare ... for future university study
Program Information
Eligibility
Course participants must be 20 years of age or over, out of school for a minimum of 2 years, permanent residents of Ontario and comfortable in both spoken and written English. The Bridging course is not appropriate if you require ESL instruction.
Orientation
A week before classes begin, there is an information session held at the site where the course will be taught. This allows participants to learn about the course schedule and material, to ask questions of the instructor and to register and purchase books.
Fees
This program is subsidized by York University as part of its community outreach program. The fee for community based courses is $150 per student, plus the cost of reading materials. Some book sets are available on a lending basis to those in financial need.
Course Completion
Upon completion, a grade of 'B' or better means you can get an offer of admission to the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and Glendon in addition to some programs in other Faculties.
Note: If you have completed one full year or more of university or academic college studies, you may not need a bridging course to get admissions credential.
Course Details
Bridging courses normally span 13 weeks, with classes held once a week for three hours, typically in the evening. Class size ranges from 15 to 25 students depending on demand. Though other models are possible, and some of our courses have welcomed male participants, the majority of our courses have been designed exclusively for women.
Instructors are carefully chosen to be sensitive both to the needs of the community and/or workplace and to the academic standards of university-level education. All of our instructors have held or currently hold positions at York University and are qualified to teach both content and critical skills.
Course Content
The course material, drawn from Canadian sources and written by women, focuses on issues and concerns pertinent to women, and gender and women’s studies. Over the years, topics have included issues of race, ethnicity and equity, the construction of gender, feminism and women’s activism. Participants have found the material relevant to their lives, and the open, supportive atmosphere essential to their individual growth, self-esteem and academic self-confidence.
Students are given an opportunity to practice oral skills in group discussions and formal seminar presentations. They learn and are given an opportunity to apply and practice a range of strategies for reading fiction and non-fiction, for identifying and evaluating arguments, for analyzing an assignment, generating ideas, developing a thesis, and so on. In addition to in-class writing assignments and oral presentations, students are required to complete a variety of formal writing assignments.
Upcoming Courses
Course participants must be 20 years of age or over, permanent residents of Ontario and comfortable in both spoken and written English. A grade of 'B' or better offers admission to mature students to the Faculties of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and Glendon College, in addition to some programs in other Faculties. The Bridging course is not appropriate if you require ESL instruction. If you have completed one full year or more of university or academic college studies, you may not need a Bridging course as an admissions credential.
Fall 2024
Course Dates:
Time of course: weekly on Wednesdays, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Orientation Session: September 11, 2024
First-Class Date: September 18, 2024
End Date: December 11, 2024
Location:
201 Founders College
York University
School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
Winter 2025
Course 1
Course Dates:
Time of course: weekly on Thursdays, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
Orientation: Thursday, January 16, 2025
First class: Thursday, January 23, 2025
Last class: Thursday, April 10, 2025
Location:
Multi-purpose room West
(upstairs down the hall, 2nd room across from pool window on the right side).
Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury
3541 Line 11 | PO Box 160. Bradford, ON | L3Z 2A8
Course 2
Course Dates:
Time of course: weekly on Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00pm
Orientation: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
First class: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Last class: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Location:
York University,
201 Founders College
Registration Course fee:
The Registration Course fee of $150 will be generously covered by:
Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.
Bridging Book
25 Years of Bridging Courses for Women at York University
We are pleased to announce the availability of a book that chronicles the history, development and successes of the Bridging Program for Women.
Learn More
To register or get further information on the Bridging Program, please contact Celeta Irvin: 416-736-2100 ext. 77818; cirvin@yorku.ca.