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Home » Gender & Women’s Studies » Degree Options & Requirements

Degree Options & Requirements

Beyond choosing to study Gender & Women’s Studies, you’ve got the option to customize how you study. You can choose the length and depth of specialization within your degree — whether it’s a three-year bachelor’s or more intensive four-year honours bachelor’s program. If you’re weighing two subjects of interest but can’t make a decision, you’re able to declare a major, which would be your primary area of study, as well as a minor, or secondary subject. Or give them equal billing and go for a double major. Whatever path you envision, you’ll have choices to accommodate you along the way.

Not sure which courses you need to enrol in to complete the requirements for your degree? The checklists below are intended as guides to help you select which courses you need to take.

NOTE: These checklists do not provide official confirmation of your eligibility to graduate. To find out which courses you have already completed toward your degree, use the Degree Progress Report. For more help, contact your academic advisor.


Bachelor’s (BA)

Students will take at least 30 credits in Gender and Women’s Studies. Of these, students must take GWST 1501 9.00 or GWST 1502 6.00, GWST 3555 6.00 or GWST 3556 6.00 and at least 12 additional credits from the core course offerings. Overall, 6 credits in Gender and Women’s Studies credits must be taken at the 3000- or 4000-level.


Honours BA

Students will take at least 42 credits in Gender and Women’s Studies. Of these, students must take GWST 1501 9.00 or GWST 1502 6.00, GWST 3555 6.00 or GWST 3556 6.00 and GWST 4555 6.00, and at least 18 additional credits from the core course offerings. Overall, 12 Gender and Women’s Studies credits must be taken at the 4000-level.


Specialized Honours BA

Students will take at least 54 credits in Gender and Women’s Studies. Of these, students must take GWST 1501 9.00 or GWST 1502 00, GWST 3555 6.00 or GWST 3556 6.00 and GWST 4555 6.00, and at least 18 additional credits from the core course offerings. Overall, 12 Gender and Gender and Women’s Studies credits must be taken at the 4000-level.


Honours Double Major BA

The Honours program described above may be pursued jointly with any other Honours Bachelor’s degree program in the Faculties of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Glendon, Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, or with a major in Earth and Atmospheric Science or Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Pure and Applied Science.


Honours Major/Minor BA

The Honours BA program described above may be pursued jointly with any Honours Minor Bachelor’s degree program in the Faculties of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Glendon, Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, or with a Minor in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Pure and Applied Science.


Honours Minor BA

Students will take at least 30 credits in Gender and Women’s Studies. Of these, students must take GWST 1501 9.00 or GWST 1502 6.00 and at least 12 additional credits from the core course offerings. Overall, 12 Gender and Women’s Studies credits must be taken at the 3000- or 4000-level, including 6 credits at the 4000-level.


Honours Double Major Interdisciplinary BA

The Honours program in Gender and Women’s Studies may also be linked in an Honours (Double Major) program with the following interdisciplinary programs: African Studies; European Studies; Latin American and Caribbean Studies; Social and Political Thought; and South Asian Studies. Students will take at least 36 credits in Gender and Women’s Studies. Of these, students must take GWST 1501 9.00 or GWST 1502 6.00, GWST 3555 6.00 or GWST 3556 6.00, GWST 4555 6.00 and at least 12 additional credits from the core course offerings.


General Certificate in Women’s Studies

Except where otherwise stated, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 4.00 is required to satisfy certificate requirements. Students must also submit application to graduate from a certificate program. Applications should be obtained from and filed with the unit administering the certificate program. Learn more about the Certificate in Gender & Women’s Studies.