Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Women's Studies
Students can pursue a joint or single-major three-year general degree, or four- year honours degree. Joint major programs are designed to allow students to pursue a fairly specialized education in two different fields or disciplines. Gender and Women’s studies students take several required, or core courses, including ‘Introduction to Women’s Studies’ at the first year level, ‘Feminist Research’ at the second year level, ‘Feminist Critical Thought’ in their third year of study, and for honours students, ‘Advanced Studies in Feminism’ in their fourth year. Students can choose from a wide variety of other Women’s Studies and cross-listed courses offered in other programs and departments.
Gender and Women’s Studies follows a lecture – seminar model. Larger lectures on a weekly basis are followed by smaller seminars of between 10 and 20 students. In weekly seminars, students engage in focused discussion on the course lectures and readings. Many upper year classes are strictly seminars, the emphasis on student-based discussion.
Gender and Women’s Studies Professors come from many disciplines, and hold PhDs from around the world. Their areas of expertise and publications span psychology, history, political economy, literature, international development studies, social policy, and law.
The single-major Honours program.
At least 9 credits in Gender and Women’s Studies, including:
– 3 credits consisting of WMST 100, 204, 302
– 3 credits at the 400-level
– 3 credits in addition to the above
The joint-major Honours program.
At least 7 credits in Gender and Women’s Studies, including:
– 3 credits consisting of WMST 100, 204, 302
– 1 credit at the 400 level
– 3 credits in addition to the above, at least 1 beyond the 200-level
The single-major General program or minor.
At least 6 credits in Gender and Women’s Studies, including:
– 3 credits consisting of WMST 100, 204, 302
– 3 credits in addition to the above, at least 1 beyond the 200-level
The joint-major General program.
At least 5 credits in Gender and Women’s Studies, including:
– 3 credits consisting of WMST 100, 204, 302
– 2 credits in addition to the above
NOTES FOR GENDER AND WOMEN’S STUDIES MAJORS
- See Degree Requirements in the Calendar for requirements which apply to all undergraduate degree programs.
- The same course may not simultaneously satisfy the requirements of both programs in a joint-major degree.
- No more than one credit from reading courses may count towards the number of Gender and Women’s Studies credits required for the single- and joint-major General degree; and no more than two towards the number required for the single- and joint-major Honours degrees.
- Students who have completed WMST 201 for credit may NOT take WMST 302. Instead, they will need to take WMST 204.
- Students who have have completed WMST 300 for credit but have not taken WMST 201, will need WMST 302 to meet their degree requirements.
For more information, please consult the Trent Calendar.
Important Information regarding recent changes in degree requirements!
As you probably know, in 2007-8 we made some changes to our degree requirements. Here is what changed:
Old "required" course sequence:
WMST 100, 201, & 300.
Current "required" course sequence:
WMST 100,
WMST 204 (Feminist Theories)
WMST 302 (Feminist Research Methods)
What does this mean to me, you ask?
Students can graduate with either the old or new requirements, and almost all of our students are now following the new required course sequence, taking WMST 100, 204 and 302 along with the additional electives explained above and in the calendar.
If, however, you began your degree several years ago and did not complete all of our “required” courses, you may find yourself caught between the old and new requirements. Don’t worry, the solution is easy. Here are two scenarios that might apply to you:
- If you have taken WMST 201 (our old methods course) but NOT WMST 300 (our old theory course), then you must now complete WMST 204 (Feminist Theories), since WMST 300 is no longer offered. You must also notify the department Chair, Professor Colleen O'Manique to be sure you are on the right track for completion of your degree.
- If you have taken our old theory course, WMST 300, but you did NOT take its older counterpart WMST 201 (which is no longer offered), then you will need to take our NEW methods course: WMST 302 (Feminist Research Methods). Please also email the department Chair, Professor Colleen O'Manique, to be sure you are on the right track for completion of your degree.
