Gender & Social Justice (Co-op Available)
Explore the ways gender and systems of power have shaped our culture, history, and contemporary society in this unique interdisciplinary degree program at Trent. As a Gender & Social Justice student, you will have the advantage of drawing upon methods and approaches from the arts, sciences, and social sciences to explore a range of themes in relation to gender, race, class, disability, and sexuality. You will learn to challenge assumptions about feminism, gender, and human inequality and develop your own ideas and approaches to equity and social justice in workshops and community-focused courses. With guidance and mentorship from leading faculty researchers and activists (including Canada Research Chairs), you’ll cultivate strong critical thinking, communication, and social awareness skills increasingly sought after in a variety of sectors, including social work, education, human resources, politics, and business, just to name a few.
Degrees Offered:
- B.A.
- B.A. (Honours)
- B.A. Co-op (Peterborough Only)
Locations:
- Durham GTA
- Peterborough
Specializations:
Resume Boosters:
- Graduate with 12 months of paid job experience through the four-year coop stream (available in Peterborough) working with community centres, social services, government agencies, schools or businesses
- Apply your course learning, make connections and earn academic credit through a community-based research project, working with organizations like the Elizabeth Fry Society or the Ontario Public Research Interest Group
- Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding to gain access to awards and bursaries exclusive to Gender & Social Justice students
- Engage with award-winning authors, filmmakers, artists, and 2SLGBTQIA+ activists in creative workshops where you’ll learn to express ideas and champion justice using intellect and creativity

"Women's Studies and Business is the perfect combination for me because I am a woman in business."
Career Paths:
Featured
Human Rights Specialist
Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers conduct research, develop policy and implement or administer programs in areas such as consumer affairs, employment, home economics, immigration, law enforcement, corrections, human rights, housing, labour, family services, foreign aid and international development. They are employed by government departments and agencies, industry, hospitals, educational institutions, consulting establishments, professional associations, research institutes, non-government organizations and international organizations or they may be self-employed.
Career Opportunities
- Lawyer
- Policy Advisor
- Community Development Worker
- Social Worker
- Counsellor
- Healthcare Professional
- Equity Advisor
- Human Rights Advocate
- Researcher
- Program Manager
- Psychologist
- Child Welfare Worker
- Teacher
- Journalist
Popular Courses:
- Gender, Race and Popular Culture
- Criminalizing Women
- Decolonizing Feminisms
- Gender, Sexualities and the Law
- Feminism and Disability
- Troubling Trans: Trans Cultures
- Theories and Resistance: Doing Feminist Research
- Gender and the Environment
- Queer Feminisms
- Fat Studies

Admission Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Requirements:
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- A minimum of six Grade 12 4U or 4M courses, including program specific prerequisites
Program Requirements:
- A minimum 70% overall final average
- ENG 4U with a minimum of 60%
Co-op Requirements:
- A minimum 80% overall final average
- ENG 4U with a minimum of 60%
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