Pursue Undergraduate Program in

Gender & Women's Studies

About Gender & Women's Studies

What do Beyoncé, Lizzo, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and Madonna have to offer feminism and gender studies? And what about Tynomi Banks, Backxwash, Peaches and Laverne Cox? Our Gender and Women’s Studies Program shows you how to critically analyze and identify intersections of gender, race, class, age, ability and sexuality as they operate in popular culture, your everyday lives, art and science, law and politics, not to mention economies, societies and cross-culturally.

Our dynamic, award-winning faculty have been leaders in the study of women and gender in Canada and internationally for three decades. Our unique courses engage in critical discussions about the significance of feminism and gender to race, sex, indigeneity, class, ability and vice versa. You will explore how the food we eat reveals the inner workings of neoliberal power and economies. You will be introduced to activism as a method that thwarts multiple and compounding forms of violence. You'll also explore contemporary issues such as COVID-19, and ask important questions about current and future impacts of COVID-19 for BIPOC folks locally and transnationally, and the role of heteronormative gender and whiteness in these outcomes.

As you study, you’ll develop skills to support you in many career paths – graduates have gone on to work in the public and private sectors in law, social work, counselling, therapy, policy and social justice, and have pursued post-graduate work and professional degrees.

In our program, you will


  • Develop the practical, theoretical, communication and organization skills to think, write, conduct research, and act critically and creatively.  
  • Understand how questions of gender, equality and sexuality have shaped and continue to shape society and our understanding of history and identity.
  • Explore the possible origins of gender differentiation, and question how gender expectations mould women and men’s development.

Hands-on experiences


  • Participate in seminars and activities at the Centre for Women and Trans People, a progressive, pro-choice, anti-racist, queer-positive, trans-positive, feminist organization at York.
  • Courses offer opportunities to take on small-scale community-based research projects, such as collecting oral histories from community members. 
  • Engage in creative assignments, research projects, field trips and artists’ talks as part of your hands-on learning coursework

Questions?

Contact us at goyork@yorku.ca 


Program Details


Offered By

Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

Degrees Offered

BA

Fall Entry

Yes (first and upper year)

Winter Entry

Yes (first and upper year)

Summer Entry

Yes (first and upper year)

Ways to Study

Full-Time, Part-Time

Sample Schedule (First-year)

  • Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies
  • Humanities and/or Social Science General Education course
  • Natural Science General Education course
  • Courses from outside the major

Possible Career Paths

  • political activist
  • educator
  • women's and human rights advocate
  • community support worker
  • counsellor
  • family therapist
  • health policy planner
Explore what you can do with your degree
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

BA

Requirements for admission:
  • Alberta High School Diploma
  • ELA30-1 or English 30
  • And four additional academic courses numbered 30 or 31
    • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
      Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

      BA

      Requirements for admission:
    • British Columbia Secondary School Graduation Diploma
    • English 12 or English 12 First Peoples
    • And four additional Grade 12 Academic subjects
      • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
        Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

        BA

        Requirements for admission:
      • Baccalauréat Général
          • A maximum of 30 possible transferable credits may be granted for successful completion of the Baccalauréat Général. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
          Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

          BA

          Requirements for admission:
        • Successful completion of the final year of senior studies
          • Minimum overall result of “Bien/Buena/Bueno/Good” on all academic courses.
          • Some programs require a higher GPA.
          • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

            BA

            Requirements for admission:
          • Diploma with a total of at least six units, including prerequisites, and grades of 1, 2 or 3 in each unit.
            • A minimum overall average of 3 out of 7 is required. Higher grades required for certain programs.
              • CAPE 2-unit courses, with results of 3 or better, are eligible for transfer credit, up to a maximum of 18 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
              Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

              BA

              Requirements for admission:
            • One year of CEGEP
            • 2 semesters of English (code 603) / Français (code 601)
            • And ten additional academic courses (high-school equivalent courses not accepted)
                • Extra courses will be assessed for transfer credit. Applicants with the DEC may be awarded up to one full year of transfer credit.
                To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
                Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                BA

                Requirements for admission:
              • Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate
                • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                  BA

                  Requirements for admission:
                • Lise Diplomasi
                  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                    BA

                    Requirements for admission:
                  • General Certificate of Education (GCE) Examinations
                      • GCE A2 examinations with results of "C" or better, are eligible for transfer credit, up to a maximum of 18 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
                      To gain admission to this program, minimum average of C is required.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of C.
                      The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                      Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                      BA

                      Requirements for admission:
                    • Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
                      • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                        BA

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • International Baccalaureate Diploma
                        • IB Diploma with passes in six subjects: three passes at the Standard-level and three passes at the Higher-level, or two passes at the Standard-level and four passes at the Higher-level
                          • Transfer credit is granted for IB courses with Higher-level final grades of 5 or better, to a maximum of 30 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
                          To gain admission to this program, minimum IB diploma point scores of 28 is required.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires minimum IB diploma point scores of 28.
                          The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                          Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                          BA

                          Requirements for admission:
                        • Completion of one of the following:
                          • All-India Senior School Certificate (AISSCE)
                          • Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)
                          • Indian School Certificate (ISC)
                          • Intermediate Examination Certificate
                          • Pre-University Examination Certificate
                          • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                            BA

                            Requirements for admission:
                          • Manitoba High School Diploma
                          • English 40S
                          • And four additional 40S level academic subjects (no more than one at the 40G level)
                            • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
                              Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                              BA

                              Requirements for admission:
                            • New Brunswick High School Graduation Diploma
                            • English 120, 121 or 122
                            • And five additional Grade 12 academic subjects (college preparatory 120, 121 or 122)
                              • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
                                Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                BA

                                Requirements for admission:
                              • Newfoundland and Labrador High School Graduation Diploma
                              • English 3201
                              • And nine additional credits at the 3000 level
                                • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
                                  Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                  BA

                                  Requirements for admission:
                                • Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma
                                • English 12
                                • And four additional Grade 12 academic subjects (university preparatory academic or advanced)
                                  • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
                                    Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                    BA

                                    Requirements for admission:
                                  • Nunavut High School Graduation Diploma
                                  • ELA30-1 or English 30
                                  • And four additional academic courses numbered 30 or 31
                                    • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
                                      Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                      BA

                                      Requirements for admission:
                                    • Northwest Territories High School Graduation Diploma
                                    • ELA30-1 or English 30
                                    • And four additional academic courses numbered 30 or 31
                                      • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
                                        Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                        BA

                                        Requirements for admission:
                                      • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
                                      • ENG4U
                                      • And five additional 4U or M courses
                                        • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
                                          OUAC code YRF
                                          Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                          BA

                                          Requirements for admission:
                                        • Completion of a diploma program or at least two full semesters or one year of full-time academic study at an accredited college
                                        • Overall average of 3.0 or better on a 4-point scale (or equivalent)
                                        • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                          BA

                                          To be considered a mature student, you must:
                                        • be at least 20 years old by the end of the calendar year of admission to the University;
                                        • have been out of full-time high school studies for at least two years; and
                                        • have attempted less than one full year of studies at an accredited college or university.
                                        • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                          BA

                                          Requirements for admission:
                                        • Completion of at least four full-year courses or one year of full-time degree studies at an accredited university
                                        • Applicants to Honours-level program: Overall average of 2.3 or better on a 4-point scale (or equivalent)
                                        • Applicants to Bachelor-level program: Overall average of 2.0 or better on a 4-point scale (or equivalent)
                                        • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                          BA

                                          Requirements for admission:
                                        • Prince Edward Island Senior Secondary School Diploma
                                        • English 621
                                        • And four additional Grade 12 academic subjects (numbered 611 or 621)
                                          • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
                                            Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                            BA

                                            Requirements for admission:
                                          • Quebec Grade 12 Certificate of Graduation
                                          • Grade 12 English
                                          • And five additional academic (university preparation level) subjects
                                            • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
                                              Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                              BA

                                              Requirements for admission:
                                            • Transcript of Secondary Level Achievement
                                            • English A30 and English B30
                                            • And three additional Grade 12 academic subjects numbered 30
                                              • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.
                                                Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                                BA

                                                Requirements for admission:
                                              • General Secondary Education Certificate
                                                • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                                  BA

                                                  Requirements for admission:
                                                • High School Diploma
                                                    • AP College Board examinations are eligible for transfer credit, for results of 4 or 5, up to a maximum of 30 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
                                                    Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                                    BA

                                                    Requirements for admission:
                                                  • West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) or National Examinations Council (NECO)
                                                    • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

                                                      BA

                                                      Requirements for admission:
                                                    • Yukon High School Diploma
                                                    • English 12 or English 12 First Peoples
                                                    • And three additional Grade 12 Academic subjects
                                                      • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-to-high 70s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 70.