Women and Gender Studies (BA)

Learn how gender is central to how humans understand their true selves and how we organize our relationships across the globe. Critically analyze issues that are happening locally and around the world by focusing on questions of social justice and equity.

Women and Gender Studies at Laurier graduates are prepared to find employment in the legal, scientific, teaching or medical professions or to pursue advanced degrees. Engage with feminist scholarship, enhance your critical thinking, and apply your knowledge through co-curricular activities, research, and community involvement.

Program Details

Degree Highlights

Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete, and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on: 

  • Comprehensive Curriculum: Combine Women and Gender Studies with areas like Communication Studies, Sociology, or Global Studies to gain a holistic view of social justice and equity. This interdisciplinary approach equips you with versatile skills and insights for a broad range of career paths.
  • Graduate Career-Ready: With evolving policies in the public and private sectors, your expertise in women and gender studies positions you for diverse career opportunities, especially in fields addressing employment equity and sexual harassment. 
  • Pathways to Business : Begin your Women and Gender Studies program with a conditional offer to our Master of Business Adminstration (with co-op) program. 

Top Experiences

Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (check out the Experience Guide for even more):

  • Co-op: Honours Arts students in Women and Gender Studies can join our new co-op program to complete three four-month work terms. Gain hands-on experience and develop skills in your chosen career path while studying.
  • Connect and Advocate: Engage with campus Diversity and Equity associations, including the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, the Rainbow Centre, and the Centre for Women and Trans People. These organizations promote education, advocacy, and support.
  • Research and Teaching: In your final year, dive into independent research and gain practical experience as a Research or Instructional Assistant in the Women and Gender Studies program.

Courses, Options and Pathways

First-Year Core Course

  • Introduction to Women and Gender Studies

Sample First-Year Electives

  • Exploring Cultural Studies
  • Reading Fiction 
  • Introduction to Global Studies 
  • Values and Society 
  • Philosophy of Happiness  

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • Girls, Women and Popular Culture 
  • Women, Gender and Work 
  • Feminism and Reproductive Justice 
  • Gender, Race and Colonial Legacies 
  • Gender and Sport

Options and Minors

These are a few of the many popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge:

  • Legal Studies Option 
  • Indigenous Studies Minor 
  • International Public Policy Option 
  • Teaching Option 
  • Public Policy Minor
  • Intercultural Understanding Option 
  • Creative Writing Minor  

Check out other options to enhance your degree

Graduate Degree Pathway

The BA+MA pathway allows to graduate in 5 years with a BA and Master of Arts at Laurier. Apply for the BA+MA and receive an offer of admission to the Honours BA and a conditional offer to graduate studies, where you’ll earn a MA. Apply directly on the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.

Business Pathways

Enhance your degree with a Management Option or get a head-start on graduate studies by applying to the BA + Master of Business Administration with co-op. Apply directly to either on the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.

Admissions

  • Format: full time or part time
  • Duration: four years
  • Start: September (fall term) or January (winter term)

Your Career Awaits

Recent changes in policies and practices in the public and private sectors have led to an increasing number of job possibilities for people knowledgeable about women and gender issues. Human resources offices, public policy-makers, government, police forces, social services agencies and educational institutions are all interested in employees with such knowledge, especially for positions that address employment equity and sexual harassment concerns.

Women and Gender Studies courses can also help you prepare for a variety of careers:

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • children's rights advocate
  • community development
  • counsellor/therapist
  • crisis worker/intake/referral
  • human resources
  • lawyer/paralegal
  • non-profit organization director
  • policy analyst
  • social worker
  • victims advocate
  • women's centre organizer

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Your Co-op Experience

Co-op is a way to integrate what you are learning in the classroom with practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, earn money, develop your network, and graduate future-ready.

Future Laurier Arts students have two options to engage in co-op. You can apply in first-year to our co-op program and complete three-work terms of four months’ duration and gain valuable experience during their studies.

You can also get a head-start and apply for direct admission to our brand-new co-op program straight from high school in select Arts programs. In both pathways, you will gain 12 months of career experience.

Interested? Learn more about co-op in the Faculty of Arts.

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98%employment rate for co‑op students – 2023 / 2024

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Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

 

Laurier is among the top 6 percent in the Global 2000 World University Ranking

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2023

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2023

Waterloo Campus

The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so you’re steps away from your classes, food and your new favourite study spot.

There are many ways to tour our Waterloo campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

Chat with Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be in this program? U Community is our Discord server where future Golden Hawks like you can connect with current students to get their first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.

Connect with Us

Questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.


You Belong Here

Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?