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Women's & Gender Studies

Explore the portrayal of femininities and masculinities in advertising, documentaries, pornography, cultural production, news media and feature-length films. See how the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries have been envisioned by independent, Hollywood and science fiction writers. Examine the impact of the Indian Act and colonialism on Aboriginal women. Participate in online group projects that deal with issues such as ecological degradation, militarism, racism,and transnational organizing. Analyze the intersections of race, class, age, disability and sexual orientation and their impact on women’s and men’s health and well-being. These are just a few of the opportunities available to you when you choose to major in Women’s & Gender Studies at the University of Saskatchewan.

What is Women's & Gender Studies?

Women’s & Gender Studies examines human behaviour, institutions and culture, while revealing assumptions about gender and social diversity. The program provides students with a broader analytical vision of the world, while exploring a wide variety of topics ranging from how gender relates to drug and alcohol addictions, to changing economic and political roles, to women’s and men’s representation in popular culture.

My education in the Department of Women’s & Gender Studies encouraged me to develop a questioning attitude and to look critically at the world — these skills are definitely an asset if you are going to be a reporter. My undergraduate degree at the U of S also helped me to develop the strong writing and communications skills I need to succeed in the news industry.

—Shannon Boklaschuk, B.A. 2000, Journalist - Saskatoon StarPhoenix

A Stepping Stone...

A degree in Women’s & Gender Studies prepares students to further their studies in a variety of areas including clinical social work, education, journalism, law, medicine, nursing, social psychology, government and non-governmental organizations.

Career Opportunities

Women’s & Gender Studies graduates pursue careers in many exciting areas:

Education & Library Services — academic administrative assistant, archivist, coordinator of women’s services, librarian, researcher, school teacher, university professor and university staff psychologist.

Health, Social & Human Services — claims reviewer, director of programs for inner-city teenagers, health clinic medical assistant, hospital foundation executive director, human services administrator, planned parenthood clinic coordinator, psychotherapist, recreational therapist, sexual assault/abuse educator and social justice employee.

Law & Government — communications consultant, freelance legal worker, law enforcement employee, government relations manager, lawyer, town manager, union organizer and writer.

The U of S Advantage

The Women’s & Gender Studies program is unique in Canada in that it integrates interdisciplinary studies with traditional specializations such as economics and sociology. In addition, the U of S is one of only two Canadian universities where students can complete a major that fully integrates interdisciplinary native studies and women’s studies.

Women’s & Gender Studies, which is one of the newest departments at the U of S, enjoys a solid reputation for academic breadth and strength.

Choose Your Program!

The Women’s & Gender Studies program allows students to specialize in one of seven disciplines:

• Art & Art History
• Economics
• English
• History
• Native Studies
• Philosophy
• Sociology

An alternative option available to students is combining a Women’s & Gender Studies minor with a degree from another program, providing an opportunity to integrate an understanding of the role of gender in society and culture with other disciplines. The Department also offers a variety of courses that complement any program of study.

A Major in Women's & Gender Studies

Students majoring in Women’s & Gender Studies can choose from one of the following degrees:

• B.A. Three-year
• B.A. Four-year
• B.A. Honours

A minor in Women’s & Gender Studies can be taken in conjunction with any other three-year, four-year or Honours degree.

While attaining my Women’s & Gender Studies degree, I learned to apply a gendered lens to a range of ideas, historical interpretations and perspectives on society from biology through to science fiction, media and film. My degree provided me with the writing, research and discussion skills to undertake an M.A. in Philosophy, and to continue to hold ideas to a critical standard. I appreciate the mentorship and guidance I received from the department and highly recommend Women's & Gender Studies classes to other students looking for a dynamic and challenging learning experience.

—Rachel Loewen Walker, WGST High Honours, M.A. in Philosophy, SSHRC Grant recipient

Outstanding Students & Faculty

• Professor Diana Relke’s latest book Drones, Clones & Alpha Babes brings a unique Canadian perspective to the "dialectics of humanism and the posthuman, the pervasiveness of advanced technology, and the complications of gender identity."
• Professor Caroline Tait was awarded a major CIHR grant ($870,040) to research issues of mental health and well being specific to Indigenous and immigrant women. This is a collaborative project involving Professor Tait and Dr. Lewis Williams of the Prairie Region Health Promotion Research Centre.
• Pakistani journalist Ameera Javeria will teach a course on "The Politics of Transnational Feminism," as part of PEN, Canada’s Writers in Exile program – the first placement of its kind for the U of S.
• Professors Lesley Biggs and Pamela Downe’s co-edited book Gendered Intersections: An Introduction to Women’s & Gender Studies was Fernwood Publishing’s best-selling book for 2005. It was included in the international list of Canadian books by the Association for the Export of Canadian Books.
• Alumna Rebecka Sheffield has worked as the communications coordinator for Access Copyright, held the position of production editor at Women's Press, and edited several textbooks for ESL instruction. She is the co-founder of Homosaywhat?, a queer publishing collective based in Toronto.
• Peter Garden, who received a B.A. with Distinction in 2003, owns and manages Saskatoon's alternative bookstore, Turning the Tide. Peter Garden is recognized for his contributions to local issues of social justice.

Getting Involved!

Join the Women’s & Gender Studies Students’ Union (WAGS) and take part in a number of activities including guest speaker functions, movie nights and fundraising activities. WAGS provides an opportunity for men and women who are interested in women’s and gender issues to come together and share ideas, become involved in a variety of activities, and have fun. WAGS also works collaboratively with the U of S Women’s Centre to host International Women’s Day.

Join the Women’s Studies Research Unit (WSRU), an organization that promotes scholarly research for, by and about women. The WSRU distributes a newsletter with information about the organization, on-campus events of interest to women, profiles of grant winners, reviews of recent books and other publications, announcements of conferences, job advertisements and notices of Women’s & Gender Studies course offerings.

WAGS, the Women’s Centre and the Women’s Studies Research Unit also offer conferences and workshops that students can attend.

Research Facilities

The Department’s main office has a number of resources — including publications, textbooks and videos — that are available to students. In addition, the U of S Women’s Centre houses a library with books, journals and files on special topics, which students are encouraged to use.

Admission Requirements

The following is a list of high school subjects required for admission. Please select the province/territory where you completed high school.

• Saskatchewan
• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• Northwest Territories
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Yukon

• International Student Admission Requirements

Additional Information

• Admission Averages
• Home Schooling Students Admission Requirements
• Transfer Credit Policies
• International Baccalaureate Recognition Policy
• Advanced Placement Program
• Special (Mature) Admission Information

Related Interests

If you are interested in Women's & Gender Studies, you might also be interested in:

• Sociology

Relevant Links

For more information available online for Women's & Gender Studies:

• College of Arts & Science
• Arts & Science Students' Union
• St. Thomas More College
• University Course Calendar - Arts & Science
• University Course Calendar - Women's & Gender Studies
• Women's & Gender Studies Program

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---- Jump to another Arts & Science program ---- Aboriginal First Year Experience Program (AFYEP) Aboriginal Justice & Criminology Aboriginal Public Administration Anatomy & Cell Biology Anthropology Archaeology Art & Art History Biochemistry Biochemistry & Biotechnology Bioinformatics Biology Biology & Biotechnology Biomedical Sciences Biomolecular Structure Studies Business Economics Cell Biology & Biotechnology Chemistry Classical & Near Eastern Archaeology Classical, Medieval & Renaissance Studies Computer Science Drama Economics English Environmental Earth Sciences Food Science Geography Geology Geophysics History Indigenous Peoples & Justice Program International Studies Land Use & Environmental Studies Languages & Linguistics Linguistics Mathematical Physics Mathematics Mathematics and Science Enrichment Program (MSEP) Microbiology & Biotechnology Microbiology & Immunology Music Native Studies Northern Studies Palaeobiology Philosophy Physics Physiology Physiology/Pharmacology Political Studies Prairie Studies Psychology Public Administration Regional & Urban Planning Religious Studies Sociology Statistics Summer University Transition Program for Aboriginal Students Toxicology Women's & Gender Studies