Queen's University

Gender Studies

The undergraduate program in Gender Studies at Queen’s offers courses in feminist, anti-racist, Indigenous, postcolonial, queer, transgender, and social justice studies. Students learn about the histories of different forms of oppression, engage with popular culture, and critically analyze everyday events. From research papers and blogs, to presentations and creative productions, students work on meticulous research, clear and thoughtful writing, creative expression, and public speaking. Our courses span the arts and social sciences to produce a truly interdisciplinary program, one that prepares students for a broad range of careers.

Top 5 Reasons to study Gender Studies:

  1. Embrace an intersectional approach to gender as it connects to experiences of race, sexuality, class, nation, and ability.
  2. Gain transferable skills for the job market: writing, critical thinking, research, public speaking, and creative production.
  3. Explore how structures of power, privilege, and oppression shape current events and pop culture.
  4. Learn tools to advocate for systemic change in light of current social and political realities.
  5. Challenge the status quo and engage in social justice work both locally and globally.

“Some of the most memorable times in my degree was due to the environment that Gender Studies fosters to pursue some amazing opportunities such as self-directed study and partaking in the Feminist Legal Studies Queen's course. These unique experiences have contributed to shaping my future path.”
                                                                                                                                   -Nathalie Hunter, BAH ‘20

 

Location: 
Mackintosh-Corry Hall
Room number: 
D508
Telephone: 
613-533-6318
Email: 
gndsug@queensu.ca
URL: 
http://www.queensu.ca/gnds/
Department Head: 
Elaine Power
Departmental Assistant: 
Denita Authors
Graduate Chair: 
Heather Castleden
Graduate Assistant: 
Denita Authors
Undergraduate Chair: 
Melissa Houghtaling
Undergraduate Assistant: 
Mel Côté

Degree Options

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - BAH

Major in Gender Studies
A major is an intensive course of study in one discipline, with approximately half of your courses within the discipline with room for an optional minor in any other Arts and Science discipline.

Medial in Gender Studies
A dual course of study in Gender Studies and any other Arts discipline.

Minor in Gender Studies
A minor is a less intensive course of study in the discipline that must be combined with a major in another discipline.

Internship option available

For a full list of Degree Plans, see the Academic Calendar

Graduate Degree Options

Gender Studies - MA
Gender Studies - PhD

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Job and Career Opportunities for Gender Studies Grads

A degree in Gender Studies can take your career in many directions. Many students choose to continue their academic inquiry with a Master’s degree. Our students are equipped with a strong foundation for careers in:

  • Advocacy Work and Activism
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Conference and Event Planning
  • Counselling
  • Education
  • Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
  • Government
  • Graduate and Professional School
  • Healthcare
  • Human Resources
  • Labour Relations
  • Law
  • Marketing
  • Non-governmental organization
  • Politics
  • Public Policy
  • Public Relations
  • Social Work

Taking time to explore career options, build experience and network can help you have a smooth transition to the world of work after graduation. Note: Some of these careers may require additional training.

 

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Certificate in Sexual and Gender Diversity

The Sexual and Gender Diversity Certificate Program offers you the opportunity to:

  • Think through and engage with your scholarly interests – be it nursing, law, art history, religious studies, music, kinesiology, politics, medicine – from the vantage point of critical sexuality, gender, queer, and transgender studies
  • Write about contemporary events and issues surrounding gender and race
  • Explore human difference across a range of sexualities and gender identifications

Organizations, employers, and graduate programs look for individuals who can critically engage in a wide range of conversations surrounding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity.

This Certificate is available to all undergraduate students regardless of their degree concentration.

Delivery Mode: On-campus

Number of Units: 30 units (5-10 courses)

Open to:

  • Current Arts and Science students (online or on-campus)
  • Current Engineering, Business, Health Science students
Courses:
  • GNDS 215/3.0
  • 3.0 units in any course in any department that has a major written assignment* or two minor written assignments on the intersection of race and sexual and/or gender diversity.
  • 24.0 units in any course in any department that has a major written assignment* or two minor written assignments on the subject of sexual and/or gender diversity.
*A short abstract of each assignment must be submitted for review at the end of each term. The major assignment or two minor assignments must account for 40% of your final grade.
 

Students must pass all courses relating to the certificate with a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of 1.90.

How to Register

Register early in your studies to ensure you receive course credits towards the SXGD Certificate:

If at any time you wish to unenroll in the SXGD certificate, you can do so through the Faculty of Arts and Science office.

Certificate Completion

The SXGD certificate will be awarded upon successful completion of your degree program, provided that all certificate units have an average minimum GPA of 1.90.

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Exchange Opportunity to Oslo

Would you like to be a GNDS exchange student and go to the Centre for Gender Research at the University of Oslo in Norway for one term?

Oslo exchange for Gender Studies at Queen's University

More information on the Exchange to Oslo >

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Alumni Profile

“Some of the most memorable times in my degree was due to the environment that Gender Studies fosters to pursue some amazing opportunities such as self-directed study and partaking in the Feminist Legal Studies Queen's course. These unique experiences have contributed to shaping my future path.”
Nathalie Hunter: Gender Studies ’20

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Undergraduate Course Highlights

Niqab Bans, #blacklivesmatter, GamerGate—what are the realitites behind the hashtags and headlines? Gender, Race and Popular Culture explores what’s happening right now. Histories matter too, examined from many angles. Study LGBTQ+ representation and politics in Introductory or Advanced SXGD courses. Discover how we wear our histories in Gender, Dress and Fashion, and Racism, Colonialism and Resistance.

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Undergraduate Admission to Gender Studies

Students apply to Queen’s Arts (QA) through the OUAC (Ontario Universities Application Centre) website (ouac.on.ca). Secondary School prerequisites include six 4U and 4M courses, including a minimum of three 4U courses, one of which must be ENG4U. Applicants outside of Ontario may have additional requirements. Visit queensu.ca/admission for additional information regarding requirements and admission to Queen's.

Gender Studies (BAH)
OUAC Code:
QA (Kingston Campus)
QB (Concurrent Education, Kingston Campus)
QIA (The Castle)
QIB (Concurrent Education, The Castle)

See Full Admission Requirements

After first year, in May, students will declare their area of study (major, minor, specialization, e.g.). The thresholds are competitive year to year and do change. The thresholds for Gender Studies are: open PENDING LIST or 1.9 Cumulative GPA and a Minimum C- in GNDS 1## or BISC 101 for AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE.

Information on Plan selection

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Graduate Studies

Gender studies opens doors for students to address growing concerns about inequity, equity and justice across national and global societies. Gender affects everyone, making gender studies a space where our theory and our practice attend to the differences and connections among diverse peoples worldwide. As an interdisciplinary field, gender studies helps students connect social science, humanities, arts, and natural science methods to produce innovative new knowledge. Graduates of the MA in Gender Studies at Queen’s pursue advanced degrees in American studies, English, environmental studies, gender studies, legal studies, and medicine, and work in such fields as education, health, law, public policy, social research, social work, media, art and community organizing. Gender studies prepares students for both academic and nonacademic careers.

MA Program

The MA in Gender Studies is a one-year program. Full-time students take six courses - two (3.0 credit) required courses and four (3.0 credit) elective courses in fall and winter semesters - and complete a Major Research Paper (50 pages) during spring and summer. Elective courses may consist of GNDS graduate seminars, GNDS Directed Readings (up to a maximum of two), the GNDS practicum or courses hosted by other departments.

PhD Program

The PhD in Gender Studies is a four-year program. Full-time PhD students complete three (3.0 credit) required courses and one (3.0 credit) elective course in fall and winter semesters of the first year, and the (3.0 credit) PhD Practicum in fall of the second year. PhD students advance to candidacy in spring / summer of the second year after they complete a Syllabus and a Research Proposal. In fall semester of the third year, PhD candidates present their research in-progress at the Gender Studies Graduate Symposium.

For more information about Gender Studies Graduate Programs, visit queensu.ca/gnds/graduate or contact our Graduate AssistantDenita Arthurs at gndsgrad@queensu.ca

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