Women and Gender Studies: Women and Gender Studies MA

Master of Arts

Program Description

The MA program in Women and Gender Studies focuses on feminist colonial, post-colonialism, diasporic, and transnational studies as rubrics for studying gender, sex, and feminism. This perspective explores the temporal and geographic processes through which women’s and men’s lives, sexed relations, gendered subjectivities, and sexualities are situated.

The MA program is a full-time program and cannot be taken on a part-time basis.

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Women and Gender Studies Institute’s additional admission requirements stated below.

  • An appropriate bachelor's degree in women's studies and gender studies or a related area at an approved university. Applicants must have obtained an average equivalent to a University of Toronto B+ or better in their final year of undergraduate study.

  • Letter of intent outlining the academic goals the applicant wishes to pursue in the program, two letters of recommendation, and transcripts from all post-secondary institutions.

Program Requirements

  • The student's program of study must be approved by the Women and Gender Studies Institute. Students must complete a total of 3.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • 0.5 core FCEs in women and gender studies (WGS5000H).

    • 1.0 elective FCE in women and gender studies; either a special topics seminar (please see course list of special topics seminars) or an independent research/reading course (WGS1007H).

    • 1.0 FCE MA Research Paper (WGS1005Y).

    • 1.0 FCE (one year-long or two half-year courses) offered by other departments and chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor.

    • Completion of WGS2000H (0.0 FCE; Credit/No Credit), requiring participation in the WGS Research Seminar Series. To complete this requirement, students must attend at least 80% of the seminars during the Fall/Winter academic session.

  • The MA degree program is not offered on a part-time basis.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S)

Time Limit

3 years full-time