Pauline Jewett Institute of Women's and Gender Studies
1501 Dunton Tower
613-520-6645
http://carleton.ca/womensstudies
- M.A. Women's Studies
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M.A. Women’s and Gender Studies with Specialization in African Studies (Specialization requirements listed under African Studies )
M.A. Women's and Gender Studies
Academic Regulations
See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
Academic standing of B- or higher must be obtained in each course counted towards the fulfillment of the degree requirements. Candidates must also maintain a CGPA of 9.0 or higher and achieve Satisfactory or better on the MA thesis and its oral defence.
Admission Requirements
The minimum requirement for admission to the MA program in Women's and Gender Studies is a BA Honours degree in Women's and Gender Studies or related areas with high honours standing. Students who have completed a degree with a significant focus on gender and gender-related coursework from disciplines including Sociology, History, English, Philosophy, Anthropology, Canadian Studies and Political Science, for example, will be considered for admission to the program. Applicants without the requisite background may be required to take a maximum of 2.0 credits from designated courses at the undergraduate level in Women's and Gender Studies in addition to their normal MA program requirements.
Qualifying Year Program
Applicants without a B.A. Honours degree in Women's and Gender Studies but who have a three year degree with a Women's and Gender Studies major, minor or a degree in a related discipline with a minimum average of B+ will be required to complete successfully a qualifying year of full-time study, before proceeding to apply to the Master's program. At this time, the Institute will determine the student's eligibility to enter the program.
Program Requirements
The MA degree in Women's and Gender Studies requires the satisfactory completion of 5.0 credits, distributed according to one of the following two options (students are not required to choose one option over the other until the end of the first year of study):
Option I: Course work + Thesis
| 1. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
WGST 5905 [1.0] | Program Seminar | |
| 2. 0.5 credit in: | 0.5 | |
WGST 5906 [0.5] | Feminist Theory | |
| 3. 0.5 credit in: | 0.5 | |
WGST 5907 [0.5] | Researching Women's and Gender Issues | |
| 4. 1.0 credit in additional course work chosen from available elective courses (see below) | 1.0 | |
| 5. 2.0 credits in: | 2.0 | |
WGST 5909 [2.0] | M.A .Thesis | |
| Total Credits | 5.0 | |
Option II: Course work + Research Essay
| 1. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
WGST 5905 [1.0] | Program Seminar | |
| 2. 0.5 credit in: | 0.5 | |
WGST 5906 [0.5] | Feminist Theory | |
| 3. 0.5 credit in: | 0.5 | |
WGST 5907 [0.5] | Researching Women's and Gender Issues | |
| 4. 2.0 credits of additional course work chosen from available elective courses (see below) | 2.0 | |
| 5. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
WGST 5908 [1.0] | Research Essay | |
| Total Credits | 5.0 | |
Elective courses
Electives may be taken from a selection of courses offered outside the program in a related discipline, subject to the approval of the Graduate Supervisor.
Elective courses may include but are not limited to:
| PHIL 5350 [0.5] | Topics in Ethics or Political Philosophy | |
| PHIL 5304 [0.5] | Tutorial in Selected Problems of Philosophy I | |
| PHIL 5800 [1.0] | Graduate Seminar | |
| PHIL 5500 [0.5] | Topics in Contemporary Philosophy | |
| HIST 6903 [1.0] | Women, Gender, Sexuality Minor | |
| HIST 5708 [1.0] | Seminar in World History | |
| HIST 5803 [0.5] | History of Women, Gender and Sexuality: Foundations | |
| HIST 5804 [0.5] | Problems in the History of Women, Gender and Sexuality | |
| PADM 5213 [0.5] | Gender and Public Policy | |
| PSYC 5001 [0.5] | Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology | |
| PSCI 6301 [0.5] | Political Theory II | |
| PSCI 5200 [0.5] | Nationalism | |
| PSCI 5506 [0.5] | Gender and Politics | |
| PSCI 5607 [0.5] | Politics of North America | |
| PSCI 5205 [0.5] | Problems in American Government I | |
| SOCI 5809 [0.5] | The Logic of the Research Process | |
| WGST 5000 [0.5] | Issues for Feminist Scholarship | |
| WGST 5001 [0.5] | Research Seminar in Women's & Gender Studies |
Progress through the program
The first year of study is essentially the same for all full-time students entering the program regardless of whether their intention is to pursue the thesis or the research essay option (a schedule for part-time students is outlined below): all full-time students will be expected to complete the core feminist theory and methodologies courses in the first year (typically WGST 5906 will be offered in the fall term and WGST 5907 in the winter); WGST 5905 [1.0] ; and, a further 1.0 credit chosen from among those electives on offer that year.
At the end of the winter term of the first year of study, and in consultation with the Graduate Supervisor, full-time students will be required to declare their intention to pursue the thesis option or to complete additional courses and a research essay. The deadline for this decision will normally be in writing on or before April 1st. In the fall of the second year of study, all full-time students will be expected to submit a research proposal that has been approved by their thesis or research essay supervisor or committee. The deadline to submit the proposal is September 15. Students pursuing the research essay option will also be required to complete two additional half-course electives. Typically, these courses will be completed in the fall term of the second year. Students will be expected to maintain regular contact with their thesis/research essay supervisor throughout the year to ensure steady progress and a timely completion of their research and writing.
Women's and Gender Studies (WGST) Courses
Issues for Feminist Scholarship
Selected issues based on the research expertise of the Instructor, designed to provide students with a broad introduction to the diversity of women's experiences within that issue. Critical issues related to race, class, gender and ability.
Research Seminar in Women's & Gender Studies
An examination of the Instructor's research focus (topics will vary from year-to-year) with respect to issues of feminist methodologies and epistemology related to developing and conducting feminist or women-centred research. The focus is interdisciplinary.
Advanced Topics in Women's and Gender Studies: Concepts of Gender
Cross-cultural perspectives on gender and its meanings, uses and implications. The applications of gender to different fields of knowledge, cultural expression, and institutional regulation. Gender will be interrogated as it intersects with race, class, ethnicity, age, and ability.
Advanced Topics in Women's and Gender Studies
Selected topics with a focus on issues from the humanities and social sciences. Topics may include: gender, power and social inequalities; women's writing; gender history; gender, sexuality and music embodiment; race, gender and imperialism; gender, criminology and criminal justice; queer theory; transnational feminisms.
Program Seminar
All MA candidates are required to take part in a seminar in which faculty members and students discuss new work in the field, analyze current issues in Women's and Gender Studies, and pursue topics of professional development. Students will prepare their thesis or research essay proposal in consultation with the course Instructor, faculty members and their peers.
Feminist Theory
An analysis of contemporary feminist theoretical debates that provides students with competence in the application of a range of theoretical models, and an appreciation of their specific historical contexts and development.
Researching Women's and Gender Issues
Consideration of a range of research methodologies and approaches relevant to women's and gender studies. In particular, students will examine the impact of gender studies on epistemological and methodological issues in a variety of academic disciplines.
Research Essay
An examination of an approved topic in an area of specialization of either the Institute faculty or associated faculty from across the University. Students will have a supervisor and a second reader.
M.A .Thesis
A substantial investigation of a topic in Women's and Gender Studies that will be determined in consultation with the Institute. Students will have a primary supervisor selected from within the Institute or from associated Faculty across the University. The candidate will be examined orally on the thesis.
Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca
Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca