Women's and gender studies

Exploring gender, identity and power.

How do sex and gender influence the way we experience the world? How has this changed and what can we expect from the future? With a major in Women’s Studies, you’ll explore how gender shapes our cultural and social institutions, personal identity, and relationships using interdisciplinary knowledge. You don’t need to identify as a feminist or be a woman, but you do need to be interested in the female experience and what it means to be a woman—or a man, or any other gender. Women’s Studies explores new and challenging ideas. It tackles contemporary issues, including domestic violence, rape culture, pay gaps, harassment, racism, homophobia and transphobia, body image, memory and national identity. You’ll explore gender in different contexts (e.g. locally and internationally, and across cultures) and as it intersects with other social differences (e.g. race, class and sexuality).

How many units?

A major in Women’s and Gender Studies is made up of 36 units, including:

• two Year 1 topics (9 units)
• two Year 2 topics (9 units)
• two Year 3 topics (9 units)
• plus two additional topics (9 units) from the Year 2 or Year 3 topics.

Women’s Studies can also be taken as a minor. Your 22.5 units will include:

• two Year 1 topics (9 units)
• plus three upper level topics (13.5 units) from the Year 2 or Year 3.

You may undertake an extended major sequence in Women’s Studies by completing the 36 units of a major, plus two topics from the Year 2 or 3 topics. An extended major is not available to students enrolled in the double Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Arts.

Add a year of Honours

Kickstart your career or future in research with one extra year.

By adding just one year full-time to your undergraduate degree, you can graduate with Honours. Enhance your career prospects, delve deeper into knowledge or launch yourself into the world of research.