Program Requirements
The WGSI graduate program offers its own M.A. degree, Ph.D. degree, and Collaborative Program. All international and domestic graduate students admitted to the WGSI M.A. and Ph.D. programs are guaranteed funding support.
Our M.A. and Ph.D. degrees also features the option of a practicum that aspires to strengthen students’ ability to interrogate the application of theories and methods to lived practice.
MA Program Requirements
The M.A. Program is offered as a full-time, twelve-month Master’s program. The program is not offered on a part-time basis.
Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the SGS regulations and program requirements as specified in the SGS calendar and WGSI handbook.
M.A. students must complete a total of 3.5 full-course equivalents (FCE) and maintain attendance at the WGS Research Seminars:
| FCE | Course | Session |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0 FCE | WGS2000HY, the WGS Research Seminar (Meets once per month) -students are required to attend 80% of the seminars in the first year | Fall through Winter |
| .5 FCE | WGS5000H Feminist Theories, Histories, Movements I | Fall |
| 1.0 FCE | Two courses from the following categories: – Special topics course in women and gender studies | Fall and/or Winter |
| 1.0 FCE | Electives (one year-long or two half-year courses) offered by other departments and chosen in consultation with your faculty advisor. | Fall and/or Winter |
| 1.0 FCE | WGS1005Y MA Research Paper – Proposal due in January – MRP due in August | Summer |
Master’s Research Paper (MRP)
A two-page MRP proposal is due to the Advisor by January 31. The MRP is usually written over the summer. The student’s MRP will be read and marked by the Advisor, and one other faculty member with an appropriate area of expertise, to be approached by the student in consultation with the Advisor. We recommend that students submit at least one draft of their MRP to the advisor for comments, before submitting the final version to both readers. The final version of the MRP must be submitted in electronic copy by August 15.
Planning Your MRP – MRP BLUES (NOT): A few reflections by Dr. Alissa Trotz.
Ph.D. Program Requirements
The Ph.D. Program is only offered full-time. The program is not offered on a part-time basis. The normal program length is 4 years (full-time Ph.D.) or 5 years (full-time, direct-entry Ph.D.). Please refer to Ph.D. time-lines for an overview of coursework, comprehensive examination, and dissertation timing.
Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the SGS regulations and program requirements as specified in the SGS calendar and WGSI handbook.
Program requirements are designed to ensure that Ph.D. students receive a shared, advanced overview of crucial questions in interdisciplinary feminist studies and develop a rigorous and in-depth background in the theories, methods and themes chosen by the individual student. The program requirements include:
- coursework
- comprehensive exams
- a dissertation proposal
- a dissertation & final oral exam
- active participation in WGS Research Seminar Series.
Each student’s program of study must be approved by the graduate coordinator. No more than 1.0 full course equivalent (FCE) in courses in which undergraduates are also enrolled may be applied towards graduate degree requirements.
Coursework
Coursework requirements for the Ph.D. program vary depending on the student’s previous education. Please refer to the appropriate coursework requirement guidelines below.
For students admitted from a Master’s degree:
Students admitted to the program from an M.A. must complete a total of 3.0 full course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
| FCEs | Course | Session |
|---|---|---|
| C/NR | WGS Research Seminar (Meets once per month) – Students enroll in WGS2000H (0.0 FCE, Credit/No Credit) in year 1 of their PhD program. – Attendance at 80% of the seminars is required in year 1. After completion of this course, students are encouraged to attend this seminar regularly, as a crucial part of their graduate education. – All WGSI Ph.D. and collaborative specialization Ph.D. students are required to present their dissertation research in this seminar series, after they have achieved candidacy and before graduation. This milestone is captured by WGS2001H (0.0FCE, Credit/ No Credit). Students will enroll in WGS2001H during the session in which they plan to present. | Fall through Winter |
| .5 FCE | WGS5000H Feminist Theories, Histories, Movements I – Students who have already taken WGS5000H will be required to enroll in alternate course selections, with WGSI approval. | Fall (1Y) |
| .5 FCE | WGS5001H Feminist Theories, Histories, Movements II | Winter (1Y) |
| .5 FCE | Elective (one half-year course) in Women and Gender Studies | Fall or Winter (1Y) |
| 1.5 FCEs | Electives in Women and Gender Studies or in other departments, chosen in consultation with your faculty advisor | Fall and/or Winter (1Y) |
All coursework should normally be completed in the first year of Ph.D. study. Students may repeat a failed course once. Failure to successfully complete the required courses on the second attempt will ordinarily result in a request for withdrawal from the program.
For students admitted from a Bachelor’s degree (“direct-entry” students):
Students admitted to the program from a Bachelor’s degree must complete a total of 5.0 full course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
| FCEs | Course | Session |
|---|---|---|
| C/NR | WGS Research Seminar (Meets once per month) – Students enroll in WGS2000H (0.0 FCE, Credit/No Credit) in year 1 of their PhD program. – Attendance at 80% of the seminars is required in year 1. After completion of this course, students are encouraged to attend this seminar regularly, as a crucial part of their graduate education. – All WGSI Ph.D. and collaborative specialization Ph.D. students are required to present their dissertation research in this seminar series, after they have achieved candidacy and before graduation. This milestone is captured by WGS2001H (0.0FCE, Credit/ No Credit). Students will enroll in WGS2001H during the session in which they plan to present. | Fall through Winter |
| .5 FCE | WGS5000H Feminist Theories, Histories, Movements I – Students who have already taken WGS5000H will be required to enroll in alternate course selections, with WGSI approval. | Fall (1Y) |
| .5 FCE | WGS5001H Feminist Theories, Histories, Movements II | Winter (1Y) |
| 2.0 FCEs | Elective courses in Women and Gender Studies | Fall and/or Winter (1Y/2Y) |
| 2.0 FCEs | Electives in Women and Gender Studies or in other departments, chosen in consultation with your faculty advisor | Fall and/or Winter (1Y/2Y) |
All coursework should be completed by the end of the second year of Ph.D. study. Students may repeat a failed course once. Failure to successfully complete the required courses on the second attempt will ordinarily result in a request for withdrawal from the program.
Collaborative Specialization Requirements
Students must be admitted to, and enrolled in, one of the collaborating units, and are expected to meet the admission and degree requirements of both the home department and CWGS. The Collaborative Specialization in Women and Gender Studies requirements can be met concurrently with, or in addition to, home unit requirements. Applicants should consult their graduate units for information.
All programs of study should be planned in consultation with the CWGS Graduate Coordinator as well as the Coordinator of Graduate Studies of the student’s home graduate unit. Courses should be selected from an established list of core courses offered by CWGS and cross-listed courses offered by our collaborating units.
Students who successfully complete the requirements of the Collaborative Specialization will receive the notation “Completed Collaborative Specialization in Women and Gender Studies” on their academic transcript in addition to the master’s or doctoral degree from their home graduate unit. This notation does not appear on a student’s graduate diploma. Students will also receive a certificate announcing their completion of the program.
Non-Thesis Master’s Students
| FCEs | Course | Session |
|---|---|---|
| WGS Research Seminar (Meets once per month) – students are required to attend 80% of the seminars in the first year. | Fall through Winter | |
| 0.5 FCE | WGS5000H Feminist Theories, Histories, Movements I | Fall |
| 1.0 FCE | Elective courses with a focus on women, gender, feminist, sexuality, critical race or post-colonial studies, offered in Women and Gender Studies or in other departments and chosen in consultation with and approved by the WGSI Graduate Coordinator. | Fall and/or Winter |
Thesis Master’s Students
| FCEs | Course | Session |
|---|---|---|
| WGS Research Seminar (Meets once per month) – students are required to attend 80% of the seminars in the first year. | Fall through Winter | |
| 0.5 FCE | WGS5000H Feminist Theories, Histories, Movements I | Fall |
| 0.5 FCE | Elective course with a focus on women, gender, feminist, sexuality, critical race or post-colonial studies, offered in Women and Gender Studies or in other departments and chosen in consultation with and approved by the WGSI Graduate Coordinator. | Fall and/or Winter |
| Thesis, or major paper, must deal with a subject in the field of women and gender studies. – Theses will be supervised and evaluated in the same manner as those in the home graduate unit. Normally, at least one cross-listed or core graduate faculty member of WGSI will be a member of the thesis or supervisory committee of students in the program. | Varies |
Ph.D. Students
| FCEs | Course | Session |
|---|---|---|
| WGS Research Seminar (Meets once per month) – students are required to attend 80% of the seminars in the first year of the program. After completion of year 1, students are encouraged to attend this seminar regularly, as a crucial part of their graduate education. – students are required to present their work in the seminar at least once before graduating. | Fall through Winter | |
| 0.5 FCE | Either WGS5000H Feminist Theories, Histories, Movements I (Fall) Or WGS5001H Feminist Theories, Histories, Movements II (Winter) | Fall or Winter |
| 0.5 FCE | Elective course offered in Women and Gender Studies. | Fall or Winter |
| 1.0 FCE | Elective courses with a focus on women, gender, feminist, sexuality, critical race or post-colonial studies, offered in Women and Gender Studies or in other departments and chosen in consultation with and approved by the WGSI Graduate Coordinator. | Fall and/or Winter |
| Doctoral thesis dealing with a subject in the field of women and gender studies. – Theses will be supervised and evaluated in the same manner as those in the home graduate unit. Normally, at least one cross-listed or core graduate faculty member of WGSI will be a member of the thesis or supervisory committee of student in the program. | Varies |
Application Information
In order to qualify for admission into the Graduate Collaborative Specialization in Women and Gender Studies (CWGS), applicants must be offered admission to a graduate degree program at University of Toronto. Applicants to CWGS should have some background in Women’s Studies, Feminist Studies and/or Gender Studies. Graduate students at the University of Toronto are under the auspices of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS).
Application Deadline:
We are now accepting application to the Graduate Collaborative Specialization in Women and Gender Studies for the 2024-2025 academic year. All applications must be submitted to the Women and Gender Studies Institute by May 30, 2025.
Note: It is expected that students apply to the collaborative specialization after admission and prior to starting their first year of study, however, students in all years can apply.
Application Documentation and Procedures
Students will only be accepted into CWGS upon confirmation of their acceptance into their home department’s graduate program.
To apply to the Collaborative Specialization in Women and Gender Studies, students must submit the following documents:
- A double-spaced two-page tailored statement of intent pertaining to women and gender studies. This statement should not be the one that was submitted to your home graduate unit and should focus work on related to women and gender studies. You can upload the tailored statement of intend to the SGS Graduate Admissions Portal or email the statement to the Women and Gender Studies Institute at: wgsi.programs@utoronto.ca
- Other documents submitted in your original application:
- Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions.
- Your Offer of Admission to U of T.
Application Procedure:
- Ensure that your tailored statement of intent is emailed to WGSI (wgsi.programs@utoronto.ca) by the application deadline.
- Request that your home graduate unit send a copy of your complete graduate admission file (including all the documents mentions above) to WGSI at wgsi.programs@utoronto.ca by our application deadline.
For interested students who belong to an academic unit that does not participate in the WGSI collaborative specialization, you are still encouraged to apply by following the steps above. Before you apply, you should check with your home graduate unit to see if they will support a non-standard admission request.
If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to Stefanie Steele, Graduate and Undergraduate Administrator, WGSI at wgsi.programs@utoronto.ca.
Accepted students are sent a letter outlining the program requirements; a copy of this letter is also sent to the home graduate unit for review and signature.