The Mount has a unique historical connection to the education and advancement of women. To this day, we remain committed to the education of women and have a well-established Women’s Studies Department. Students can declare an honours, a major, or a minor in the undergraduate Women’s Studies program. The Women’s Studies program places women’s experiences and knowledge at the centre of critical inquiry, by learning about how women’s societal position can be transformed. In examining the accomplishments and struggles of women, we consider the complexities and intersections of gender, race, class, sexual orientation and ability from cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives.


Program Options

Students can enroll in an Honours degree, a major or a minor in Women’s Studies, or a minor in Queer Studies. Any Mount undergraduate student can take individual courses as electives, and many of our courses are relevant to students interested in programs such as Cultural Studies, English, History, Family Studies/Gerontology, Political Studies, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology and many more.

  • Single Honours degree — In this four-year program, students interested in pursuing further education after their degree or conducting independent research can explore our honours program. During the last year, you’ll produce a thesis — a year-long independent research project
  • Single or Combined Major degree — In this three-year program, students can major solely in Women’s Studies or combine two programs (for example, Women’s Studies & Sociology/Anthropology)
  • Minor in Women’s Studies — A women’s studies minor is for students interested in combining some women’s studies courses with their declared major (in Political Studies or Cultural Studies, for example)
  • Minor in Queer Studies – The Mount has recently introduced a Queer Studies minor that unpacks sexuality and gender while discussing the intersectionalities experienced by the LGBTQIA2S+ community. This minor may be combined with a major in Women’s Studies or any other program major

Small class sizes

Women’s Studies at the Mount prides itself on its small class sizes. You will have the opportunity to build relationships with your professors and other students, ensuring an engaging space for developing important skills in critical thinking and persuasive, clear communication.

Interesting courses include:

  • Sex & Sexualities
  • Psychology of Gender
  • Women, Resistance & Empowerment
  • Global Women & Gender Issues

Career Possibilities

  • Social worker or counsellor
  • Teacher in elementary or high school
  • Professor in university/college
  • Lawyer, specializing in women’s rights, human rights, family law
  • Researcher in a government department advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility
  • Project manager in a non-governmental organization (NGO)
  • Program coordinator in a women’s organization
  • Policy analyst in a governmental or para-governmental organization, perhaps as an employment equity officer or public administrator
  • Policy analyst in business and industry or in educational institutions
  • Writer, publisher, or editor
  • Investigative journalist
  • International development work

Our students have also been very successful in getting into programs for further training, such as education, law, social work, public administration, and journalism, or winning top national graduate student scholarships.


Did you know?

The Mount library has a large collection of lesbian pulp fiction, (located in a cabinet beside the main front desk). Learn more about the collection–>

The Mount has been publishing its own research journal on critical gender studies since 1980. Learn more about Atlantis: Critical Studies in Gender, Culture and Social Justice –>