Studies & Degrees in Women’s Studies
Women’s Studies Study Programs
Women's studies is an interdisciplinary subject that examines the lives and history of women, the way societies organise gender, and feminist thought. It uses the methods of the humanities and the social sciences: history, literature, sociology, law, politics, psychology and health all appear in the curriculum. The Department of Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies at Duke University describes the aim as understanding how social, historical and psychological forces, organised by the concept of gender, shape people as individuals.
As a university subject it dates from 1970. San Diego State University (SDSU) states that it had the first women's studies programme in the United States, with the first courses in spring 1970. Since then many departments have widened their scope and their name. SDSU now has a Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, the University of Washington a Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies, and The University of Texas at Austin a Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, which its Center for Women's and Gender Studies joined in 2023. Students searching for courses should look under all of these names.
What students learn
The SDSU bachelor's degree sets out typical learning goals: to examine how economic and legal structures affect the opportunities of women and of people from marginalised groups, to analyse how gender intersects with race, social class, sexual orientation, age and nationality, to study women's movements and social change, and to strengthen critical reading, writing and research. Course titles at SDSU include Women and Global Justice, Women in American History, Women, Law, and Policy, Reproductive Rights and Justice, and Women's Movements and Activism. Many programmes add an internship, a period abroad or a final project. At the University of Washington, students complete a senior capstone project.
Qualifications and levels
- Minor. A set of courses taken next to another main subject. At Saint Louis University's Madrid campus the minor in Women's and Gender Studies has 18 credit hours. At SDSU the minor requires a minimum of 18 units.
- Bachelor's degree (major). In North America the subject is one major within a Bachelor of Arts. At SDSU, majors take at least 12 classes in the subject. At the University of Washington the major has 55 credits since autumn 2025.
- Master's degree. The M.A. in Feminist Studies at SDSU has 30 units, and full-time students generally finish in 2 years with a thesis, an exam or a project.
- Erasmus Mundus master's. GEMMA, the Erasmus Mundus Master's Degree in Women's and Gender Studies, consists of two years of study (120 ECTS) at two universities of a consortium coordinated by the Universidad de Granada, which also includes the Universidad de Oviedo and universities in Bologna, Vienna, Łódź and Utrecht. For self-financed students the fees are currently €2,100 per academic year for European students and €5,500 for students from third countries, according to the programme.
- Doctorate. The Ph.D. in Feminist Studies at the University of Washington requires 90 graduate credits. The department typically accepts two to four students each year.
In Spain, an official master's degree has 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Graduate certificates also exist for students whose doctorate or master's is in another field.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 111 active schools for women's studies. Most are in the United States (89), followed by Canada (6), Spain (5), the United Kingdom (3) and Ireland (2). Italy, India, Austria, Finland, China and the Netherlands have one each. The list includes The Ohio State University, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, San Diego State University, the University of Washington, Duke University, Yale University and Dartmouth College. In Spain it includes Saint Louis University, Madrid and the Escola de l'IGOP of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, whose master's degree deals with social policy and community action.
Teaching in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland is in English. In GEMMA the language depends on the route. Granada and Oviedo teach in Spanish in the first year, Bologna in Italian and English, and the Central European University, Utrecht and Łódź in English. Applicants must submit language certificates for the languages of both universities they choose.
Careers
The subject does not train for one occupation. SDSU says its graduates continue to graduate school or find jobs in social services, politics, education, business and the arts. The University of Washington lists business, education, health care, law, media and communication, nonprofit administration, psychology and public policy as fields where its graduates work, with job titles such as attorney, social worker, teacher, nurse and program coordinator. Several of those jobs require a further professional degree. GEMMA states that its main objective is to train experts in gender equality.
Frequently asked questions
Is women's studies the same as gender studies?
The fields overlap and many departments now combine them. SDSU, for example, renamed its Department of Women's Studies as the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies to reflect the current state of the field.
How long does a master's degree in women's studies take?
Usually two years. The M.A. in Feminist Studies at SDSU has 30 units over two years, and the Erasmus Mundus master's GEMMA has 120 ECTS over two years.
Do I need a first degree in women's studies to enter a master's programme?
Not necessarily. GEMMA states that previous education in women's and gender studies is not a necessary condition, although it counts as an additional merit.
Can I study women's studies in Spanish?
Yes. In the GEMMA master's, the Universidad de Granada and the Universidad de Oviedo teach in Spanish in the first year.