Program History

The groundwork for establishing a Department Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Alberta was laid through the hard work of a generation of faculty members and senior University administrators committed to improving the number of women among the professoriate.

1984

  • As a response to growing interest in the academic study of women and women's issues, the Vice-President (Academic) struck a fifteen member Advisory Committee on Women's Studies.
  • The Committee's 1986 report recommended that the University establish an undergraduate degree program in Women's Studies, along with an Institute of Feminist Studies and an Interfaculty Council on Women's Studies.

1987/88

  • The Women's Studies Program was formally launched, offering its first fifteen cross-listed courses.

1988/89

  • The Women's Studies Program appointed its first tenure track faculty member, Dr. Winnie Tomm.
  • The first Women's Studies (W ST) courses were offered.
  • The Major and Minor programs were launched.
  • The first Women's Studies students were admitted to the program.

1995/96

  • The program introduced an honours option.

2013

  • On January 1, the Women's Studies Program officially became the Department of Women's and Gender Studies, earning full department status.

2015

  • After much dedication and hard work, the Department of Women's & Gender Studies was awarded its own graduate program, MA in Gender and Social Justice Studies. (Read announcement article here.)

2016

  • In the Fall Term, the first 8 Gender and Social Justice students began their journey toward a Master of Arts degree.