Online Courses
The Department of Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Alberta is thrilled to announce that we now offer three courses online:
Click here to learn more about WGS 101!
An exploration of the impact that cultural representations of femininity have on the political, economic, and social lives of girls and women throughout the world.
The content of this course is organized into 12 modules. The Wordpress site accessible by clicking the button above helps you navigate through the course week by week.
Days & Time: Online Asynchronous
Note: To take the course for credit, you’ll need to be a student at the U of A and register in the class through the U of A online registration system, Bear Tracks.
Click here to learn more about WGS 102!
This course examines social and cultural constructions of gender, sexuality, race, class, and disability as well as visions for social justice.
The content of this course is organized into 12 modules. The Wordpress site accessible by clicking the button above helps you navigate through the course week by week.
Days & Time: Online Asynchronous
Note: To take the course for credit, you’ll need to be a student at the U of A and register in the class through the U of A online registration system, Bear Tracks.
Introduction to food justice and feminist food politics.
Days & Time: Online Asynchronous
Note: To take the course for credit, you’ll need to be a student at the U of A and register in the class through the U of A online registration system, Bear Tracks.
** Not open to students with credit in W ST 340 or WGS 340.
Introduction to social and cultural models of disability, with an emphasis on intersections of disability with race, class, gender, and sexuality.
Days & Time: Online Asynchronous
Note: To take the course for credit, you’ll need to be a student at the U of A and register in the class through the U of A online registration system, Bear Tracks.
Click here to learn more about WGS 270!
Approaches to, and key debates about, sexuality.
Topics may include: sexology; critiques of heterosexuality; political lesbianism; queer theory; transgender and intersexuality; prostitution and sex work.
The content of this course is organized into 12 modules. The Wordpress site accessible by clicking the button above helps you navigate through the course week by week.
Days & Time: Online Asynchronous
Note: To take the course for credit, you’ll need to be a student at the U of A and register in the class through the U of A online registration system, Bear Tracks.
**Not open students with credit in W ST 370 or WGS 370.
How does it work?
The online versions of WGS 101, 102, 240, 244 and 270 are offered during regularly scheduled semesters and are designed to fit into a regular 13 week semester. All students in the class are expected to work at a regular week by week pace, with set deadlines for assignments and examinations.
Although the online class means that you will not meet with your instructor, teaching assistants, and classmates in person, there are plenty of opportunities for you to meet virtually. The teaching team will hold regular online face to face office hours and you will get to know them through email, blog, and assignments. Students will be placed into online discussion groups where issues related to the course will be discussed.
Finally, the courses do not require you to enter the classroom, but they do require you to take what you are learning out into the world. WGS 101, for instance, is organized around a number of learning challenges that involve applying course concepts to your everyday life.
How to sign up
The courses are available to students anywhere. If you are already a University of Alberta student, enrol in the course as usual through the Beartracks system. If you are not, you must become a student. Most online students register through Open Studies - see the Open Studies page for more information about that.
Course registration opens in February for the Spring semester and April for the Fall and Winter semesters.
Note that there are no prerequisites for WGS 101, 102 and 270; these classes have been carefully developed for a general student audience. Whether you are an Arts student looking to take the WGS major, a Science student who wants an interesting elective, or an Education or Nursing student who wants to learn more about gender, there is something for everyone!