Gender and Social Justice degree | Undergraduate Programs

Advocate for gender equality, social justice, and positive change

Explore the ways society is shaped by gender. Be an advocate for equity, justice, and positive change. Learn the important role gender and sex play in all aspects of life.

Over the course of your degree, you’ll develop a deep expertise in issues of gender, diversity, equality, and social justice.

You’ll be joining a highly-engaged group of students who are active members of their student society, department, and university as well as the student-led Women’s Centre, The Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity, and the surrounding community. You'll also have the opportunity to gain work experience through co-op.

Faculty:
Faculty of Arts

Degree:
Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Social Justice

What courses will you take in Gender and Social Justice?

First year courses

As an Arts student, you’ll choose your major at the end of first year. You’re encouraged to explore a second major in first year to discover potential new interests.

During your first year, you'll take three introductory Gender and Social Justice (GSJ) courses. Plus, you'll have electives to explore an additional major of your choosing. In upper years, 40% of the classes you'll take will be GSJ courses.

You can choose to study Gender and Social Justice through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.

Honours Arts

September to December

GSJ 100 – Introduction to Gender and Social Justice
ARTS 160 – Inquiry and Knowledge Creation
Prospective major #2
2 electives

January to April

Any 100-level or 200-level Gender and Social Justice course
Prospective major #2
3 electives

Honours Arts and Business

September to December

ARBUS 101 – Introduction to Business in North America
ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomics
GSJ 10 0 – Introduction to Gender and Social Justice
Prospective major #2
Elective

January to April

ARBUS 102 – Accounting Information for Managers
ARBUS 202 – Professional and Business Ethics
ARTS 160 – Inquiry and Knowledge Creation
Any 100-level or 200-level Gender and Social Justice course
Prospective major #2

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.

After first year

40% of the classes you’ll take will be Gender and Social Justice courses. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.

Sample upper-year courses

GSJ 262 – Global Queer Cinema
GSJ 307 – Race and Resistance
GSJ 347 – Witches, Wives, and Whores
GSJ 430 – Unruly Women in Early Modern Hispanic Culture

Customize your degree

You can add additional areas of expertise by including one or more of the minors available to all Waterloo students.

Available as a co-op program?
Yes

Available as a regular program?
Yes

Available as a minor?
Yes

Get serious work experience. You’ll also have the option to gain real-world job experience, with paid co-op experience available through both the Honours Arts and Business and the Honour Arts programs.

Join a global movement. Waterloo is the only Canadian university invited to join the United Nations’ HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 framework to advance gender equity.

Co-op = relevant paid work experience

By taking what you learn about gender studies and social justice in class and combining it with paid work experience through our co-op program, you'll gain relevant work experience and be able to explore new career areas and types of employers as your interests evolve.

Sample co-op job titles

Digital marketing intern
Teaching assistant
Customer success lead

Co-op work-study sequence

Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.

Option one: If you choose to study Gender and Social Justice through Honours Arts and Business, your first work term will be in the winter term of second year.

Year	September to December (Fall)	January to April (Winter)	May to August (Spring)
First	Study	Study	Off
Second	Study	Co-op	Study
Third	Co-op	Study	Co-op
Fourth	Study	Co-op	Co-op
Fifth	Study	Study	-

Option two: Your first work term will be in the spring term after second year, if you choose Honours Arts

Year	September to December (Fall)	January to April (Winter)	May to August (Spring)
First	Study	Study	Off
Second	Study	Study	Co-op
Third	Study	Co-op	Study
Fourth	Co-op	Study	Co-op
Fifth	Co-op	Study	-

Learn more about co-op →

What can you do with a degree in Gender Studies and Social Justice?

Upon graduating, you'll be primed for a career in law, social policy planning, community action, counselling, teaching, human rights, or many other fields. Or take your studies further and pursue a master's program in a variety of areas.

The careers listed below are examples of what you might be able to pursue. Through the courses you take, specializations you choose, extracurriculars, and any work experience you gain, you'll graduate with a degree that's uniquely you and be ready to pursue a career that's right for you!

Community outreach coordinator

You would work with organizations to connect people to services, programs, and resources. This role involves listening to community needs, building trust, and helping projects reach the people they are meant to support.

Nonprofit program officer

In this career, you’d help design, manage, and evaluate programs focused on issues like equity, education, or access to healthcare. Your background helps you understand how social systems affect different groups.

Advocacy or policy assistant

You would support campaigns that aim to influence laws or public policies. This often includes research, writing briefs, and communicating clearly with decision‑makers and the public.

Social services caseworker (with further training)

You would support individuals or families facing challenges such as housing insecurity or discrimination. This work centers on empathy, problem‑solving, and connecting people to support systems.

Public policy analyst

You’d research how policies affect different communities and help propose improvements. The analytical skills from this degree are especially useful for understanding real‑world impacts of laws and programs.

Education or student support advisor

You would work with students to help them navigate academic or personal challenges. This role often focuses on equity, access, and student well‑being.

Research assistant

You’d support academic or applied research on social issues by collecting data, conducting interviews, and analyzing findings. It’s a great option if you enjoy inquiry and evidence‑based work.

Communications or media coordinator

In this role, you’d help organizations share their message through websites, social media, or campaigns. Strong writing skills and audience awareness are key strengths here.

International development or NGO worker

You would work with organizations focused on global issues like gender equity, education, or human rights. Cultural awareness and ethical thinking are essential in international settings.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) specialist

You’d help organizations assess practices and create strategies to support fairness and belonging. This career combines research, training, and interpersonal communication.

Community health coordinator

You would help design programs that promote health equity and access. Understanding how social factors influence health outcomes is central to this role.

Human resources or equity coordinator

You’d help organizations build inclusive and respectful workplaces. Gender Studies prepares you to think about fairness, bias, and communication in professional environments.

Nonprofit or social enterprise manager

You’d oversee projects, staff, or operations for mission‑driven organizations. This career allows you to blend leadership with a commitment to social impact.

Graduate studies in social sciences or humanities

If you enjoy studying social issues in depth, you could continue into graduate school. This path can lead to careers in research, teaching, or advanced policy work. Many graduates use this degree as preparation for law school or legal support roles. You’d apply writing and critical analysis skills to issues involving rights, justice, and policy.

If you’re interested in understanding society, supporting change, and working closely with people and communities, a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies and Social Justice offers meaningful and flexible career pathways.

Learn about the future of careers in arts, humanities, social sciences, languages, and creative arts.