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Studies & Degrees in Gender Studies

Gender studies examines how ideas about gender and sexuality shape people's lives, institutions and cultures. It is an interdisciplinary field: it draws on sociology, history, literature, law, politics, anthropology and psychology, and applies their methods to questions such as inequality at work, family and care, violence, health, representation in the media and public policy. Depending on the university, the field is taught under names such as women's studies, women's, gender and sexuality studies, or feminist studies.

Students read feminist and queer theory, learn qualitative and quantitative research methods, and write a research project or dissertation. Many programmes add work outside the classroom. At the University of Washington, for example, all students who major in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies take part in internships.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's level: in the United States, gender studies is taken as a major or a minor within a bachelor's degree in the liberal arts. The University of Washington offers a B.A. and a minor in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies, and Duke University offers a major and minors through its Program in Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies. At The University of Texas at Austin, the undergraduate and graduate programmes are housed in the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. In Spain and most of continental Europe there is rarely a full bachelor's degree in the subject; students specialise at master's level.
  • Master's level: a master's takes one or two years. The Gender Studies MA at the University of Sussex lasts one year full time, with core modules in advanced gender theory and in gender politics and social research, followed by a dissertation. Central European University (CEU) offers a one-year MA in Gender Studies and a two-year MA in Critical Gender Studies, and is a partner in GEMMA, a two-year Erasmus Mundus master's degree in women's and gender studies. In Spain, the Máster Universitario en Género e Igualdad of the Universidad de Murcia is an official master's degree of 60 ECTS credits that lasts 12 months, is taught on campus in Spanish and has 40 places for new students.
  • Doctorate: CEU offers a PhD in Comparative Gender Studies, and the University of Washington a Ph.D. in Feminist Studies.
  • Certificates: several US universities offer graduate certificates that students add to another degree, such as those in Feminist Studies and in Sexuality and Queer Studies at the University of Washington, or the graduate certificate at Duke.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 55 active schools for gender studies. The United States has by far the most, with 37, followed by Spain with four, Canada with three and the United Kingdom with two. There is also one school each in Hungary, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands, among other countries.

In the United States the list includes public universities such as The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Washington and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and private universities such as Duke University, Northwestern University and Yale University. In Spain, the Universidad de Murcia, the Universidad de Cádiz and the Universidad de Almería are among the listed universities. In the United Kingdom, the University of Sussex and Lancaster University are listed. CEU's Department of Gender Studies is based in Vienna.

Teaching is in English in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and at CEU, and in Spanish at the Spanish universities named here.

Admission to a master's degree normally requires a bachelor's degree, not necessarily in the same subject. Sussex asks for an upper second-class (2.1) honours degree or above in a social sciences or humanities subject, and considers other backgrounds. International applicants for September 2027 must apply to Sussex by 1 August 2027. CEU states that its department attracts students from a wide range of disciplines.

Careers

Gender studies does not lead to one profession. Graduates use their training in research, analysis and writing in many sectors. The University of Washington reports that its alumni work in politics, law, medicine, public health, museology, academia and social policy.

In Spain there is a more specific outlet. The Universidad de Murcia builds its master's around the roles of equality officer (agente de igualdad), equality education officer and health officer, with two tracks, public equality policies and education for equality. It notes that most of these professionals work in the public administration, and that companies, associations and NGOs increasingly need trained staff, in part because Spanish law requires companies to draw up an equality plan once they reach 50 workers.

No official employment statistics are published for gender studies as a separate field.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study gender studies as a bachelor's degree?

In the United States, yes, as a major or minor within a bachelor's degree. In Spain and much of Europe it is mainly a master's specialisation after a degree in another subject.

How long does a master's in gender studies take?

One year at the University of Sussex and at the Universidad de Murcia (12 months, 60 ECTS credits). CEU offers both a one-year and a two-year master's.

Do I need a specific first degree?

Usually not. Sussex asks for a degree in a social sciences or humanities subject but considers other backgrounds.

What jobs can I do afterwards?

Graduates work in public administration, NGOs, education, research, health and social policy, and in companies on equality and diversity. In Spain, the role of equality officer is a typical outlet.