The PhD in Gender Studies is a four-year program that focuses on advanced theories and methods in gender studies. Students will critically study and practice applying their field to pressing issues of power, inequity, and equity, such as those shaped by gender, race, nation, class, and sexuality. This program consists of a blend of theory-based course work, advanced methods course work, and individual research. Dissertations may be written using multiple formats—monograph, manuscript, or portfolio—to maximize their applicability to a broad spectrum of audiences and careers.

Unique to the six other Gender Studies PhD programs in Canada, this program also gives students the opportunity to form research partnerships by practicing community-based collaborative research and collaborative authorship. Graduates seeking research-intensive academic careers will be prepared to link research and teaching to sites beyond the academy. Graduates seeking non-academic careers will be prepared to apply their PhD to the public and private sectors, in such fields as government, public administration, law, policy, social services, the arts, business and education.