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Study Gender Studies at Otago

What does gender mean to you?

What is gender identity?

Why is there a gender pay gap?

Why are the All Blacks the “national team”?

Gender is a complex element of social and cultural existence with far-reaching implications for the course of our lives. It shapes the work we do and how we spend our leisure time. It affects not only our identities, but our income, our family relationships and friendships, the value and meanings we attach to other people and activities, what we eat and how we dress, and even how we speak. Gender Studies explores categories such as “women”, “men”, “trans”, or “non-binary” and how they can be fundamental to our own and others’ understandings of who we are.

Why study Gender Studies?

At New Zealand’s leading Gender Studies programme, we’ll surprise you. You’ll be introduced to different perspectives on things you’ve always taken for granted, while you explore television, film, social media, public debate, photography, subculture and fashion as well as scholarly reading.

The staff are enthusiastic! They work interactively, and involve students actively in their own learning. Students are encouraged to think independently and to relate their academic learning to the world they encounter daily.

Gender Studies consistently gains high ratings for student satisfaction with their learning experience.

Topics covered in the core programme include:

  • bodies in popular culture
  • cultural construction of sexuality
  • consumer culture and work
  • family life
  • gender in the media
  • social justice
  • intersectionality
  • violence
  • gender, sexuality and state power

Gender Studies runs a core programme but also introduces you to a whole range of disciplines. A Gender Studies degree can include papers in Sociology, Criminology, Anthropology, Education, English, Film and Media, Geography, History, Law, Politics, and Religion. It’s up to you!

Many Gender Studies papers can be credited towards other degree programmes, including majors in Sociology, Film and Media, Politics, Philosophy, and the minor in Criminology.

Gender Studies can be included as a major for a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Arts and Commerce, or a Bachelor of Arts and Science. It is available as a minor subject for several qualifications, including a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Commerce.

Background required

All students are welcome to study Gender Studies at Otago. No prior knowledge is required.

Career opportunities

Realise your ideas to create value in the real world by working in:

  • Policy development and analysis
  • Human rights
  • Trade union and EEO work
  • Education
  • Human resources
  • Health and community advocacy
  • Business and management
  • Journalism and the media
  • Marketing and advertising
  • Arts, entertainment and museum work

Gender Studies will also enable you to develop personal and professional skills that are highly valued by employers:

  • The ability to think broadly, critically and creatively
  • Appreciation of diverse points of view
  • The ability to analyse and participate in debate
  • Research skills
  • Clear and effective written expression
  • Verbal reasoning, verbal address
  • Team work

The critical perspectives and knowledges gained through training in Gender Studies are also applicable well beyond specific career contexts.

A Gender Studies major or minor provides you with skills that will prove useful through all aspects of your life.

Qualifications

Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.

Programme requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Gender Studies

Level Papers Points
100-level

GEND 101  Gender in Everyday Life

GEND 102  Bodies, Sexualities and Selves

18

18

200-level

GEND 201  Introduction to Feminist Theory

Two other 200-level GEND papers, one of which may be replaced with ANTH 206, CHIN 241, GEOG 210, HIST 215, HIST 234, MFCO 212, POLS 202, RELS 209, or any 200-level SOCI paper

18

36

 

300-level

Four of 300-level GEND papers, one of which may be replaced with ANTH 322, ANTH 327, EDUC 318, ENGL 331, MFCO 301, RELS 309, or any 300-level SOCI paper

72

 

Plus

198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts

198
Total   360

Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Gender Studies

Papers

Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Gender Studies

The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Gender Studies is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).

Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework)) in Gender Studies

Papers

Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Gender Studies

Thesis
  • Thesis: GEND 5

Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Gender Studies or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Gender Studies must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Gender Studies prior to undertaking the thesis.

Minor subject requirements

Gender Studies as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BEntr, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc degree

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

Level Papers Points

Five GEND papers, at least three of which must be above 100-level, including at least one above 200-level

90

One 100- or 200-level GEND paper may be replaced by one of the following: ANTH 205, CRIM 201, GEOG 210, HIST 215, HIST 226, HIST 234, MFCO 212, RELS 209, ANTH 322, ANTH 327, EDUC 318, ENGL 331, MFCO 301, RELS 309, any 200 or 300-level SOCI paper

 
Total   90

Papers

Paper code Year Title Points Teaching period
GEND101 2023 Gender in Everyday Life 18 points Semester 1
GEND102 2023 Bodies, Sexualities and Society 18 points Semester 2
GEND201 2023 Introduction to Feminist Theory 18 points Semester 2
GEND205 2023 Gender and the Media 18 points Semester 2
GEND206 2023 Gender, Work and Consumer Culture 18 points Semester 2
GEND207 2023 Masculinities 18 points Semester 1
GEND208 2023 Governing Bodies 18 points Semester 1
GEND209 2023 Critical Victimology 18 points Semester 2
GEND210 2023 Gender, Crime and Justice 18 points Semester 1
GEND234 2023 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEND305 2023 Gender and the Media 18 points Semester 2
GEND306 2023 Gender, Work and Consumer Culture 18 points Semester 2
GEND307 2023 Masculinities 18 points Semester 1
GEND308 2023 Governing Bodies 18 points Semester 1
GEND309 2023 Critical Victimology (Advanced) 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEND310 2023 Gender, Crime and Justice 18 points Semester 1
GEND311 2023 Interventions in Sexual Violence 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEND334 2023 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEND401 2023 Debates in Gender and Sexuality 20 points Semester 1
GEND402 2023 Sexual Politics in Modern Ireland 20 points Not offered in 2023
GEND490 2023 Dissertation 60 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period
GEND590 2023 Research Dissertation 60 points 1st Non standard period, 2nd Non standard period

Key information for future students

Contact us

Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology Programme
Tel +64 3 479 7951
Email sgsw@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/sgc