Note: the coursework requirements listed below are intended for students who started their PhD at the Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice prior to 2026W.
Students entering the PhD program take a minimum of 12 credits of coursework at the 500 level. Students who have already done comparable coursework should discuss this with the graduate program chair.
Depending on their academic backgrounds, students may be required to take additional coursework (in addition to the minimum 12 credits) at the discretion of the Supervisory Committee and in consultation with the Graduate Program Chair and Advisor.
PhD programs of study are individually planned in consultation with the research supervisor and the Supervisory Committee, and as approved by the Graduate Program Chair and Advisor.
Students must complete all requirements for candidacy (course work, comprehensive exams, and prospectus) ideally within 24 months of entering the PhD program and no later than 36 months.
Students take the following core courses in the first year:
- GRSJ 500 (3) Intersectional Issues in Social Justice and Equality Studies: A two-term seminar organized around the bi-weekly Wednesday Lecture Series and faculty seminars required for first-year MA and PhD students
- GRSJ 502 (3) Issues in Gender, Sexuality and Critical Race Theories: Introduces students to key issues at the intersection of queer, trans, feminist and critical race theories and students will examine various cultural texts (eg, fiction, film) and new models of academic and cultural engagement with radical democratic politics.
- One of the following methodology courses:
- GRSJ 515A (3) Critical and Creative Social Justice Studies Seminars: Learning, research, and practice opportunities for students interested in creating artistic work that engages with critical tools and formulations developed in critical racial and anti-colonial, feminist, queer, and trans* social justice work. This series of instructor-led seminars provide students with the opportunity to study with GRSJ core and associate faculty, UBC faculty, academics, artists, and activists from Vancouver, Canada, and other parts of the world.
- GRSJ 501 (3) Issues in Decolonizing and Feminist Methodologies: Explores approaches to decolonizing and feminist methodologies using multiple qualitative approaches, including ethnography, interviewing, oral history, textual and archival analysis. The goal of the course is to discuss epistemological and ethical methodological issues and produce a draft proposal.
Electives (3 credits) chosen from graduate courses offered by the Institute or another UBC department. Electives must have the approval of the research supervisor.
Students may choose one of the following GRSJ graduate course:
- GRSJ 511 (3) Difficult Knowledge: Ethics and Praxis of Research in Challenging Settings: An interdisciplinary seminar considering ethics and praxis of working with difficult knowledge, such as highly divisive questions of memory and responsibility in the context and aftermaths of oppression and mass violence.
- GRSJ 503 (3-9) Special topics: These courses vary in focus.
- GRSJ 505 (3-6) Directed Reading: Undertaken with the supervision of a faculty member selected by the student, with the approval of the Graduate Advisor. Further details about Directed Readings course is available here.
Graduate courses from other UBC departments may be taken as electives.
Undergraduate courses are not eligible for credit towards a PhD program.