The Women's and Gender Studies program at Saddleback College explores how women's lives have been and continue to be affected by society's values, traditions, and institutions. The curriculum examines how language and belief structures shape both women's and men's status in society and culture, and how the experiences of women differ by race, class, ethnicity, nationality, religion and sexual orientation.

The Women's and Gender Studies curriculum is interdisciplinary in scope. Courses count as General Education requirements for the Associate in Arts degree and for university transfer programs. When courses are combined, students can complete a major for an AA degree, plus accumulate the prerequisites needed for a transfer major in Women's and Gender Studies.

In many instances, Women's and Gender Studies courses provide the only information students may receive about the literary, artistic, scientific and political contributions of women throughout history. Students are encouraged to study, interpret and critique the experiences of women by examining the theories of feminist scholars and the contributions of writers, artists, social critics and activists of varying backgrounds. In an effort to be as inclusive as possible, the curriculum stresses not only the acquisition of analytic skills, but also the integration of personal and social awareness.