This monograph is part of a series of reports focusing on women's studies in higher education. After summarizing the historical growth of continuing education for women and women's studies, this monograph describes the implementation of a study by the U.S. National Institute of Education on re-entry women and the field of women's studies. ("Re-entry women" is defined as women who have never completed higher education at the traditional age and are now going back to school.) The general purposes of this study are (1) to define the problem area more precisely and emphasize the significance of re-entry women to the field of women's studies; (2) to review the pertinent literature that has been uncovered thus far (including ongoing projects); (3) to discuss ambiguities and problems that future researchers will face; and (4) to make specific recommendations for the kinds of research needed. (BM)