Carleton University Graduate Calendar 2010-2011

• Academic Regulations
• Admission Requirements
• Program Requirements
• Selection of Courses

About the Program

The M.A. program in Canadian Studies is an exciting and innovative interdisciplinary program, providing a critical perspective on Canadian culture, policy, politics, history, and other complex social issues, within the context of its connections to a rapidly changing world. Attracting students from a wide variety of disciplines and backgrounds, it offers master’s degrees based on coursework only, or on coursework and a research paper or thesis. Students may explore numerous themes within and across disciplines, in internships and in cutting-edge research. They may develop their own research program or focus on a number of captivating subjects, including culture, cultural policy, gender studies, indigenous and northern issues, identities, economy and society, and/or heritage conservation.

Admission Requirements

• Applicants are required to hold an Honours B.A. (or the equivalent), with at least high honours standing.
• Qualifying Year - Applicants who do not qualify for direct admission to the master's program may, in exceptional cases, be admitted to a qualifying-year program. However, admission to the qualifying-year program does not imply automatic admission to the master's program. At the end of the qualifying-year program the student will be required to apply for entry into the master's program, at which time the School will determine the student's eligibility to enter the program.
• Proficiency in English - Proficiency in English is necessary to pursue graduate studies at Carleton University. All applicants whose first language is not English must satisfy this requirement by presenting a TOEFL score of 600 or higher.
• Language Requirement - The School requires a reading knowledge of French. This is a program requirement and not an admission requirement.  This requirement may be satisfied in the following ways:
  • Successful completion of FINS 3105 or its equivalent (with a grade of B- or better).
  • Successful completion of a French language examination.
  • Alternatively, a student may fulfil this requirement with a demonstrated knowledge of an Aboriginal language.
  • The School conducts the French language examinations in September and January. Students choosing the first option should note that examination results in these courses form part of their record, although they are additional to the course requirements for the degree.

Program Requirements

The minimum requirements for the master's program are outlined in the General Regulations section of this Calendar. The School of Canadian Studies specifies that all candidates must select one of the following three program patterns:

• 4.0 credits of coursework
• 3.0 credits plus a 1.0-credit Research Essay
• 2.0 credits plus a 2.0-credit Thesis

Students must declare their option as coursework, thesis, or research essay no later than the end of the second term of registration for students enrolled full-time, and no later than the end of the fifth term of registration for students enrolled part-time. For students beginning their program in September the deadline is the following April 30, and for students starting in January the deadline is the following August 31.

Coursework Option

• 0.5 credit in CDNS 5001 M.A. Core Seminar: Conceptualizing Canada
• 1.0 credit from: CDNS 5101, CDNS 5102, CDNS 5201, CDNS 5202, CDNS 5301, CDNS 5302, CDNS 5401, CDNS 5402, CDNS 5501, CDNS 5601
• 2.5 credits from the courses listed above, or CDNS 5800, CDNS 5801, CDNS 5900, CDNS 5901, or an approved coursed listed in the Selection of Courses.
  

Research Essay Option

• 1.0 credit in M.A. Research Essay CDNS 5908
• 0.5 credit in CDNS 5001 M.A. Core Seminar: Conceptualizing Canada
• 1.0 credit chosen from: CDNS 5101, CDNS 5102, CDNS 5201, CDNS 5202, CDNS 5301, CDNS 5302, CDNS 5401, CDNS 5402, CDNS 5501, CDNS 5601
• An additional 1.5 credits chosen from the courses listed above, or CDNS 5801 or CDNS 5901, or an approved course listed in the Selection of Courses

Thesis Option

• 2.0 credits in M.A. Thesis CDNS 5909
• 0.5 credit in CDNS 5001 M.A. Core Seminar: Conceptualizing Canada
• 1.0 credit chosen from: CDNS 5101, CDNS 5102, CDNS 5201, CDNS 5202, CDNS 5301, CDNS 5302, CDNS 5401, CDNS 5402, CDNS 5501, CDNS 5601
• An additional 0.5 credit chosen from the courses listed above, or CDNS 5901, or an approved course listed in the Selection of Courses
  

 

Thesis/Research Essay Proposal

At the time of declaring their option, thesis/research essay students are encouraged to declare a preliminary topic and tentative list of potential supervisors. Thesis/research essay students must submit a research proposal to the School that has been approved by their thesis/research essay supervisor prior to registering in the M.A. Research Essay (CDNS 5908) or the M.A. Thesis (CDNS 5909).

Selection of Courses

In addition to the graduate courses offered by the School, the following courses are of particular relevance to students in Canadian Studies. The list is not exclusive and is subject to change. Students in the master's program in the School must complete 3.5 credits of the 4.0 credits required for the degree at the 5000-level, with the possibility of 0.5 credit at the 4000-level with prior approval from the School of Canadian Studies.

Students may take any 5000- or 6000-level courses in this list and count them toward their master's program. All other courses require prior approval from the Graduate Supervisor or Ph.D. Co-ordinator.

Note: the number of spaces in graduate courses offered by other departments may be limited, and registration may be conditional upon obtaining the prior approval of the department concerned. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that permission is obtained from the appropriate department prior to registering in any of that department's courses.