The Cultural Studies M.A. offers flexibility and allows students to shape graduate work according to their interests, objectives, and time frame. Full time students are expected to complete all degree requirements within one year of admission if they take up the Major Research Paper (MRP) option, or within two years of admission if they take up the Thesis or Research-creation options (although, under special circumstances, a third year may be allowed). Full-time students normally complete the course requirements and gain approval of a thesis proposal in the first year, then finish and defend the MRP in the summer, or the thesis or research-creation project in the second year. Part-time students are expected to complete the degree within four years, and the timing of the completion of specific requirements is by individual arrangement.
Major Research Paper (1-Year Option)
Students must complete CUST-5000 as well as four half-courses and a Major Research Paper. The MRP will be modeled on a scholarly journal article and assessed by an external examiner. The MRP will be approximately 40-50 pages excluding notes and bibliography.
Thesis (2-Year Option)
Students must complete CUST-5000 as well as three half courses and a Research Thesis. The thesis will be modeled on a short scholarly monograph with multiple chapters. The candidate will defend the thesis before a committee of at least 3 faculty members. The thesis will be approximately 120 pages excluding notes and bibliography.
New Stream Awaiting Approval: Research-creation (2-Year Option)
Students must complete CUST-5000 as well as three half courses, a Research-creation Project and Major Research Paper (or equivalent). The Research-creation Project may draw from creative practices to pose and answer research questions, such as creative writing, filmmaking, curation, or working with specific artistic media. The Major Research Paper is modeled on a scholarly journal article and will be approximately 40-50 pages excluding notes and bibliography. Both projects will be defended before a committee of 2-3 faculty members.
Supervision
Each stream is supervised by a supervisory committee which consists of a supervisor (or two co-supervisors) plus one or two additional faculty. For 2-year degrees (Thesis and Research-creation), the committee is normally established during the first term of study, following consultation between the student, the Graduate Director and appropriate faculty. At the time of final reading and/or oral defense, the supervisory committee is supplemented by an examiner, usually a program faculty member or external.