This stream is currently awaiting University approval
The Cultural Studies M.A. degree requires the writing and successful defense of a Research-creation Project, a Major Research Paper, and the completion of CUST-5000 plus three half course credits.
First Steps: Proposal
Full-time students normally complete the course requirements in the first year. They also normally gain approval of a project proposal in the first year, with additional support in CUST-5000, with the aim to finish and defend their projects 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.
Final Steps: Project Evaluation
During the summer of the second year, the student will submit their research-creation project and major research paper to the supervisor(s). Once approved, the projects will be sent to the supervisory committee, including examiner, followed by the scheduling of an oral defence.
Required Course Work
CUST-5000Y
CUST-5000 has three aims: (a) to introduce students to some key contemporary issues, problems, and perspectives in cultural studies (b) to provide a forum where students can develop a bridge between these issues and the various elements of their own research projects, particularly in the development of their MA MRP/thesis and project proposals; (c) to foster professional skills in the writing and presentation of academic work. Students will identify topics of particular interest to them and begin preparing and thematizing their essay for our course. We will meet (on average) once a month to work together on a formal research proposal for the MA thesis or project.
Salon Seminars
The Salon Seminar is a public forum, mandatory for MA year 1 and PhD year 1, where speakers, both from Trent and beyond, are invited to talk about their research, teaching, or artistic practice. Salons offer a flexible space where speakers can deliver talks of approximately 40 minutes followed by discussion. Creative and interactive approaches are also welcome. There are approximately five Salons held throughout the year, scheduled on Thursday nights.
Additional Course Work
Course Electives
Students taking the Research-creation (2-year) option must complete 3 half course electives (or 1.5 credits). The elective is intended to provide background and support for the thesis. The particular choice is worked out in consultation with the Director and the student's Supervisory Committee. There are four options: (1) a graduate course offered at Trent; (2) a graduate reading course (CUST-5900H) arranged with a member of the Program faculty; (3) a specially tailored version of an upper year undergraduate course; and (4) under special circumstances, an appropriate course given at another university.
Project Submission and Defence
After the supervisor, supervisory committee, and the student have worked through as many drafts as are required, the completed research-creation project + MRP (hereafter “thesis”) will be submitted to the Graduate Director. This should be submitted by no later than June 1 of the student’s second year if they expect to graduate by the end of their second year. Students who don’t meet the deadline for completion in two years (the exact date is in the Trent Calendar for the year in question) are required to register and pay one full term’s fees.
Once the supervisory committee has confirmed that the thesis may proceed to examination, the Graduate Director establishes a committee to participate in the examination and defence, consisting of a Chair, the supervisor, at least one member of the supervisory committee and at least one other member, internal or external to the University who is not a member of the supervisory committee; and determines the date, place and time of the defence.
A “Pre-Oral Defence” form is supplied on which the internal/external examiner should verify whether they recommend that the oral examination should proceed. The form must be returned to the Graduate Director at least one week before the scheduled date of the oral. A negative response may result in cancellation of the defence and return of the thesis to the student.
Five recommendations are open to the Examining Committee:
(i) the thesis is approved as it stands, or
(ii) the thesis is approved provided certain minor revisions are made, or
(iii) the thesis is approved provided certain major revisions are made, or
(iv) the thesis is not approved as it stands but may be resubmitted, and re-examined by some or all of the Examining Committee (this may or may not involve another oral defence), or
(v) the thesis is not approved.
Once the thesis is approved along with any revisions, students need to submit the thesis to Graduate Studies. It is the responsibility of students to familiarize themselves with the Principles Governing Submission and Examination of Theses/Dissertations as outlined in the Trent Calendar and to ensure that they have completed all the requirements for the degree. This includes the submission of the thesis to the Graduate Studies Officer for final approval and its binding and/or microfilming, once it has been approved.