Graduate
Cultural Studies
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- Master of Arts (M.A.)
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- Peterborough
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- Fall
At a glance:
- Degree Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Campus Peterborough
- Program is Offered Fall
- Study Options Part time/Full time
- Length Thesis: 24 months Major Research Paper: 12 months
- Guaranteed Funding Yes (for eligible students)
- Applications Open September 11
- Application Deadline February 1
- Deposit Required No
- Graduate Studies Contact culturalstudiesma@trentu.ca
- Apply Now Stay in Touch
The Trent Advantage
Blend creative and critical inquiry as you explore contemporary issues across disciplines, collaborate with leading scholars, and create your own research program.
Trent’s Cultural Studies M.A. combines critical, cultural and political theory with opportunities for academic research and research-creation. Work closely with faculty and peers in a community that encourages creative and critical thought, while reading and reflecting on your coursework and developing your own research program.
- Choose a one-year major research paper or two-year thesis option to develop your research interests.
- Build academic and professional experience through practice-based learning, artistic research, internships and a practice-based research track.
- Engage with a thriving local arts community in discussions surrounding culture and technology, environmental communication, gender and the body, social and political theory, and media theory.
World Class Facilities
Odette Critical Making Studio
Access and work with a variety of equipment and software in the Odette Critical Making Studio, exploring creative production, critical inquiry and research-creation.
Accelerated Master’s
An accelerated Master’s option is available for eligible Trent University undergraduate students. If you are currently studying at Trent and are interested, please visit the program department website for more details and information on how to apply.
Program Types
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Thesis
This two-year degree offers time to shape your graduate work around your interests through critical or creative inquiry, culminating in a thesis.
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Major Research Paper
This one-year degree allows you to shape your graduate work around your interests through critical or creative inquiry, culminating in a major research paper.
Research Areas
Areas of academic research focus and faculty expertise
The Cultural Studies M.A. program brings together faculty from a diverse range of disciplines, including Cultural Studies, Philosophy, History, English, Classics, Computer Studies, and Sociology. This interdisciplinary approach empowers students to explore their chosen interests from a range of fields including:
- Culture and the Arts
- Culture and Theory
- Culture and Technology
Career Paths
In Their Own Words
The Cultural Studies Program's insight, support, and resources have been essential to my growth and experience as a graduate student. My research draws from diverse fields such as philosophy, neuroscience, microbiology, anthropology, and environmental science to explore fungi’s role in shaping landscapes and identity through cultural memory. As a graduate student at Trent, I’ve been given indispensable tools to integrate interdisciplinary perspectives and uncover new ways of knowing and engaging with fascinating subjects.
Evelyn Peregrine
Cultural Studies M.A. Student
Faculty Spotlight
Meet some of Trent's world-class professors and researchers.
Dr. Jessica Marion Barr
Assistant Professor, Cultural Studies
Dr. Marion Barr (she/her) is an artist, educator, mother, and researcher whose arts-practice-based Ph.D. in Cultural Studies at Queen's University focused on ecological elegies. Her interdisciplinary practice incorporates artmaking and arts-science research-creation, investigating creative, collaborative, queer, embodied/somatic, and Indigenous-led approaches to environmental issues and social/ecological justice. She approaches teaching and supervision with creativity, enthusiasm, and attentiveness to care and wellbeing. She is keen to support graduate students with similar approaches and/or interests.
Dr. Joshua Synenko
Graduate Program Director & Professor, Cultural Studies
Dr. Synenko’s research is situated between media and geography. His work explores relationships between cities and mobility (migration, displacement, settlement), cinema and geography, practice-based research and artistic research, and experimental technologies for social engagement. He is co-editor of Media Theory.
Admissions
Trent has clear pathways for graduate students to apply and be admitted to study for their master's or doctorate at either of our campuses. Please review admission requirements for your program before applying.
Eligibility Requirements
- Honours degree (a four-year undergraduate bachelor's degree)
- Minimum B+ (77%) or equivalent in the last two years of full-time study, or last ten full academic credits
- Demonstrated aptitude for interdisciplinary study
Eligibility Requirements
- Honours degree (a four-year undergraduate bachelor's degree)
- Minimum B+ (77%) or equivalent in the last two years of full-time study, or last ten full academic credits
- Demonstrated aptitude for interdisciplinary study
- Proof of English Proficiency: All international applicants must provide proof of an adequate level of English proficiency regardless of their citizenship status or country of origin. Please visit our International Applicant Resource page for details on English Language Proficiency requirements.
- A GRE test score is not required for admission into this program
All applicants, domestic and international, must submit the following documents to complete their application:
- Transcripts: Unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts
- 2 letters of reference: Academic references are preferred; however, professional references will be accepted. Reference forms will be emailed to the referees that you have appointed on OUAC
- Plan of Study/Personal Statement: 1-2 pages outlining your objectives in a graduate program. Any specific research interests, relevant experiences, and/or career aspirations can be included
- Writing Sample: A sample of your writing of about 20 pages or less. The preferred submission format is PDF. Good choices for writing samples include: an undergraduate essay, lab report, research report, journal article, a chapter from a master's thesis, or a published article.
- Proof of Citizenship (i.e. copy of passport or birth certificate)
- Supervisor: A potential supervisor is recommended as an admission requirement for this program. If chosen prior to admission, please list your supervisor on your OUAC application and discuss this in your plan of study. Please visit the program's Faculty and Research page for a listing of faculty and areas of research. Applicants are responsible for reaching out to a faculty member
For more information on submitting transcripts, re-sending reference links and other application questions, please visit our How to Apply page and review Step 4, as well as review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Tuition Estimate
Estimate your tuition, ancillary fees, and potential entrance scholarships based on your program, residency status, and academic average.
Tuition Fees
Base tuition fees apply to the following programs: Applied Modeling and Quantitative Methods (thesis/research-based; M.A. and M.Sc.), Anthropology (M.A. and M.Sc.), Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies (M.A.), Cultural Studies (M.A.), Computer Science (M.Sc.), English (Public Texts) (M.A.), History (M.A.), Interdisciplinary Aging Studies (M.A.), Psychology (M.Sc.), and Sustainability Studies (M.A.). $750 (one-time) co-op fee for Sustainability Studies (Co-op Stream) not included in Estimator.
$8,252.00
Funding Package
Minimum funding package for eligible students in the following programs: Applied Modeling and Quantitative Methods (thesis/research-based; M.A. and M.Sc.), Anthropology (M.A. and M.Sc.), Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies (M.A.), Computer Science (M.Sc.), Cultural Studies (M.A.), English (Public Texts) (M.A.), History (M.A.), Interdisciplinary Aging Studies (M.A.), Psychology (M.Sc.), and Sustainability Studies (M.A.)
$-18,000.00
Ancillary Fees
Mandatory ancillary fees
$1,329.00
Total:
$ -8,419.00
* The tuition details and scholarships listed are for domestic students only. International applicants should contact the financial aid office directly for equivalent guidance.
Financial Matters
Eligible full-time students are offered minimum funding packages during their funded period of $18,000 annually. This includes a Graduate Teaching Assistantship employment offer valued at approximately $13,000 annually. Specific funding details are included in individual admission letters.
Students are supported in competing for external awards during their studies, such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. A full list of external awards is available on our Scholarships & Awards page.