THE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE

COMMUNICATION STUDIES
COMMUNICATION STUDIES

5.2.1 THE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE

M.A. IN COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Admission Requirements

Applicants should submit a portfolio consisting of : (i) a completed application form; (ii) a personal profile in accordance with the format prescribed by the Program; (iii) a C.V.; (iv) an official transcript of grades attained in undergraduate courses; (v) two letters of reference; and (vi) a sample of writing from undergraduate courses and/or a media production or multimedia portfolio. Normally, successful applicants will have an Honours B.A. in Communication or a cognate discipline; however, students lacking this formal requirement but having equivalent qualifications (for example, significant experience with a social justice agency or having engaged for a significant time in social justice related activities) are also encouraged to apply. Students lacking formal admission requirements may be required to enroll in a make-up year.

Program Curriculum Structure

Students choosing to prepare a thesis will be required to complete four, one-semester, courses in addition to the thesis, two of which must be the Pro-Seminar (COM 500) and COM 501(Critical Communication Theories). Students electing not to prepare a thesis will be required to complete 6 courses, two of which must be COM 500 and COM 501; they must also prepare a major paper which may evolve from one of the courses; presentation of the paper proposal and its defense, however, will be open to all faculty and students, as will be the case for all thesis proposals and defences. (Courses taken in other programs may be counted for credit with the prior permission of the Graduate Chair.)