Gender Studies and Feminist Research, M.A.

M.A. Degree

The one year Master’s program leads to the degree of Master of Arts in Gender Studies and Feminist Research.

To be eligible for the Master’s program students must have an undergraduate honours degree or equivalent with a minimum B+ average. Eligible students will indicate in a statement of interest what in their academic or experiential background prepares them for graduate level work in the program.

For a full description of application materials and procedures, see the Gender Studies and Feminist Research website (http://gsfr.mcmaster.ca)

Part Time Studies

Applications for part-time studies in the M.A. program will be considered. Applicants for part-time studies will provide a brief written explanation of the special circumstances that make it impracticable for them to complete the degree on a full-time basis.

The program requirements for the part-time Master’s are the same as those for the full-time Master’s, but may be completed over a maximum timeframe of 5 years, in accordance with McMaster’s School of Graduate Studies policy. Coursework may be completed in any sequence, but the three core courses must be completed prior to the independent research project.

Program Requirements

The M.A. program requirements include the following mix of course work, experiential learning, and independent research:

Three compulsory core courses: (12 units)

Two additional elective courses: (6 units)

(from an approved list)

An independent research project: (6 units)

For the independent research project, students may choose from three possible options:

major research project (resulting in a 20-25 page publishable article and oral presentation)
a project in pedagogical research (resulting in the compilation of a reading list, preparation of course outline, and written paper of 7-10 pages)
a knowledge in action project (based on work with a community organization and including the development of a document or tool for use by the group and a 15-page paper)

Independent project proposals must be approved by the Program’s Graduate Committee.