MA in Gender and Social Justice
MA in Gender and Social Justice
The twelve-month Master of Arts program in Gender and Social Justice offers courses that approach questions of gender and justice via many diverse ways of knowing, from the traditional (reading, writing, theorizing) to the applied (experiencing, collaborating, advocating) to the novel (performing, creating, hoping). The program prepares students for doctoral-level study or for careers in fields such as education, law, journalism, non-profit community work, public policy, social work, and many others.
About the program
The one-year Master’s program leads to the degree of Master of Arts in Gender and Social Justice.
Admission to the M.A program requires an Honours bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least a B+ average (equivalent to a McMaster 8.5 GPA out of 12) in upper year courses in the final year of full time study (or equivalent). The M.A. program is interdisciplinary and does not require a degree in a specific discipline. Eligible students should indicate in a statement of interest what in their academic or experiential background prepares them for graduate level work in the field of Gender and Social Justice.
For admission in September, applications should reach the Program by January 14.
Submit your application through the Graduate Studies site. In addition to the required information, your application should also include the following, uploaded as PDF attachments to the application portal.
Statement of Interest
Because the MA in GSJ does not require a specific undergraduate degree, the Statement of Interest (maximum 1000 words) is your opportunity to show your preparation for graduate-level work in Gender and Social Justice. Your statement should:
- describe the ways that your coursework and experience have influenced your interests
- explain how your undergraduate program has prepared you for the MA program
- explain any other experiences (e.g., research, teaching, activism, etc) that inform your application
- (optional) suggest topics or areas that interest you for your Major Research Project (MRP), or particular faculty members you might like to work with
It is not necessary to contact potential supervisors before applying; the program will support you in identifying a supervisor once you are admitted.
Writing sample
A term paper or essay submitted for a prior course, to demonstrate your writing ability.
Transcripts
A scanned copy of the academic transcript for each university and post-secondary institution you have attended, including both undergraduate and graduate degrees and course work. If your application is accepted for admission to the program, you will be required to submit original, paper transcripts.
Two reference letters
Ask professors who know your academic work well if they can recommend you; usually, these will be instructors of your smaller, upper-year courses. Do not ask them to give the letters directly to you for uploading. Instead, you will enter the email address of your referees with your application. The email address must be from an academic institution. The Electronic Referencing System will request the letters from your referees on your behalf.
English language proficiency
If you have completed a degree at a university whose language of instruction is English, no further evidence of English proficiency is required. Otherwise, if English is not your first language, your application should include your results from one of the proficiency tests referenced on McMaster’s Future Students page.
Students complete two core courses plus four electives.
Core courses
- Gender Studies 700 Theorizing gender and social justice (one semester)
- Gender Studies 701 Doing anti-oppressive research (one semester)
Elective courses (.docx), usually from the Faculties of Humanities or Social Science, should be of relevance to gender and social justice.
Major research paper
The MRP may take one of four possible forms:
- a research paper (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 10-15 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 10-15 paper)
- an arts-based research/research creation project (in an approved format, and accompanied by a 10-15 page paper)
The MRP requirement includes:
- A proposal (~1000 words) due in March.
- A workshop presentation of work-in-progress to students and faculty in May.
- A written submission (length depends on form) due in August.
Part time studies
Usually, M.A. students in Gender and Social Justice complete the program in one full calendar year, starting in September. Applicants for part-time studies should 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 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. Course work may be completed in any sequence, but the two core courses must be completed prior to the major research project.
Visit Graduate Studies to learn more about tuition, supplementary fees and everything you need to know about being paid as a Teaching or Research Assistant. Tuition fees are assessed on a term by term basis, depending on the number of courses a student takes or if they are paying by term.
The McMaster Graduate Scholarship (MGS) is the most common form of scholarship support available to graduate students in our program. The MGS ensures that students receive a guaranteed minimum level of scholarship support. Adjustments to the MGS will depend on other available scholarships.
The Faculty of Humanities Adjustments guidelines policy is available for review.
Information Box Group
Supplemental information
Term 1 Core Courses (September – December 2024)
- GS 701 Doing Anti-Oppressive Research | Dr. Catherine Anderson
- GS 722 Stories, Bodies, Archives: un/Learning in Movements | Dr. Aytak Dibavar
- GS 773 Feminist Philosophy | Dr. Allauren Forbes
- GS 728 Critical Hope in Time of Protracted Crises | Dr. Christine Quail
Term 2 Core Course (January – April 2025)
- GS 700 Theorizing Gender and Social Justice | Dr. Aytak Akbari-Dibavar
- GS 723 Islam, Feminisms and Global Media | Dr. Dilyana Mincheva
- GS 725 Social Justice Frameworks of Prison Abolition | Dr. Syrus Ware
The following courses have been approved to count towards the MA or the Graduate Diploma in Gender and Social Justice (GSJ). For courses outside of GSJ, contact the relevant department to seek permission to register. If you find a course not on the pre-approved list that you think is relevant to your studies, contact the Program Director to ask if the course can count as an elective.
Typically, an offer of admission to the full-time MA in Gender and Social Justice includes a funding package consisting of a Scholarship and a 260-hour Teaching Assistant position. The typical total funding offered for the 12-month program is about $14,000.
All eligible students are also encouraged to apply for external scholarships such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and Canada Graduate Scholarships.
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