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PhD Program in Philosophy

McMaster’s PhD Program in Philosophy enables students to develop their own research while building a foundation of comprehensive knowledge. The program culminates in the preparation and defence of a doctoral dissertation: an original piece of research prepared under the guidance of a supervisory committee. See below for information about the program.

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About the Program

The PhD Program is designed to be completed in four years. It begins with coursework and culminates in a dissertation: an original piece of research prepared under the guidance of a supervisory committee. Students are encouraged to participate in the life of the department by attending talks, meetings, conferences, workshops, reading groups, and social events. We regularly offer workshops on such topics as: publishing, presentations, the academic job market, careers beyond academia, developing as a teacher, writing a thesis, and work-life balance. Students have access to the resources of McMaster’s MacPherson Institute for Teaching and Learning and can teach their own course as a PhD Teaching Fellow. A Placement Coordinator supports students in their pursuit of both academic and non-academic careers.

Further information can be found below and in our Program Handbook (available below).

Admission Requirements

Admission to the PhD program requires an MA in Philosophy or an equivalent degree. An equivalent degree here normally means an MA or other graduate degree in a related subject and at least some background in Philosophy.

There is a possibility for students enrolled in McMaster’s MA program in Philosophy to be accepted into the PhD program without completing the MA degree, subject to their satisfying certain conditions for excellent progress in their first year.

Selection is made by the PhD Program Committee of the Department of Philosophy, and any student admitted comes under the general regulations of McMaster University.

Any applicant whose first language is not English and who has not completed a degree within an accredited university in a program whose primary language of instruction is English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. Please see  https://gs.mcmaster.ca/academic-services/how-apply  under the Language Requirements tab for an enumeration of the exams and minimum scores that constitute sufficient evidence.

Application Process

Deadline: February 1, 2024, if you wish to receive full consideration for all applicable funding opportunities.

If you encounter any difficulties with your application, please contact us at  [email protected] .

To complete an online application to our PhD program, please go  here . If you have questions regarding our program, please feel free to email the department’s  PhD Advisor .

A completed application will include the following documents. Please ensure that you upload all of your documents to the online portal before finalizing your application submission.

• If the final transcript does not show that all degree requirements have been met or the degree is conferred, an official copy of your diploma is also required.
• Transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified literal translation.
• If your application is accepted for admission to the program, you will be required to submit original transcripts in order to remain enrolled in the program
• Two Letters of Reference  from instructors most familiar with your academic work. Your referees will automatically be sent an e-Reference request on your behalf, once you enter their email address through the online application.
• English Language Proficiency:  For applicants who do not hold a post-secondary degree from a program whose language of instruction was English, you will be required to provide an official record of your proficiency in English. Please see https://gs.mcmaster.ca/how-to-apply/ under the Language Requirements tab for an enumeration of the exams and minimum scores that constitute sufficient evidence.
• Statement of Interest:  A brief statement (1-2 pages) explaining your research interests, how your background prepares you for the program, and your reasons for seeking to pursue your research interests as a graduate student with the McMaster University Philosophy Program.
• Sample of Work : Please submit a sample of your philosophical writing in English to the  online application system . Your writing sample should be indicative of your ability to engage in advanced philosophical research. It need not fall within the area of your proposed research. To ensure full consideration, your writing sample should not exceed 7000 words.
• C.V.:  Please include on your CV any research, publications, academic awards, teaching, or work experience relevant to philosophy.

Application Fee

You will require a valid credit card or Interac card (domestic applicants) for the application fee ($110 CAD) and a valid email address. Your application will not be considered for admission until your application fee has been received and you submit your application.

Please note that there are no admission fee waivers at the present time.

Program Timelines

The PhD Program is designed to be completed in four years. We summarize here the structure of the program and normal progression through it. For a more detailed timeline, please see the Program Handbook (available below).

In year 1 , students typically complete five graduate courses, and, in consultation with the Department’s PhD Advisor, form their supervisory committee (consisting of a supervisor and two other faculty members). They also apply for any external scholarships for which they are eligible.

In year 2 , students complete the PhD Seminar (a full year course required for all second-year PhD students, and open only to them) and prepare their thesis proposal. In May of year 2, they complete their qualifying exam, which consists of an oral defence of a written thesis proposal. Students whose research requires competence in logic or a language other than English must demonstrate that competence (typically by an exam) before taking the qualifying exam.

In years 3 and 4 , students work on their thesis in collaboration with their supervisor and committee. They also have opportunities to teach their own course as a PhD Teaching Fellow.

Throughout the program, students are encouraged to engage with the life of the department, university, profession, and broader community. This includes giving talks and guest lectures, helping organize events, and submitting their work to conferences and for publication.

Tuition & Program Fees

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.

Faculty Scholarship Adjustments Guidelines

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.

REVIEW THE POLICY

Apply to a PhD Program in Philosophy

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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PhD students take six graduate courses in total: five regular (usually single-semester) courses, plus the PhD Seminar in year 2. With permission of the PhD Advisor, one of the five regular graduate courses may be taken outside Philosophy. Students’ coursework must also satisfy the department’s area requirements (for details, see the Program Handbook, available below). The minimum grade for passing a graduate course at McMaster is B-. Graduate students may also select from Philosophy graduate courses at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Guelph.

Learn more about specific courses by reading our graduate course descriptions. Archived descriptions from previous years are also available. Graduate course descriptions

Archived course descriptions

The Qualifying Exam (QE) is an oral examination based on a written thesis proposal. It is normally completed in May of year 2. It can be retaken, but, absent an extension, must be passed before the end of the student’s 24th month in the program (normally the end of August in year 2). The purpose of the QE is to ensure the candidate has a viable thesis proposal and the background to carry it through successfully. To be eligible to take the QE, the student must have achieved (by the end of the 20th month in the program) a GPA on courses taken towards the PhD of at least 9.5. Students whose research requires competence in logic or a language other than English must also demonstrate that competence (typically by an exam) before taking the QE.

Doctoral students prepare their thesis in consultation with their supervisor and other members of their supervisory committee. With the approval of the supervisory committee, the finished work is submitted to an external examiner. Upon approval by the external examiner, the thesis is defended before members of the supervisory committee and the external examiner. General information about the doctoral thesis and thesis defence process at McMaster can be found here .

All students in the PhD Program are guaranteed funding for four years. This funding takes two main forms: a Teaching Assistantship (TA) and a graduate scholarship. Funding of both kinds may be possible beyond the end of year 4, but is not guaranteed.

Teaching Assistantships

The value of the TA is fixed by the Collective Agreement between the University and Local 3906, Unit 1 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. In 2023-24, the stipend for a full-year TA is $12,906.32. To hold a TA, students must be enrolled full-time and have paid full-time fees. Under the agreement between Local 3906 and the University, the position of TA requires an average of 10 working hours of work per week over a full academic session (Fall and Winter only), for a maximum of 266 hours a year, or 133 hours each academic term.

Typical duties for a Teaching Assistant include conducting two tutorials each week when classes are in session, with up to 20 students in each; grading student work; and consultation with students. Teaching Assistants carry out their duties under the supervision of the instructor in charge of the relevant course.

Graduate Scholarships

In addition to the TA, all PhD students who do not have an external scholarship receive a McMaster Graduate Scholarship (MGS) for four years. The value of the scholarship will be specified in the offer of admission. If a student wins an external award such as an OGS or SSHRC award, their initial offer of an MGS is rescinded and replaced by this external scholarship, assuming it is of higher value. Limited MGS support may be possible beyond year 4, but is not guaranteed.

PhD students are expected to apply for all external awards for which they are eligible. The Department makes its students aware of all funding opportunities and guides them in their applications.

The Department adheres to the Faculty of Humanities guidelines on scholarship adjustments for students winning major, merit-based internal or external awards. These can be found here.

Academic Travel Support

Any graduate student who has a paper accepted at a peer-reviewed philosophy conference is eligible for funding up to $750, once a year, to enable attendance. To apply for this funding, students should complete the  Department of Philosophy Travel Funds application , including confirmation of their paper’s acceptance and an estimate of anticipated expenses.

Limited funds for conference travel purposes may also be available to eligible students who apply to the  Graduate Students Association .

• Program Handbook
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Department Life

The McMaster department regularly hosts conferences and workshops. Graduate students are heavily involved in these events, as both presenters and organizers. There is also a weekly visiting speaker series during the teaching term. The speaker series is preceded and followed by social events, in which the whole department community can come together. There are always reading groups in progress. For further information, see “ Our Community ” and “ Events .”

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Graduate Studies

Doctoral degree.

Your first step regarding any questions with respect to writing your thesis is to consult the  School of Graduate Studies’ Guide for the Preparation of Doctoral and Masters Theses . All graduate theses must conform to the style and form requirements as detailed in the Guide.

Step 1. Write

Need help? If you have any questions or need assistance, please email [email protected].

1. Sample formats

Please consult the Guide for the Preparation of Doctoral and Masters These s  for samples on how to format your thesis.

Download the guide via the Quick Links – right hand side of this web page.

2. Referencing

Per the Guide for the Preparation of Theses: The text of the standard graduate thesis consists of the Introduction section or chapter, followed by several well-defined sections or chapters, which contain the research results, finishing with a Conclusion and Discussion section or chapter, or a summary statement of the results of the investigation. The List of References section (or bibliography) follows the text, and any appendices follow this.

Please consult the Guide for the Preparation of Theses for more detailed information on references and further resources that you can consult for referencing help.

3. Sandwich theses

If some of the research undertaken expressly for the degree has previously been published or prepared by the student as one or more journal articles, or parts of books, those items may be included within the thesis subject to the School of Graduate Studies’ regulations and to obtaining permission from the supervisory committee.

Please consult the Guide for the Preparation Theses for more detailed information on Sandwich Theses.

4. E-Thesis file name conventions

For your e-thesis to be published via MacSphere , the final version of your thesis should be named using the following file naming convention:

familyname_firstname_middleinitial_finalsubmissionyearmonth_degree

5. iThenticate - Plagiarism Checking Software

Effective December 1, 2023, all graduate students who initiate their defence on or after this date, are required to have their thesis run through McMaster’s plagiarism checking software, iThenticate.

iThenticate is a similarity detection tool meant to be used by researchers to check any original works that will be publicly released and who are concerned about potential plagiarism.

According to McMaster’s Research Plagiarism Checking Policy , it is expected that all graduate theses, shall be checked for plagiarism in compliance with this policy. Plagiarism checking is expected to occur prior to the coordination of the defence. PhD supervisors will be prompted to confirm this in the Admin Tools system once their students initiate their defence.

Your pre-defence thesis must be uploaded to iThenticate by your primary supervisor before you can initiate your PhD defence in Mosaic.

To protect graduate students’ privacy, only academic supervisors will have access to this software and will be responsible for uploading their student’s theses. It should not be used to check documents submitted to instructors as course assignments.

Step 2. Defend

Before initiating your defence, you should confirm with your supervisor and committee members that you are ready to initiate. Your supervisor must also run your pre-defence thesis through iThenticate before initiating. The defence process must be initiated electronically in Mosaic. The thesis defence is the final step in completing your degree.

Planning and scheduling a PhD defence

The defence process must be initiated by the student electronically in  Mosaic . Once you have logged into Mosaic, navigate to your Student Centre and click the  “My Academics” link.  Then click “Defend My Thesis” to initiate the process.

Please refer to the diagram and the appropriate sessional dates for more information on when to schedule your defence.

*Please note – PhD defences coordinated by the School of Graduate Studies cannot be scheduled during the following periods:

• December 14 to January 8 inclusive
• August 16 to August 20 inclusive

Defences scheduled by your supervisor, using the Accelerated Stream, are not affected by any exclusion periods.

See below for an accessible version of the Defence Process Diagram

Initiate Thesis Defence Process Week 1 : Committee members approval/external listing Week 2 : Candidate submits pre-defence thesis and submits suggested date for defence Weeks 3 through 6 : External examiner reads thesis Week 7 : Final report received from external Week 8 : Thesis defence Submit Final Thesis

What is a PhD defence?

The PhD Final Oral Examination at McMaster University is an examination of a PhD candidate’s ability to defend publicly his/her written work. It takes the form of a brief statement by the candidate and questioning by the committee. The statement should take between 15 and 20 minutes to deliver. In preparing it, consider that you are speaking to an audience who has read your thesis. A simple summary is therefore neither necessary nor desirable. What you should endeavour to do is stress the main points of your contribution to the advancement of knowledge and technical difficulties, either of an experimental or theoretical nature, which you have overcome. Notes or other aids may be used, but the statement may not be read from a prepared script.

A PhD candidate should be able to

• discuss the significance of their work,
• explain at least some of its details, and
• speculate about its implications.

For more detailed information on the defence procedures, please refer to the Guide for the Preparation of Theses.

Purposes of the examination

It’s the examiners’ task to determine whether the student has met the university’s thesis requirement to present and successfully defend a thesis that embodies the results of original research and mature scholarship. The examiners represent Graduate Council and through Council, the Senate of the University, and are therefore responsible for the standard of the PhD at this university.

Questions having to do with the detailed content or the general argument of the thesis are relevant, as are questions regarding the relation between the matter of the thesis and the body of knowledge to which it contributes.

The committee of examiners, both of the written thesis and of the oral defence, will not likely all be expert in the candidate’s specialty, or even in their discipline. It is the particular responsibility of the external examiner and the supervisory committee to ensure that the thesis does indeed present an original and significant contribution to knowledge. Other examiners may reasonably be expected to exercise their judgment as members of the university faculty, keeping in mind the standards of excellence expected by the university of its PhD graduates.

For detailed guidelines about preparing and defending your thesis, download the Guide for the Preparation of Master’s and Doctoral Theses.

Step 3. Submit

Please note that your degree requirements are considered complete when one electronic copy of the thesis, revised as directed by your defence examining committee, is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies through the E-Thesis Submission module in MacSphere.

Final thesis checklist

• ONE electronic copy of the thesis, revised as recommended by the Thesis Examining Committee and approved by the Supervisor/Examining Committee
• A standard 10-12 point font has been used
• TOP and LEFT margins should be 3.8 cm, and RIGHT and BOTTOM margins should be 2.5 cm
• Half-title page
• Descriptive note
• Abstract of 300 words or less
• All preliminary pages are numbered in lower case Roman numerals
• All pages must be numbered. The main body of the thesis, including text, bibliography and appendices, must be numbered continuously using Arabic numerals.

If you have not already done so, please submit the following forms to your department’s graduate administrator. They will submit them to the School of Graduate Studies on your behalf. Your final submission will not be considered complete without this documentation.

• Final Thesis Submission Sheet
• Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive Licence
• McMaster University Licence

If you have completed all of the above requirements, you are ready to submit to your thesis.

E-thesis process

• Submit your electronic thesis to MacSphere . Please follow the link and click on ‘Sign on to my MacSphere’ to deposit your thesis. Ensure your thesis is uploaded as a pdf document. Any supporting material can be uploaded in various formats.
• E-thesis file name conventions. For your e-thesis to be published via MacSphere, the final version of your thesis should be named using the following file naming convention:

familyname_firstname_middleinitial_finalsubmissionyearmonth_degree.pdf

How to submit a thesis to MacSphere

• Go to MacSphere.
• On top/right corner click on Sign onto My MacSphere and log in with your MAC ID.
• Click on Start a New Submission .
• Select Collection: Open Access Dissertations and Theses , and click on Manual Submission to begin submitting your dissertation.
• Complete the submission screens as prompted. Once you click on I Grant The License, your dissertation will be submitted to Graduate Studies for processing.

Links to e-theses in MacSphere are available through a variety of tools. The contents of MacSphere are Google indexed, bringing McMaster scholarship to the attention of a broad range of users. Automated tools will continue to integrate e-theses with other print and electronic library resources in both the local catalogue and integrated catalogues, such as WorldCat.

Theses in physical formats have historically been low-use library materials, however digitized theses are receiving higher usage. Site statistics for theses currently available in McMaster’s MacSphere show several each month are downloaded more than 100 times and many others have multiple downloads.

Embargoed or withheld theses

Embargoed status is intended to protect rights for immediate commercial publication, to obtain a patent which may rise from the research, or as a result of any contract made with a third party. The student may request a postponement of digital publication for up to one year at the time of thesis submission to MacSphere – all such requests are automatically granted.

Students who would like to extend this initial period of postponement must apply to the thesis coordinator who will forward the request to the Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies for determination of whether further publication postponement is warranted. This request must include a full description of why the additional delay is requested and what steps have been taken to address the issues that required the initial delay. No delay of publication more than two years from the initial submission will be permitted.

Please note that you and your supervisor must both sign the delay of publication area on your Final Thesis Submission Sheet. For more information, consult the School of Graduate Studies Calendar.

E-thesis binding

If you choose to have your thesis bound, binding service is available through several online binding services.

Optional bound copies – Should the supervisor and/or department require one or more bound paper copies of your thesis, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain and distribute these bound copies.

Apart from these considerations, the general guidelines for thesis production should be followed.

Admission Requirements

Successful applicants to the PhD program must meet these admission requirements. These are minimum standards and cannot be waived. Meeting them does not guarantee admission.

• You can still be considered if you are in the final stages of your master’s program. If your application is successful, you’ll be admitted on the condition you complete your master’s degree before registering in the PhD program.
• See the fields of study pages for examples of degrees which successful applicants have held in the past.
• A comparable GRE (Graduate Records Exam) score is also acceptable with a minimum 80% quantitative reasoning score. Please see our preliminary application form for more information.
• GRE and TOEFL tests are administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS). The GMAT test is administered by MBA.com .
• GMAT and GRE test scores are valid for 5 years.
• You must provide a valid TOEFL or IELTS test to prove you are proficient in the English language. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years from the test date. You may click here to review the minimum required test scores. 
• If the university is located outside of North America, a clear statement on your transcript or a letter from the institution confirming the language of instruction is English must be included with your application.
• Applicants who attended a university in North America may be asked to provide proof of English Language Proficiency if we are unable to confirm the university’s language of instruction or if we find that the university has more than one language of instruction. 

The application process is very competitive. In the past, successful applicants have exceeded these standards.

The admission committee reviews each person’s application in its entirety.

Application Fee Note: The formal application fee is mandatory. The funds collected make it possible for our office to process the applications which are submitted. No waivers can be applied.

Helpful Resources

Application.

We have set the September 2025 application dates.

Check the status of your preferred field of study.

Fields of Study

Check the Application Procedure page for the Key Dates and steps to apply.

Key Dates & Steps

Health, Aging & Society

PhD in Health & Society

Phd in health & society.

The PhD in Health & Society is an interdisciplinary study of social, cultural, political, and environmental aspects of health. The program allows students to take a critical, interdisciplinary, and social science perspective in the study of health, illness, and health care.

Areas of research include: social-cultural dimensions of health, environments and health inequalities, systems, services and policy and global health.

The PhD program in Health & Society applies an interdisciplinary, comparative, and critical lens to analyzing and understanding health as a social and cultural process, construct, and outcome. It is the combination of these three perspectives, the ways that they interact with and build on one another, and a focus on both the social structural and cultural dimensions of health that makes the program distinctive in its area.

Our program differs from many doctoral programs in this area in as it allows students to develop and pursue broader research interests that may be outside the typical focus on public health, demography and service management. Students completing the PhD in Health & Society will have theoretical and methodological expertise in integrating knowledge and critical approaches to research from a broad range of disciplines in the social sciences.

Apply to the PhD in Health & Society

Ready to join us? Submit your application today!

Program Information

Requirements and timelines, requirements.

Students will be required to complete five (5) half courses, which include:

• HLTH AGE 716 Quantitative Research Methods in Studies of Health and Aging, and HLTH AGE 714 Qualitative and Historical Methods in Studies of Health and Aging
• HLTH AGE 715 Critical Perspectives in Health & Society
• Two elective courses offered by Health, Aging & Society (HLTH AGE 701, 713, or any other 700-level HLTH AGE course) OR by another department or academic unit (provided that permission has been obtained from those departments or academic units).

Additional Information

• Students entering the PhD program who have already taken any of the following courses: HLTH AGE 714, 715, and 716, or their graduate level equivalent from another program/university, can apply for exemption through the Department of Health, Aging & Society.
• Students who have been granted exemption for ALL THREE required courses stated above (or their graduate level equivalent) must complete a minimum of 3 half courses to fulfill the course requirements of the program. One of the three courses must be a HLTH AGE course. The other two courses may be HLTH AGE courses or courses from a department or academic unit other than Health, Aging & Society (provided that permission has been obtained from those departments or academic units). Course selection should be discussed with the supervisor.
• Students who have been granted exemption for LESS THAN 3 required HLTH AGE courses (or their graduate level equivalent) must complete a minimum of 5 half courses to fulfill the course requirements of the program. One of the exempted courses must be replaced with a HLTH AGE course. Additional exempted courses may be replaced with other HLTH AGE courses or courses from a department or academic unit other than Health, Aging & Society (provided that permission has been obtained from those departments or academic units). Course selection should be discussed with the supervisor.
• All doctoral students will be required to participate in a non-credit research and professional development seminar over the course of two academic years. Participation in the seminar will normally take place in the first and second year of the program.

Comprehensive Examination

Students will take a comprehensive exam in their area of concentration in Health & Society. The purpose of the exam is to ensure that the student has sufficient knowledge of the relevant scholarly literature in their area of research interest and that they are able to synthesize and communicate this literature in a critically insightful way. The comprehensive exam will consist of a written examination, an oral examination, and a research proposal (which is also evaluated during the oral examination).

Candidates for the PhD degree will present a thesis which shows competence in original research and will be required to defend it during a final oral examination.

Admissions and Applications

Admission requirements.

• Master’s degree with an average of at least B+ in a related health and/or social sciences discipline
• Demonstrated interest and experience in critical approaches to health
• Admission to the PhD program will normally be on a full-time basis only

Applicants will be assessed on the basis of their qualifications and how well their interests align with the research interests and availability of faculty.

Only COMPLETE applications will be reviewed by the Department.

NOTE: During the application process, applicants are encouraged to contact faculty members in the Department regarding potential PhD supervision as well as the PhD program.

Required Application Documents

Graduate studies online application.

• Each applicant is required to complete the Graduate Studies Online Application which opens in October each year.
• In addition to the online application, applicants must also submit the required documents listed below.
• NOTE: Some required application documents must be submitted through your online application (see below for details).

Official Academic Transcripts

• Academic transcripts for ALL post-secondary studies completed or in progress at the time of application
• Transcripts from institutions where you completed courses on Letter of Permission and/or as part of Student Exchange Programs must also be included
• Transcripts should be electronic (or scanned) copies and uploaded through your online application
• Screenshots of student record of grades will not be accepted. Applicants must submit a transcript. Check with your post-secondary institution for confirmation on how to obtain a copy of your transcript.
• Official transcripts (hard copy or electronic) sent directly by the issuing institution will be required only if an applicant is offered successful admission.

Academic References

• Two (2) confidential reference reports from instructors most familiar with your academic work
• McMaster University uses an Electronic Referencing System (e-Reference). By entering the email address of your reference through your online application, the system will automatically send an e-Reference request on your behalf
• If, for some reason, you are unable to use the Electronic Referencing System, you can download the Reference Form and send to your references for completion. Downloaded reference forms must be sent by the reference DIRECTLY to Miranda MacDougall by e-mail: [email protected] .

Statement of Interest

• Must be uploaded as a PDF document through your online application
• Maximum 3-4 pages, double-spaced
• References page(s) should be single-spaced and do not count towards the maximum 3-4-page limit
• Your Statement of Interest should clearly communicate:
• Your specific research interests and focus
• The relevance of your specific research to health & society
• The approach/methods used to tackle your research problem

Sample of Writing

• Written only by the applicant. Co-authored work will not be accepted.
• Examples of writing samples may be (but are not limited to): major papers/essays written for past courses; a chapter of your thesis/dissertation; published manuscripts

English Language Proficiency (if applicable)

• If English is not your first language, an official copy of your English Language Proficiency score or other evidence of competency in English is required. Applicants whose university studies were completed at an institution where English is deemed the official language of instruction may be exempted from this requirement (transcript notation or official letter from the institution is required)
• The English Language Proficiency exam must have been completed within 2 years of the application due date
• The most common English Language Proficiency exams:
• TOEFL: minimum score of 92 (internet based), 237 (computer based) or 580 (paper based), minimum of 20 per band. Please use TOEFL department code 080 (Other Social Sciences).
• IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section
• Other English Language Proficiency exams may be accepted. Please contact Miranda MacDougall ( [email protected] ) if you have questions.
• Submit English Language Proficiency exam results as a scanned document uploaded through your online application.

How to Apply

Each applicant is required to complete the Graduate Studies Online Application which opens in October each year and submit the required application documents listed above to complete the application.

Mailing address for all hard copy supporting documents:

Department of Health, Aging & Society c/o Miranda MacDougall Kenneth Taylor Hall 226 McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, ON L8S 4M4 Canada

Application Deadline: January 14

Financial information, scholarships and awards.

The majority of Health, Aging & Society graduate students at McMaster receive competitive funding packages that may include financial support such as teaching assistantships, university graduate scholarships, as well as external scholarships and bursaries.

For information about major scholarships and awards competitions, please visit School of Graduate Studies: Awards & Funding.

The awards listed below are open to CURRENT McMaster University graduate students who meet the eligibility requirements. Eligible students should apply through Mosaic and submit the required documents specified in the application. Note the application deadline indicated on Mosaic each academic year.

The Ronald Bayne Gerontology Award

The Ronald Bayne Gerontology Award was established in 1999 by Barbara Bayne to honor Dr. Ronald Bayne’s valuable contribution to the study of Gerontology at McMaster University. This scholarship is to be awarded to any GRADUATE STUDENT in the FACULTIES OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES conducting RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF AGING.

The E.B. Ryan Scholarship

The E.B. Ryan Scholarship was established in 1997 using funds raised by a performance of the play “Letter from Wingfield Farm”. This scholarship is to be awarded to in-course GRADUATE STUDENTS from the FACULTIES OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HEALTH SCIENCES conducting RESEARCH ON AGING.

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Graduate Studies Miranda MacDougall Phone: (905) 525-9140, ext. 27961 Email: [email protected]

Office Location

Department of Health, Aging & Society Kenneth Taylor Hall, 226 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M4

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Office Hours

Monday – Thursday: 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Friday: 8:30AM – 4:00PM

Faculty of Science

Department of mathematics & statistics, ph.d. program in mathematics.

The main thrust of the Ph.D. program is original research done under the supervision of a faculty member. Students choose a supervisor some time during their first year of study. Until then, the mathematics graduate advisor serves as an interim supervisor. The criteria for choosing a supervisor vary, but shared research interests play the decisive role. Students come into contact with faculty members in the academic setting of graduate courses, research seminars, and advanced workshops. Students can become more acquainted with faculty in less formal settings of weekly teas (before Colloquium talks) and social gatherings at the University Club (after Colloquium talks), and other departmental get togethers.

Once a supervisor has been chosen, a supervisory committee is formed. This committee consists of two or three additional faculty members. The committee meets with the student annually to chart progress toward the degree.

The course requirement for Ph.D. students is a minimum of two one-term graduate courses beyond the Master’s degree. This requirement is normally completed in the first year of study. Courses are chosen in consultation with the mathematics graduate advisor and/or the supervisory committee.

All Ph.D. students must pass the comprehensive exam requirement, which consists of a preliminary exam and an oral exam.

More information on Ph.D. requirements can be found in the Guidelines for Ph.D. Math Students .

PhD Degrees Awarded 1960-present

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES

Communication studies & media arts.

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PhD Program in Communication, New Media & Cultural Studies

The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies (CNMCS) is an innovative transdisciplinary joint program between the Departments of Communication Studies and Media Arts (CSMA) and the Department of English and Cultural Studies (ECS).

The benefit of a Humanities degree is that it truly prepares you for the working world

Cassandra D’Ambrosio '15

Combined Honours Communication Studies and Multimedia

My program at McMaster provided me with the opportunity to commune with students and professors who encouraged interdisciplinary approaches to creating knowledge.

Casey Mecija '13

Combined Honours Communication and Multimedia Studies

I was greeted with a nurturing love of reading and learning. It was the ability to sit down, focus and construct an argument or opinion. Reading is a superpower.

Tristan Toye '14

About the Program

The challenges we face today—social and environmental injustice, climate change, precarious work, surveillance and a shrinking public sphere—are complex and multifaceted. Among their many other dimensions, they are questions of communication and culture, which demand urgent engagement. The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies (CNMCS) is for creative students who embrace complexity, love difficult questions and believe that the problems we face today are, fundamentally, problems of communication and culture. Learning to read , critique and create culture, media and communication is critical to seeing things, and doing things, in new ways.

The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies (CNMCS) is a joint program between the Departments of Communication Studies and Media Arts (CSMA) and the Department of English and Cultural Studies (ECS) . Our many complementary strengths are in areas including new media arts, performance, policy, visual culture, digital culture, music/sound, gender and sexuality, critical race studies, Indigenous studies, postcolonial and diasporic studies, transnational culture and international communications, critical environmental studies, political economy, professional communication, and media analysis and strategy. The program draws faculty members from CSMA and ECS as well as other departments in the Humanities to act as supervisors of CNMCS doctoral students.

Admission Requirements

The PhD Degree Program normally entails four years of study. The admission requirement is a completed MA, MSc, MFA or Master of Communication Management (MCM.) degree in a relevant field (e.g. Communication Studies, Cultural Studies, New Media, etc.). We also welcome applications from students with a Master’s degree in a related field (e.g. Music, Digital Humanities, Visual Culture, Visual and Fine Arts, Sociology, Anthropology, Women’s and Gender Studies, English, Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Studies, etc.) who have focused on research germane to the program and can demonstrate, in their letters of application, how their graduate work to date has prepared them for a PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies. While students must have expertise in at least one of New Media, Communication or Cultural Studies, the committee will look particularly favourably on students who have demonstrated fluency in two or more program areas. A successful applicant from an MA program with a coursework component will have grades of at least A- in two-thirds of their courses. Students whose training has not included graded coursework are encouraged to submit a dossier of work completed during their Master’s program.

Language Requirements

For applicants who do not hold a post-secondary degree from a program whose language of instruction was English, you will be required to provide an official record of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A TOEFL score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computerized test, and 100 on the Internet-based test is required. If you are submitting the IELTS test, a score of 7 is required.

Application Process

The deadline for submission of completed applications (including supporting documentation) for September entry into the PhD program is January 14th. The online application system will open on November 15th for September admission. Application fees are not refundable.

Only completed applications (including supporting documentation) will be reviewed. Your application materials and supporting documents must be uploaded to the application system. Supporting documents can also be sent directly to the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts via email to the Graduate Administrator at [email protected] .  If sending supporting documentation directly to the Department, please send them as PDF files in one email per the instructions listed below with the subject line “Last Name, First Name: Supporting Documents” (your name should be listed as it appears in your online application).  Alternatively, you may mail your application materials to the following address (DO NOT USE STAPLES):

Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts

c/o Graduate Administrative Assistant

Togo Salmon Hall 332

McMaster University

1280 Main Street West

Hamilton, ON  L8S 4M2

Documents Required:

• A completed Online Application
• Application Fee (submitted during the online application process). This fee is non-refundable and must be paid in Canadian dollars by means of a credit or debit card payment.
• Two (2) academic recommendations from instructors most familiar with your work . Recommendations may be submitted directly via email from the referees to [email protected] , or provided via the online application system. If submitting the references by postal mail or in person, please ensure that referees have signed across the seal of the envelope. NOTE: THE ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM WILL PROMPT YOUR REFEREES TO SUBMIT REFERENCES. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE YOUR REFERENCES ARE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICATION DEADLINE, AND TO REQUEST THOSE LETTERS PERSONALLY, IN TIME FOR LETTERS TO BE SUBMITTED BY THE DEADLINE.  PLEASE REQUEST ALL LETTERS WELL BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION.
• One ( 1 ) official transcript of all academic work completed to date (including undergraduate and graduate if applicable). Upload a scan of your transcript to the application system, and arrange to have an official transcript sent directly to the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts from the issuing institution.  If you have had the transcripts mailed to you, or you picked them up yourself from the issuing institution, they must come in a sealed envelope with the  original university seal .  If the final transcript does not show that a completed degree has been conferred, an official copy of your diploma is also required.  Please submit your official sealed transcripts by mail to the address listed above, or by secure e-transcript from the issuing institution to [email protected]. 
• A 500-word (two pages, double-spaced) statement of interest. The statement of interest plays an important role in our assessment of your application.  It is an opportunity to outline the thesis you propose to undertake and to present your theoretical interests, areas of critical or creative engagement, and your particular fields of emerging expertise. Your statement of interest should include the following:
• The thesis model you propose to produce;
• A traditional thesis , which will normally be between 200 and 250 pages (not including bibliography);
• A research-creation or project-based thesis , which will consist of a body of work and written commentary on that work of between 100 and 150 pages; such a thesis may involve arts based research, or it may involve the creation of such things as tool kits, social interventions, learning platforms, databases, new media archives, documentary films or podcasts; or
• A sandwich thesis , which, in accordance with McMaster’s Thesis Preparation Guide, must consist of a minimum of three scholarly works on a unified theme, either previously published or exhibited, submitted for peer-review, or prepared for publication/exhibition but not yet submitted (in CNMCS, these works may include journal articles submitted for peer review, or art/media/performance pieces submitted for peer-adjudication); these works must be accompanied by substantial introductory and concluding chapters, addressing the methodologies, theories and approaches that unify and inform the research. If the sandwich thesis is used for a series of research creation projects, the student will present an explanatory narrative that connects the projects and argues for their significance. The typical length of a sandwich thesis will be about 200 pages, plus bibliography.
• The objectives of your critical or creative research, including the question, problem, or issue you are interested in addressing;
• The critical debates, theoretical frameworks, creative models, artistic concepts, primary works and/or methodological approaches that will inform your thesis;
• One or more faculty members who you think might be suitable supervisors for your thesis;
• A brief reflection upon activities or experiences relevant to your research and to contributing to an engaged and engaging PhD program (i.e. community engagement activities, knowledge mobilization activities, previous experience as a research assistant or teaching assistant);
• Your motivations to pursue this program.
• Important: please list the names of your two referees and their email addresses at the end of your statement. Please submit your statement of interest to the online application system. You may also send your statement of interest as a PDF file via email to [email protected] .
• A sample of your academic writing. You should submit a copy of an academic essay that you’ve written for a graduate course; the essay should demonstrate your writing abilities and your ideas. Ideally, it should be no longer than 20 pages double-spaced. Please submit your sample of writing to the online application system. You may also submit your sample of writing as a PDF file via email to [email protected] .
• A sample (or samples) of your multimedia work (if applicable). Students with a Media Arts background are strongly encouraged to submit a sample of their creative work. P lease upload your sample or work or links to your sample of work to the application system. You may also submit links to your samples of work in one PDF file to [email protected] . 
• A current Curriculum Vitae (CV), preferably no longer than 2 pages.
• Evidence of competency in English: Applicants whose native language is not English will be required to provide an official record of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A TOEFL score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computerized test, and 100 on the Internet-based test is required. If you are submitting the IELTS test, a score of 7.0 is required. Please upload your unofficial result to the application system and arrange to have your official score report sent by mail to the address listed above.

For any additional information about the application process, contact us at [email protected] .

Program Timelines & Milestones

Students of the program must complete 18 units of approved coursework by the end of the second year, including: 4 courses, for a total of 12 units, to be completed in year 1; and two 3-unit doctoral seminars, taken in year 1 and year 2. As part of the 4 courses to be completed in year 1, students must take at least one of either CULTR ST 732 or CMST&MM 700 (unless they have taken either course or a direct equivalent during a previous degree program). With the permission of the CNMCS Ph.D. Advisory Committee, students may take 3 units of electives from graduate courses offered by programs other than CNMCS.

Comprehensive Examination

Students in the program will be required to take the Comprehensive Examination in the area of their intended thesis research. This will involve writing two papers, a Field Survey and a Topic Paper, and defending both in an oral examination. The Field Survey should show broad expertise in the wider field of knowledge the candidate’s research will engage, i.e. one or more of the fields of Communication Studies, Cultural Studies or New Media/Media Arts. The Topic Paper describes how the candidate’s thesis intervenes in the chosen field(s) and the particular contribution it will make. Both papers are to be researched and written concurrently by the candidate, are to be between 25 and 30 double-spaced pages in length, and are due in February of the second year of study. The Oral Examination of both papers will follow within 10 days of submission. The candidate’s mark in the Comprehensive Examination will be calculated on the average of the grades for the Field Survey, the Topic Paper and the Oral Examination.

Qualifying Dossier

Over the course of their graduate study, students in the program will develop a qualifying dossier in consultation with their supervisory committee. Possible components of the qualifying dossier, of which the student will complete at least six, include:

• a grant application;
• presentation of a conference paper or artist talk;
• a revision and submission of an article or artistic piece for peer-reviewed publication or juried exhibition;
• a research ethics proposal;
• a syllabus and a teaching philosophy statement;
• an op-ed or other knowledge translation project (e.g., a blog, performance, artwork, website, new media project, etc.)
• Education 751 (offered by McMaster’s MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching)
• participation in four professionalization workshops (academic or non-academic), offered by ECS, CSMA, or the Faculty of Humanities
• a published book review/exhibition review in a scholarly journal
• a community-engagement project
• a guest lecture
• participation in conference organizing

Work completed as part of course requirements may be included in the dossier at the discretion of the supervisory committee.

The candidate will complete a thesis in one of the following forms:

• A traditional thesis , which will normally be between 200 and 250 pages (not including bibliography).
• A research-creation or project-based thesis , which will consist of a body of work and written commentary on that work of between 100 and 150 pages; such a thesis may involve arts-based research, or it may involve the creation of such things as tool kits, social interventions, learning platforms, databases, new media archives, documentary films, or podcasts;
• By March 1 of year 1 of the program, students will submit a short proposal (1000 words plus bibliography) for the thesis, identifying the area of their intended thesis research, for the approval of the Admissions and Review Committee. 
• With the guidance of their supervisory committee and their peers in the year 2 doctoral seminar, students will develop a long proposal (10-15 pages plus bibliography), to be submitted for approval by August 31 of year 2.  
• Years 3 and 4 of the degree will be dedicated to the completion of the thesis, which must be defended in an oral examination.

Tuition & Program Fees

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.

Faculty Scholarship Adjustments Guidelines

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.

REVIEW THE POLICY

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GRADUATE SUPERVISORS

Research your passion in Communication and New Media with supervision from our world-class faculty.

SEE OUR CURRENT AND FORMER GRAD STUDENTS

Learn about our PhD program students.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PhD Course Listings

The following is a list of all courses included as potential offerings in CNMCS. Aside from the required courses, course offerings change regularly from one academic year to the next.

• CNMCS 700 / Doctoral Seminar in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies 1 (required)
• CNMCS 701 / Doctoral Seminar in Communication, New Media, and Cultural Studies 2 (required)
• CMST&MM 702 / Media and Social Issues
• CMST&MM 703 / New Media Studio Topics
• CMST&MM 705 / Digital Media and Cultural Exchange
• CMST&MM 706 / Technologies of Communication
• CMST&MM 707 / Theoretical Issues in Media, Culture and Communication
• CMST&MM 708 / Selected Topics in Communication and New Media
• CMST&MM 710 / International Communication
• CMST&MM 714 / Feminism, Technology and Science
• CMST&MM 715 / Cultural Memory, the Media, and “Us”
• CMST&MM 716 / Critical Perspectives on Documentary
• CMST&MM 717 / Youth, New Media and Culture
• CMST&MM 718 / Critical Approaches to Communication Policy & Law
• CMST&MM 719 / Media and Mimesis: Installation and Performance Media
• CMST&MM 720 / Data Cultures
• CMST&MM 721 / Alternative Media Forms in Africa
• CMST&MM 722 / Beyoncé Studies: Creativity, Celebrity, and Activism
• CMST&MM 723 / Islam, Feminisms and Global Media
• CMST&MM 724 / Visions of Extinction: What the End Looks Like From Here
• CMST&MM 725 / Theory, Race, and Power
• CMST&MM 726 / Media, Sustainability, and Climate Justice
• CMST&MM 727 / Cultural Production and the Environment
• CMST&MM 728 / Critical Hope in Times of Protracted Crises
• CMST&MM 731 / Crisis Management and Communication
• CULTR ST 708 / Selfie/Culture
• CULTR ST 710 / Decolonial, Anti-Racist, and Anti-Oppressive Pedagogies: Teaching and Learning Otherwise
• CULTR ST 711 / Celebrity/Culture
• CULTR ST 712 / Queer, Two-Spirit, & Trans- Indigenous Writings
• CULTR ST 716 / Bob Dylan and American Culture: Memory, Consciousness and Meaning
• CULTR ST 717 / Global Sex
• CULTR ST 721 / Writing, Land, and Place
• CULTR ST 725 / Romanticism, War, and Peace
• CULTR ST 729 / Cultural Studies and the Politics of Cultural Pedagogy
• CULTR ST 730 / Indigenous Literature of North America
• CULTR ST 731 / Anxiety Disorders: The Cultural Politics of Risk
• CULTR ST 734 / Appropriation and Canadian Literature: History, Theory, Controversies
• CULTR ST 742 / Mapping South Asian Masculinities
• CULTR ST 743 / Reimagining Nature: Science and Empire in the Long Eighteenth Century
• CULTR ST 746 / American Counterculture Literature, 1950-1990: Beat, Hippie, Punk
• CULTR ST 747 / Discourses of Empire 1700-1820
• CULTR ST 748 / Last Things: Life and Death in the Anthropocenes
• CULTR ST 749 / Getting and Spending: The Birth of Consumer Culture
• CULTR ST 750 / Gothic, Sensation and Victorian Discourses of the Body
• CULTR ST 752 / Trans-Atlantic Indigeneity: Indigenous Literary Presence in Europe
• CULTR ST 755 / Neoliberalism and the Limits of the Social
• CULTR ST 756 / The Secret Life of Things in the Eighteenth Century
• CULTR ST 757 / Gender, Civility, and Courtliness in Early Modern Europe
• CULTR ST 758 / Literature as Witness
• CULTR ST 759 / Victorian Natures
• CULTR ST 761 / Framing CanLit
• CULTR ST 762 / Queer Historicisms and British Cultural Memory
• CULTR ST 765 / Biopolitics: An Introduction
• CULTR ST 767 / Regarding Animals: Theories of Non-Human Life
• CULTR ST 770 / Queer Caribbean Writing: Sex, Gender, Politics
• CULTR ST 773 / “Revolt and Remember”: Resilience in the Postcolonial Environmental Humanities
• CULTR ST 775 / Topics in South Asian Literature and Culture
• CULTR ST 776 / Community Engaged Narrative Arts
• CULTR ST 779 / The Times We Live In
• CULTR ST 780 / Engendering the (Queer, Trans, Non-Binary) Transnational Early Modern Stage: Then and Now
• CULTR ST 781 / Public Mourning in Canada: What Makes a Life Grievable?
• CULTR ST 782 / Seed Stories of Black and Indigenous Survivance
• CULTR ST 785 / Migratory Routes: Indian Diasporic Fiction and Film
• CULTR ST 791 / Rethinking Politics: Thinking Past War, Democracy, and Terror

Course Outlines

Graduate course outlines will be posted at the beginning of the semester, where possible. In cases where current outlines are not available, outlines from previous offerings have been posted. Please note that the content and format of a course may vary significantly from one semester to another. Course offerings rotate regularly and therefore some elective courses may not have recent course outlines available.

Graduate Course Timetables

The timetables for graduate courses in the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts are generally finalized over the summer, in order to accommodate teaching assistant schedules and other logistical requirements. Please note that the schedule may be subject to change, particularly in the case of instructors who are teaching virtual courses.

Students admitted to the MA and PhD Programs in Communication and New Media generally receive an entrance scholarship and a Teaching Assistantship, or funding-in-lieu of the TAship. Entrance scholarship amounts vary and are normally determined by the MA or PhD Graduate Committee at the time of admission.

The university also has various bursaries and scholarships. Graduate students are encouraged to apply.

Graduate students wishing to travel to research, exhibit, perform, or present at academic conferences may be eligible for financial support from the the Graduate Students Association (GSA), Communication Studies and Media Arts department, their supervisor, and/or other travel funds, awards, bursaries, and scholarships, subject to the availability of funds. For more information, contact your supervisor and [email protected] .  Also, visit the School of Graduate Studies Scholarship information page and click on ‘travel’ for a list of available resources

Students considering graduate school are encouraged to research scholarships well in advance because some external scholarship applications are due even before the student has been accepted to graduate school. Depending on a student’s area of interest, grades and overall profile, external scholarships may be available through a variety of sources, including government agencies and the private sector. The scholarships listed below are the ones most commonly held by MA and PhD students in Ontario. 

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Note that applications must be submitted directly to the institution(s) where you plan to pursue graduate studies. The deadline is normally in the fall, before the application deadline for graduate school in Canada.

Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s Program

Graduate Scholarship – As with OGS, applications for the Canada Graduate Scholarship must be submitted through an eligible institution. The deadline is usually December 1, before the application deadline for graduate school.

McMaster Graduate Studies Scholarship Information

The School of Graduate Studies provides funding to our graduate students so they can devote their time and energy to the successful completion of their studies.

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship

The deadline for SSHRC applications is usually in the fall. Applications can be made directly to SSHRC or through your institution.

• Program Handbook
• Thesis Defence
• Graduate Calendar
• School of Graduate Studies Graduate Resources
• Faculty of Humanities Adjustments Guidelines

All students admitted to the MA in Communication and New Media and PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies are awarded a teaching assistantship or a financially-equivalent award (e.g. a research assistantship). The teaching assistantship is not only a significant part of the funding package for our students but also an important opportunity for professionalization. There are training sessions for TAs at the start of the academic year, and both TAs and RAs gain ongoing mentorship from their faculty supervisors. 

Students are usually assigned two TAships: one in the fall term and the other in the winter term. Each TAship is 130 hours (averaging 10 hours per week). Assignments are based on students’ interests and experience (as communicated in a questionnaire distributed over the summer), and the department’s teaching needs. Faculty supervisors are responsible for the design and delivery of the course; the responsibilities of TAs include leading tutorials, meeting with students, and participating in assessment. Some TAs have a “marker” role; markers do not lead tutorials but, rather, assist with other aspects of content delivery and evaluation. 

A research assistantship is an excellent way for students to enhance their learning about the research process and to work closely with a faculty mentor.

There are two kinds of research assistantships for MA and PhD students. The first is an RA-in-lieu, which is given in place of a TAship. RA-in-lieu positions are for the same number of hours as a TAship (130 hours per semester in the fall and winter terms) and paid at the same rate as a TAship.

The second type of research assistantship is supplemental to a student’s main TAship or RAship. Students may be hired for a supplemental RAship on an ad hoc basis, usually to assist with faculty research. These supplemental RAships are sometimes offered to incoming students or are advertised to current students. The rate of pay and duties are set out in a contract, and RAs must submit hours of work forms on a bi-weekly basis. One final note: the number of hours that graduate students may work per year is capped at 505 hours; the hours worked for both the standard TAship/RA-in-lieu and any supplemental RAship count toward this number.

The PhD Teaching Fellowships are an exciting opportunity for PhD students in the Humanities to develop and teach their own undergraduate course. Teaching Fellows also participate in mentoring at both the faculty and departmental level.

PhD students become eligible for a teaching fellowship after they successfully submit their long thesis proposal. Usually, they are able to apply at the end of their third year to teach a course in their fourth year.

Near the end of winter term, available courses are shared with eligible students. Applications should include a cover letter explaining their experience and abilities for teaching the course; a maximum two-page explanation of their approach to teaching the course and a CV.

Teaching assistants are key partners in the classroom who benefit from, and contribute to, ongoing training in pedagogy. In recognition of the fact that the learning environment is constantly changing, our Instructional Committee maintains a course shell on Avenue that contains information regarding resources on campus, rights and responsibilities of TAs as well as supervisors, diversity and inclusion, approaches to managing questions and challenges in the classroom, grading and more. Current teaching assistants all have access to this course shell. An initial orientation is also held before classes commence.

McMaster is home to a vibrant student body, including highly engaged graduate students. The Graduate Students Association serves and represents graduate students across campus, providing a number of resources and services. Graduate students are encouraged to get involved with the GSA and to participate in the many events they organize throughout the year.

Many scholarly associations also have special committees or student groups that organize events, offer discounted fees or provide conference funding specifically for graduate students. One example is the  Canadian Communication Association  but there are many others, nationally and internationally.

The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies equips students with skills that are crucial for our digital, knowledge-based economy. These include advanced research skills appropriate for work in the policy, not-for-profit and education sectors; high-level cultural, social and digital literacies; knowledge of and ability to innovate in modes and methods of communication; and the capacity for analyzing and engaging complex systems and problems.

CNMCS can prepare students for work in a wide range of sectors not only including education, but also the public service, the arts and the private sector. Since our founding in 2016, each cohort has been diverse in terms of background and interests, and accordingly, we expect that our graduates will follow very different paths.

PAST PhD THESIS PROJECTS

Stay tuned for when our first cohort of PhD students will graduate!

Department Life

Our program benefits from the close interaction between faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students. Graduate students participate in many aspects of departmental life, as teaching assistants and sometimes as assistants in research initiatives headed by faculty members. Graduate students are encouraged to attend events by visiting speakers across the university and are given opportunities, where possible, to perform and deliver guest lectures, and attend invited talks.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Graduate Certificates and Diplomas

Students in our doctoral program are eligible to participate in the Gender Studies and Feminist Research Graduate Diploma. Application for the Graduate Diploma (PhD) in Gender and Social Justice is normally made after the first year of doctoral study for entry into the program during the student’s second year of the PhD Program. Occasionally, students may be allowed to begin the Graduate Diploma in their third year of the PhD, but no later.

Available Gender Studies and Feminist Research Graduate Diploma

Students in our doctoral program are eligible to participate in the Graduate Diploma (PhD) in Gender and Social Justice. Application for the Graduate Diploma is normally made after the first year of doctoral study for entry into the program during the student’s second year of the PhD Program.  Occasionally, students may be allowed to begin the Graduate Diploma in their third year of the PhD, but no later.

Find a Humanities Expert

Research-focused and student-centered. Humanities researchers promote interdisciplinary approaches to local and global leadership. Learn more about our researchers by searching by name or keyword.

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES

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• Our Community
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PhD Program in History

The programs offered by the Department of History emphasize the modern world in a global framework. A range of approaches to history, from political and cultural through social and intellectual, to environment and medicine, find representation in our program.

Many humanities graduates become professional chameleons of sorts. We leave university with these highly developed critical thinking and communication skills and can apply them to any number of industries.

Alex Zavarise '17

BA History and Classics

Humanities degrees help empower people who want to make a difference in this world.

Emily Lackie '11

Combined Honours in History and English

My program at McMaster taught me a breadth of skills beyond what you see on the surface from a history degree.

Stephanie Carpenter '05

Honours BA in History with a Minor in English

About the Program

The History PhD program involves the completion of 2 minor fields by course work and one major field of readings by September 15th of the second year of doctoral study. Thereafter candidates will devote their full time to research and writing their doctoral thesis.

The Department offers full and part-time PhD degrees to candidates.

Areas of Research offered include:

• Animal History
• Atlantic World
• Britain 1688-2000
• Canada 1791-2000
• Environmental History
• Medieval Europe
• Modern Europe
• Science & Technology
• Urban History
• War and Society

Admission Requirements

The Department supervises doctoral research in a variety of areas of specialization. Prospective applicants are directed to consult the Department’s website which details research specializations. Candidates must contact individual faculty for guidance on appropriate thesis topics.

Application Process

Completed applications consisting of the following:

• How to Apply
• Departmental Application Form   (This is equivalent to the required study plan). Once you’ve completed your Departmental Application Form, save it as a PDF and upload as an attachment to your online application. You can also send it as an attachment via email to: [email protected]
• Two Confidential Reports from referees most familiar with your academic studies (These can be found on McMaster University Graduate Studies Online Application – the online application process).
• Transcripts from all post-secondary academic institutions attended (When applying online your transcripts are listed under “Academic History Checklist”).
• Writing Sample.
• The above should be submitted by 1 February for consideration by our graduate studies committee for admission and funding (September admission only). Transcripts and confidential report forms should be sent directly to the Department under separate cover.  We may still consider applications after the February 1 deadline.

Program Timelines

When admission to PhD work has been granted, a candidate will, in consultation with his or her prospective supervisor and the Graduate Studies Chair of the Department, select two Minor Fields and one Major Specialization. Minor Fields and Major Specialization will cover the principal literature in the areas of concentration.

Minor fields normally consist of two half-year 700‐level graduate reading seminars in each of which a major historiographical essay is required. The grade for a minor field will consist of the grades for the in- course requirements and the historiographical essay, in combination as indicated by the minor field supervisor. One minor field course will be taken in the fall term, the second in the winter term. Instructors may opt to set a written exam.

While some overlap may be deemed beneficial, the Minor Fields should not duplicate Major Specialization reading. All doctoral candidates must have a minimum of three, and usually four, instructors supervising the combination of their Minor Fields and Major Specialization.

Major Specialization preparation begins in September and takes the form of a reading course that will run normally until the following May. The reading for the course will be determined by the course instructors with oversight from the department’s Graduate Studies Committee to ensure appropriate breadth and depth of the reading list. As part of the reading course, candidates will complete a significant historiographical paper or papers. Instructors may opt to set a written exam.

Successful completion of 6 units of Minor‐Field coursework and 6 units of Major Specialization coursework, fulfill the course requirements of the School of Graduate Studies for doctoral candidates. Satisfactory performance in doctoral Minor Field and Major Specialization courses is a minimum grade of B‐. A single grade of F on any course in the PhD program, or two B- grades, entails automatic withdrawal from the program.

Finally, all History PhD candidates will write a dissertation research proposal by the end of their first year in the PhD programme.  Each candidate’s proposal, of 10-15 pages in length, is defended on a Pass/Fail basis with the candidate’s PhD committee no later than the third week of September. This defence will constitute the required PhD comprehensive examination (written and oral). In order to attain a passing mark, the dissertation proposal and its oral defense must satisfactorily demonstrate breadth of knowledge and the integration of key ideas and methods related to the student’s thesis area. Successful passage of the comprehensive examination along with successful completion of the coursework is required before a candidate may proceed in programme.

Tuition & Program Fees

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. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is tuition?

For the 2023-2024 academic year, tuition fees are as follows:

Please note, these costs are exclusive of supplementary fees and are subject to change on an annual basis.

When is tuition due?

Tuition is usually due in mid-September.  Dates will change on an annual basis and will be communicated via departmental communication channels.

What does the course load look like for an MA student?

MA students in the Department of History are required to take 3 level-700 courses in the fall and winter terms.  Each class is approximately 3 hours in length based on course offerings and student interest.  Courses are offered one day per week.   Unless otherwise specified, courses are offered in-person and students are expected to be present in class on campus.  Course scheduling and registration takes place in the spring/summer.

Does the Department require scholarly work?

Both the MA and the PhD require completion of the supplemental application, which can be found on the respective application websites.  The PhD application requires a writing sample.

How is graduate funding decided?  Is it guaranteed?

Within the Department of History, there is a graduate committee which is composed of History faculty members.  For MA students, each individual faculty member reviews the applications and ranks the students.  Each student receives an average ranking.  The student’s GPA is then used as a further ranking tool to determine graduate scholarships.  The application and the student’s GPA has equal weighting in determining their final rank.  Top students are likely, but not guaranteed, to receive scholarship funding.  In addition to scholarship funding, there are multiple teaching assistant positions which offer students an opportunity to study and work. No funding is guaranteed and is subject to change on an annual basis.

For PhD students, minimum funding is guaranteed.  As of September 1, 2023, all full-time PhD students admitted to the program are guaranteed a minimum of $17,500 which may be composed of multiple different sources of funding.  This is guaranteed for 4 years.

Does the department offer any scholarships?

The department offers the following internal scholarships for graduate students:

Is it necessary to consult a potential supervisor?

For an MA student, you will connect with a potential supervisor by the end of your first term.

For a PhD student, it is highly recommended that you consult with a potential supervisor before applying into the program.  Supervision requires a heavy commitment from faculty members, and some faculty members may not be able to provide the necessary support required.  The department cannot guarantee a supervisor for incoming PhD students.

Can the application fee be waived?

No, the fee is mandatory to apply into the program.

How are my international grades calculated?

The university uses the Ontario University Registrars’ Association guides to calculating international grades.  These vary from country to country.  If you are interested, you may reach out to [email protected] for clarification.

What testing is required if English is not my first language?  What is the minimum score required?

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide an official record of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A minimum TOEFL score of 92 (iBT), 580 on the regular test and a score of 237 on the computerized test are required. If you are submitting the IELTS test, a minimum score of 7 is required.

Faculty Scholarship Adjustments Guidelines

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.

REVIEW THE POLICY

Apply to the PhD Program in History

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GRADUATE SUPERVISORS

Research your passion in History with supervision from our world-class faculty.

SEE OUR CURRENT AND FORMER GRAD STUDENTS

Supplemental information.

2024-2025 Graduate Courses Term 1 Seminars (September – December 2024)

HISTORY 725 Canadian Environmental History HISTORY 728 American Foreign Relations HISTORY 741 Historiography HISTORY 770 Sex, Health, Gender Colonial HISTORY 790 MA Independent Study HISTORY 798A Phd Spec Reading Course

Term 2 Seminars (January – April 2025)

HISTORY 742 Applied History HISTORY 745 Canada’s Racial State HISTORY 754 Social and Environmental History of Modern America HISTORY 767 War and Society in East Asian History HISTORY 790 MA Independent Study HISTORY 798B Phd Spec Reading Course

Winter – Summer 2025 (January – August 2025)

• History 798 PhD Major Specialization

Summer 2025 (May – August 2025)

• History 797 MA Research Paper

2023-2024 Graduate Courses Term 1 Seminars (September – December 2023)

• History 702 War and American Society since 1898| Dr. Stephen Streeter
• History 741 Historiography | Dr. Tracy McDonald
• History 756 The World Wars| Dr. Martin Horn
• History 767 War and Society in East Asian History| Dr. Jaeyoon Song

Term 2 Seminars (January – April 2024)

• History 717 Topics in Early Modern European History| Dr. Megan Armstrong
• History 721 Modern British History| Dr. Stephen Heathorn
• History 725 Canadian Environmental History| Dr. Ken Cruikshank
• History 757 The British Empire and Global Integration, 1815-1960| Dr. John Weaver
• History 776 History of Sexualities in the Western World, 1750 to the present| Dr. Michael Gauvreau

Winter – Summer 2024 (January – August 2024)

Summer 2024 (May – August 2024)

2022-2023 Graduate Courses Term 1 Seminars (September – December 2022)

• History 708 Research in European International Relations 1890-1956 | Dr. Martin Horn
• History 741 Historiography | Dr. Michael Gauvreau
• History 754 Social and Environmental History of Modern America | Dr. Ken Cruikshank
• History 767 War and Society in East Asian History | Dr. Jaeyoon Song

Term 2 Seminars (January – April 2023)

• History 743 Topics in Soviet History | Dr. Tracy McDonald
• History 757 The British Empire and Global Integration, 1815-1960 | Dr. John Weaver
• History 766 Comparative Perspectives on Health and Medicine in the Colonial World | Dr. Juanita De Barros
• History 776 History of Sexualities in the Western World, 1750 to the present | Dr. Michael Gauvreau
• History 777 Decolonizing Indigenous History | Dr. Allan Downey

2021-2022 Graduate Courses Term 1 Seminars (September – December 2021) In- Person

• History 728 American Foreign Relations | Dr. S. Streeter | Tuesday 9:30 – 12:20
• History 741 Historiography (required for MA’s) | Dr. T. McDonald | Thursday 9:00 – 12:00
• History 766 Comparative Perspectives on Health and Medicine in the Colonial World | Dr. J. De Barros | Wednesday 14:30 – 17:20
• History 775 The Canadian Left in the Twentieth Century | Dr. I. McKay | Monday 9:00 – 12:00

Term 2 Seminars (January – April 2022)

• History 757 The British Empire and Global Integration, 1815-1960 | Dr. J. Weaver | Wednesday 13:30 – 16:20
• History 764 Global Power, Local Cultures: Comparative Colonialisms in Africa | Dr. B. Ibhawoh | Tuesday 12:30 – 15:30
• History 767 War and Society in East Asian History | Dr. J. Song | Thursday 9:00 – 12:00
• History 776 History of Sexualities in the Western World 1750 to the present | Dr. M. Gauvreau | Friday 9:00 – 12:00
• History 780 Historical Perspectives on Women and Biography | Dr. A. McQueen | Monday 9:00 – 12:00

Winter – Summer 2022 (January – August 2022)

Summer 2022 (May – August 2022)

2020-2021 Graduate Courses

Term 1 Seminars (September – December 2020) (Virtual)

• History 717 Topics in Early Modern European History | Megan Armstrong | Friday 9:00 – 12:00
• History 741 Historiography | Michael Gauvreau | Thursday 9:00 – 12:00
• History 766 Comparative Perspectives on Health and Medicine in the Colonial World | Juanita De Barros | Wednesday 13:00 – 16:00
• History 769 Historical Representations of Cities | Alison McQueen | Tuesday 9:30 – 12:30
• History 775 The Canadian Left in the Twentieth Century | Ian McKay | Monday 13:00 – 16:00

Term 2 Seminars (January – April 2021) 

• History 725 Environmental History: Canada in International Perspective | Ken Cruikshank | Wednesday 13:00 – 16:00
• History 756 The World Wars | Martin Horn | Wednesday 9:00 – 12:00
• History 765 Canadian Sport History | Nancy Bouchier | Monday 9:30 – 12:30
• History 767 War and Society in East Asian History | Jaeyoon Song | Thursday 9:00 – 12:00
• History 776 History of Sexualities in the Western World, 1750 to the Present | Michael Gauvreau | Friday 9:00 – 12:00
• History 779 History of Indigenous Manifestos | Allan Downey | Tuesday 13:00 – 16:00

Winter – Summer 2021 (January – August 2021) 

Summer 2021 (May – August 2021) 

2019-2020 Graduate Courses

Term 1 Seminars (September – December 2019)

• History 702 War and American Society in 1898 – Stephen Streeter
• History 741 Historiography – Tracy McDonald
• History 772 State & Civil Society in Canada, 1948-2000 – Ian McKay
• History 775 The Canadian Left in the Twentieth Century- Ian McKay
• History 790 MA Independent Study

Term 2 Seminars (January – April 2020)

• History 717 Topics in Early Modern History- Megan Armstrong
• History 743 Topics in Soviet History –  Tracy McDonald
• History 757 ( Cross-listed as GLOBALST 757 ) The British Empire and Global Integration, 1815-1960 – John Weaver
• History 776 History of Sexualities in the Western World, 1750 to the present- Michael Gauvreau
• History 779 History of Indigenous Manifestos – Allan Downey

Summer 2020 (May – August 2020)

Winter 2020 – Summer 2020 (January – August 2020)

Funding is available through a large number of available scholarships. McMaster’s School of Graduate Studies maintains a list of available scholarships available as well as details on how to apply.

In addition to McMaster scholarships, the School of Graduate Studies also maintains a list of external scholarships.

• Program Handbook
• Thesis Defence
• Graduate Calendar
• School of Graduate Studies Graduate Resources
• Graduate Associations
• Where to find jobs

Department Life

Graduate students are fully incorporated into the intellectual and social life of the Department.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Graduate History Society

Our graduate students have their own organization

Thursday Speaker Series

See out past and future guest speakers

Find a Humanities Expert

Research-focused and student-centered. Humanities researchers promote interdisciplinary approaches to local and global leadership. Learn more about our researchers by searching by name or keyword.

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES

Linguistics & languages.

• Undergraduate Programs
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• Request Info

PhD Program in Cognitive Science of Language

Join our world-class Languages & Linguistics Department to continue your study of language structure, language processing and the neural basis of language in the Cognitive Science of Language PhD Program.

Our courses are so hands-on and application based that you end up developing a unique and valuable skillset, which ends up leading into a variety of career paths that would otherwise have been difficult to grow accustomed to.

Meliha Horzum '20

Honours Cognitive Science of Language

About the Program

Based in the Department of Linguistics and Languages, the PhD program in Cognitive Science of Language is interdisciplinary and includes faculty from Humanities, Science, and Health Sciences. The program has a strong research orientation with expertise in cognitive science, corpus linguistics, neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics and theoretical linguistics. The program introduces students to the issues in those fields that form the nexus of linguistics, cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience, and trains students in the research methods employed to study them.

Admission Requirements

A MSc in the Cognitive Science of Language or an equivalent Master’s degree is required for entrance into the PhD program. Some applicants may require additional courses in core areas (e.g. linguistics or cognitive science) in order to be eligible for admission. Each application will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Language Requirement

In order to ensure language diversity and breadth, the Department has a second-language requirement for the PhD degree, in addition to the general Graduate School requirement of English proficiency. Candidates should have, as a minimum, intermediate knowledge of a language other than English, defined as having passed the equivalent of two (2) full year courses. Candidates admitted without this requirement will be expected to pass the equivalent of two (2) full year courses or to pass a Qualifying Exam. The Department will evaluate each student’s language preparation at the Admission stage.

Application Process

The official electronic transcripts should be sent from the issuing institution directly to our department’s email: [email protected]

The online application portal for our graduate program in Cognitive Science of Language unlocks November 1st each year for September admission only. 

THOSE WHO SUBMIT  THEIR  COMPLETED APPLICATIONS (BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL) BY THE JANUARY 31ST DEADLINE WILL HAVE FIRST CONSIDERATION.

• Complete the online application -> McMaster University Application  
• Statement of Interest (identify the faculty member you wish to work with)
• Writing Sample (any type of academic writing i.e. term paper, thesis chapter)
• Two academic references (McMaster University uses an Electronic Referencing System. By entering the email address of your referee through the online application, the system will automatically send an e-Reference request on your behalf)
• English Language Proficiency (if English is not your native language)
• Official transcripts of all post-secondary academic work completed to date (transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to our Department, please include English translation if applicable)
• Official copy of your TOEFL or IELTS scores or any other evidence of English proficiency (TOEFL: minimum score of 92 (internet based), 237 (computer based) or 580 (paper based), minimum of 20 per band; for the Faculty of Engineering a minimum score of 88 (internet based) or 213 on the (computer based) or 550 (paper based)  IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section)
• **NOTE** Applicants from outside of Canada should begin the application process as early as possible to allow time to obtain all necessary documents.

Program Timelines

Students entering with a MSc in the Cognitive Science of Language are required to complete three half courses plus one pass/fail module. If the following courses were not completed in the MSc program, they must be included in the PhD program of study:

• COGSCIL 730 / Language Analysis Methods: Phonology and Morphology
• COGSCIL 731 / Language Analysis Methods: Syntax and Semantics
• COGSCIL 726 / The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series must be completed in Year 1 of the PhD program
• Plus additional courses approved by the student’s supervisory committee to total three half courses

Students entering with a Master’s degree but not an MSc in the Cognitive Science of Language are required to complete seven half courses plus one pass/fail lecture series module as listed below. The Lecture series must be completed in year one of the program.  

Required courses:

• COGSCIL 721 / Fundamentals of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• COGSCIL 722 / Contemporary Issues in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• COGSCIL 726 / The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series  
• Plus additional courses approved by the student’s supervisory committee to total seven half courses

The Comprehensive Examination is intended to ensure that the student develops competence in a subfield of Cognitive Science of Language beyond the focus of the thesis. In consultation with the supervisory committee, the student will identify a topic for the Comprehensive that is distinct from the thesis topic.

In most cases, the Director of the Comprehensive will not be the thesis supervisor. The student and the Comprehensive Director agree in writing on the nature of the deliverable for the Comprehensive and on interim and final deadlines. At a minimum, the Comprehensive consists of a written paper and oral examination of the topic of the paper. The paper may consist of a literature review, proposal for a research project, report of a research project or report of a teaching project. The scope of the project should be such that it can reasonably be completed within one semester. The paper will usually be 20-30 pages long.

The Comprehensive Director identifies at least one other faculty member; together, the Director and these other faculty members constitute the Comprehensive Exam Committee. (Comprehensive Directors are encouraged to recruit Comprehensive Examiners from beyond the Department of Linguistics & Languages.) The Comprehensive Director advises the student on the preparation of the paper. The Comprehensive Exam Committee determines whether the paper is ready for an oral defense, and conducts the oral examination. The oral examination consists of a brief presentation by the student regarding the content of the paper followed by questions from the Committee. The Comprehensive Exam must be successfully completed within 20 months of entering the PhD program.

All students are expected to attend the talks in the Cognitive Science of Language Lecture Series, where scholars from around the world in the fields of Linguistics, Psychology, and Cognitive Neuroscience discuss their research.

Tuition & Program Fees

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.

Faculty Scholarship Adjustments Guidelines

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.

REVIEW THE POLICY

Apply to an PhD Program in Linguistics & Languages

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GRADUATE SUPERVISORS

Research your passion in Linguistics & Languages with supervision from our world-class faculty.

SEE OUR CURRENT AND FORMER PhD STUDENTS

Supplemental information.

Graduate Courses in Linguistics and Languages

Course outlines 2024-2025

• Cogscil 6D03 – Computers and Linguistic Analysis
• Cogscil 6XX3 – Topics in Linguistic Theory
• Cogscil 712 – Reading Course (Linguistics)
• Cogscil 713 – Reading Course (Cognitive Science)
• Cogscil 726A – The Cognitive Science of Language M.Sc. Lecture Series
• Cogscil 749 – Lab Visual Language

Winter 2025 (the outlines will be added by the beginning of the winter term)

• Cogscil 6EL3 – Experimental Lab in Cognitive Science of Language
• Cogscil 6G03- Language, Sex and Gender
• Cogscil 6LC3 – Advanced Morphology and Syntax
• Cogscil 713 –  Reading Course (Cognitive Science)
• Cogscil 721 – Fundamentals of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• Cogscil 726B– The Cognitive Science of Language M.Sc. Lecture Series
• Cogscil 730 – Language Analysis Methods: Phonology and Morphology

Course outlines 2023-2024

• Cogscil 6LB3 – Advanced Phonetics and Phonology
• Cogscil 722 – Contemporary Issues in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• Cogscil 726A – The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series

Winter 2024

• Cogscil 6NN3 – Cognitive Neurolinguistics Lab
• Cogscil 726B– The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series
• Cogscil 731 – Language Analysis Methods: Syntax and Semantics
• Cogscil 734 – Issues in Syntax

Course outlines 2022-2023

Winter 2023

• Cogscil 6AS3 – Topics in Advanced Semantics
• Cogscil 726B – The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series

Domestic MSc students usually receive a funding package consisting of a teaching assistantship and scholarship. The total value of the funding package ranges from $16,000 to $19,000 per year.

Currently all domestic PhD students receive a funding package of $23,500 per year, usually including a teaching assistantship of 260 hours plus a scholarship.

McMaster Graduate Studies Scholarship Information

The School of Graduate Studies provides funding to our graduate students so they can devote their time and energy to the successful completion of their studies.

External Graduate Scholarships

All eligible students are also strongly encouraged to apply for external scholarships such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and Canada Graduate Scholarships.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Note that applications must be submitted directly to the institution(s) where you plan to pursue graduate studies. The deadline is normally in the fall, before the application deadline for graduate school. 

Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s Program

Graduate Scholarship – As with OGS, applications for the Canada Graduate Scholarship must be submitted through an eligible institution. The deadline is usually December 1, before the application deadline for graduate school.

All applicants and current students will be considered for funding support from McMaster, including TAships.

• Thesis Defence
• Program Handbook
• Graduate Calendar
• School of Graduate Studies Graduate Resources
• Graduate Association
• Where to find jobs

PAST MAJOR RESEARCH PROJECTS

Department life.

The Department of Linguistics & Languages welcomes scholars from around the world to participate in the Cognitive Science of Language Lecture Series. The lecture series is a forum where all are welcome to attend talks by established researchers on recent innovations and current trends in Language and Cognition.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Find a Humanities Expert

Research-focused and student-centered. Humanities researchers promote interdisciplinary approaches to local and global leadership. Learn more about our researchers by searching by name or keyword.

Political Science

Graduate Programs

Welcome to graduate studies in political science.

Our department is the ideal place to complete master’s and doctoral work. We offer the range of specialized seminars needed for strong graduate-level training. We pride ourselves on being a collegial department where students and faculty can experience the type of intellectual interaction, supervision, and research collaboration that make graduate work exciting.

Our programs offer:

• A diversity of theoretical perspectives;
• A research-intensive environment, seen in our excellent record of ongoing externally funded research; and
• A commitment to rigorous training in research methods to provide graduate students with an opportunity to develop outstanding analytical and research skills that are invaluable in scholarly and applied contexts.

Graduate Programs in Political Sciences

Phd political science (political theory) learn more, phd political science (canadian politics) learn more, phd political science (comparative public policy) learn more, phd political science (comparative politics) learn more, phd political science (international relations) learn more, ma global politics learn more, ma political science learn more, graduate supervisors.

Find a graduate supervisor who specializes in your field of interest.

Questions about Graduate Studies in Political Science? Contact Us:

Associate Professor, Political Science Graduate Chair, Political Science Adjunct & Associate Member, Institute on Globalization & the Human Condition Associate Professor, Master of Public Policy in Digital Society

Areas of interest: Comparative politics, Digital technology, Electoral politics, Gender & politics, Politics of representation, Qualitative methods, Race and ethnicity, Social media

Manuela Dozzi

Administrative Assistant, Political Science

Areas of interest:

Office of the Provost & Vice-President (Academic)

Academic excellence.

Support for Indigenous Initiatives at McMaster

Every year, McMaster University supports a number of key strategic programs and projects. In the 2023-24 financial year, over $6.2 million was committed to enhance research, education, the Indigenous Student experience, leadership, governance, and other strategic priorities outlined in the Indigenous Strategic Directions.

Below is a summary of the financial support provided for Indigenous initiatives in the 2023-24 financial year, along with budgeted funding for 2024-25.

Information Box Group

Indigenous Education Council (IEC) IEC

The McMaster Indigenous Education Council (IEC) promotes and advocates for Indigenous education at McMaster university. It champions the needs of Indigenous students, staff, and faculty, and advises the university on Indigenous matters. The IEC aims to enhance Indigenous presence and perspectives within the university community

Learn more about the Indigenous Education Council (IEC).

Funded by the Office of the Provost and administered by the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Indigenous Studies Department (ISD) ISD

The Indigenous Studies Department offers undergraduate and graduate programs focused on Indigenous knowledge, culture, and history. It emphasizes the intellectual traditions of Indigenous peoples. The department incorporates a unique teaching structure of Indigenous knowledge that involves many Indigenous peoples and Elders.

Learn more about the Indigenous Studies Department (ISD).

Funded by tuition, grant and annual contributions from the University Fund, administered by the Faculty of Social Sciences.

STEER/R Hires - Indigenous Professors STEER/R

McMaster’s Strategic Excellence and Equity in Recruitment and Retention (STEER/R) Program, launched in 2020, funds initiatives to support equity-deserving groups. It focuses on student access, experience, and success, as well as faculty and staff hiring, engagement, and career progression. STEER/R aims to advance inclusive excellence within the university community.

The program included six Indigenous faculty members in 2024 and ten in 2025 (fiscal year).

Learn more about the STEER/R Program.

Indigenous Research Hub Renovations Research Hub

A project to renovate the current Dean’s Office to create the Indigenous Research Hub at McMaster university. This project aims to create a dedicated space for Indigenous research, support Indigenous Student Services, and integrate the Indigenous Studies Department. The renovations will foster collaboration and advance Indigenous scholarship.

Indigenous Research Hub

Walls to Bridges (W2B) National Hub W2B

Walls to Bridges (W2B) is an innovative educational program that brings together incarcerated (“Inside”) and non-incarcerated (“Outside”) students to study post-secondary courses in jails and prisons across Canada. The National Hub for the program is based out of the McMaster Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI) at McMaster university, in partnership with Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener.

Learn more about the Walls to Bridges (W2B) educational program.

Funded by the Office of the Provost, administered by the Faculty of Social Sciences and coordinated by MIRI. The Director of MIRI is also the Director of the National Hub.

McMaster Prison Education Program Prison Education

The McMaster Prison Education Program, part of the Indigenous Studies Department, offers university courses within federal correctional facilities. Through the Walls to Bridges initiative, incarcerated and non-incarcerated students learn together, earning university credits. This program aims to increase access to post-secondary education for incarcerated Indigenous peoples.

Learn more about the Prison Education Program.

Prison Education

Repatriation/Rematriation of Ancestral remains Repatriation/Rematriation

The McMaster Repatriation/Rematriation of Ancestral Remains project plans the return of ancestral remains currently held at the university. This initiative aims to honor Indigenous traditions, support community healing, and restore cultural heritage. It reflects McMaster’s commitment to reconciliation and respect for Indigenous peoples’ rights and histories.

Repatriation/Rematriation

Funded by McMaster’s Strategic Alignment Funds, which are overseen by the Office of the Provost and administered by the Sustainable Archaeology Lab.

Indigenous Scholarships Indigenous Scholar Award

McMaster university offers various scholarships and bursaries specifically for Indigenous students. These financial aids support Indigenous students in their academic pursuits. Additionally, Indigenous students can access federal and provincial student loan programs, as well as McMaster’s Work Program.

Learn more about Indigenous Scholarships and Bursaries.

Indigenous Scholar in the Community Award

Funded by the Office of the Provost and Faculty of Social Sciences.

BIPOC Curatorial Mentorship Program Mentorship Program

McMaster’s BIPOC Curatorial Mentorship Program, launched in 2020, pairs emerging BIPOC arts professionals with senior curators. The program focuses on diverse curatorial practices, exhibition development, and critical discourse. It aims to build capacity for transformation in the cultural sector and support BIPOC leadership in the arts.

As of 2024, three Indigenous and three Black cultural workers have received mentorship.

Learn more about the BIPOC Curatorial Mentorship Program.

Mentorship Program

Funded by the Office of the Provost with a matching grant from the Department Of Canadian Heritage.

Indigenous Studies Steady State Steady State

McMaster’s Indigenous Studies Steady State initiative ensures sustainable support for Indigenous research and education. It focuses on maintaining consistent funding, resources, and community engagement. This initiative aims to uphold the university’s commitment to Indigenous scholarship, fostering a stable environment for academic and cultural growth.

Steady State

Funded by the Office of the Provost and administered through Student Financial Services and Awards.

Indigenous Student Services Student Services

McMaster Indigenous Student Services provides in-person and online support and resources for Indigenous students, including academic advising, cultural programming, and wellness initiatives. The office offers a welcoming space for studying, meetings, and community events. All services aim to enhance the academic experience of Indigenous students.

Learn more about Indigenous Student Services.

Student Services

Funded by the Office of the Provost and administered through Student Affairs.

McMaster Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI) MIRI

The McMaster Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI) fosters Indigenous research excellence. It supports interdisciplinary projects, enhances research infrastructure, and builds community partnerships. MIRI promotes Indigenous knowledge and methodologies, creating a space for dialogue between Western and Indigenous research approaches. It aims to advance Indigenous scholarship and self-determination.

Learn more about the McMaster Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI). 

Funded by the Office of the Vice-President, Research, the Office of the Provost, the Faculty of Humanities, FEAST, and donors.

Indigenous Priority Fund Indigenous Priority

The McMaster Indigenous Priority Fund, established in 2022, supports initiatives in research, education, student experience, and leadership. It aligns with the Indigenous Strategic Directions, aiming to enhance Indigenous presence and success at the university. The fund addresses key priorities identified by the Indigenous community.

Learn more about the Indigenous Priority Fund.

Indigenous Priority

Funded by donors and from the Estate of Eva Elizabeth May and Lloyd Edward May, to support key strategic projects, programs, and priorities as identified annually by the Provost with direction from the Indigenous Education Council (IEC) and the Joint Indigenous Administration Consultation Group (JIACG).

Indigenous Health Learning Lodge | Indigenous Health Initiative Health Education

The Indigenous Health Learning Lodge at McMaster university is a hub for training and curriculum development. It provides a culturally safe space with access to Traditional Knowledge Helpers and a student lounge. The Lodge supports Indigenous health sciences students and promotes understanding of colonization and reconciliation.

Learn more about the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge.

Health Education

Funded by McMaster’s Strategic Alignment Funds, which are overseen by the Office of the Provost.