Master of Arts Political Science Specialization in Feminist and Gender Studies

The School of Political Studies offers graduate programs leading to the Graduate Diploma in Public Management and Governance, and to the degrees of Master of Arts (MA) and PhD in Political Science. The MA program is offered both full- and part-time whereas the PhD program is offered full-time only. The programs are offered in French and English.

Two options are available for the MA: the MA with thesis and the MA with research paper.

It is possible to follow the Masters or the PhD program exclusively in French.

Students who enroll in their program in French (MA or PhD) must take the majority of their courses in French:

• Masters with Thesis: students must take at least three of their required courses in French.
• Masters with Major Research Paper: students must take at least four of their required courses in French.
• PhD: students must take at least three courses in French.

Students who enroll in their program in English (MA or PhD) must take and pass at least one of their required courses in French.

All students are permitted to hand in their assignments in French or in English. At the time of admission, students must have an active knowledge of French and a passive understanding of English. French is the working language of the Schools meetings, including those of the graduate students association, and in the Schools internal communications.

The department participates in the collaborative programs in Feminist and Gender Studies (at the MA level), in Environmental Sustainability (at the MA level) and in Canadian Studies (at the PhD level). For more information on this program, see Admission Requirements.”

The collaborative program in Feminist and Gender Studies at the master's level is designed for students from selected disciplines in arts, education, health sciences, law, social sciences, and counselling and spirituality (Saint Paul University), who have an interest in Feminist and Gender Studies. These students have the opportunity to combine advanced studies in their primary program with analyses from a Feminist and Gender Studies perspective. The degree awarded is a master's degree in the primary program with a .

The programs are governed by the academic regulations in effect for graduate studies.

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.

The following are minimum requirements for admission to the master’s program. Meeting these minimal requirements alone does not guarantee acceptance. The School of Political Studies also takes into account the number of places available and the student’s aptitude for higher level research.

Students who have a BA with honours in Political Science or its equivalent with a minimum average of 70 % (B), calculated in accordance with graduate studies guidelines, may be admitted directly to the MA program.

Students who do not have a BA with honours in Political Science, but who have a BA with a minor in Political Science or a BA in a related discipline, and a minimum average of 75% (B +), may be accepted for a qualifying year, the content of which will be decided in consultation with the director of graduate studies in the political science.

An active knowledge of French or English is essential. All students admitted will have to take at least one of their courses in French, and all students must be capable of reading texts in English and French. Candidates must indicate in their application the language in which they plan to take the majority of their courses. Those students who plan to study mainly in English will have to demonstrate in their application an active knowledge of English. All students whose first language is other than English or French must provide proof in their application of their level of competence in both languages. The School of Political Studies reserves the right to require a language test for either language.

Collaborative Programs

The School of Political Studies is one of the participating units in the collaborative programs in Feminist and Gender Studies (master’s level only).

The collaborative program in Feminist and Gender Studies was created to enable students to enrich their education in political science by adding the interdisciplinary dimension of Feminist and Gender Studies. The program consists of two compulsory Feminist and Gender Studies (FEM) courses as well as a thesis or a research paper on a subject linked to Feminist and Gender Studies. One of the FEM courses will count towards the requirements of the master’s program with thesis, replacing one of the elective courses. Both FEM courses will count towards the requirements of the master’s program with research paper, replacing two of the electives.

Students should indicate in their initial application for admission to the master's program in Political Science that they wish to be accepted into the collaborative program.

To be accepted in the collaborative program in Feminist and Gender Studies at the master's level, applicants must first be accepted to the master's program in a participating program. Successful applicants will normally hold an honours degree or the equivalent and have a minimum average of 70 per cent (B). They must also have a background in Feminist and Gender Studies, that is, a minimum of two undergraduate level courses or one graduate level course on women, gender, feminism or sexualities. Students who do not have an adequate background may be eligible to our Special Policy for Admissions.

The letter of intention submitted with the application should include a clear account of the “Feminist and Gender Studies” dimension in the proposed topic of research.

Language Requirements

Each student enrolled in the MA in Political Science must take at least one of their courses in French. Therefore, an active knowledge of French is required. 

• Apply online through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), by completing form 105.
• Declare all your current and previous postsecondary studies, completed or not, even if they are not related to your application. Failure to do so may lead to the cancellation of your application or the withdrawal of your offer of admission at any time.
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• Note that OUAC is not part of the University of Ottawa. It handles applications to all Ontario universities and is responsible for transferring your application to our admission office.