Transdisciplinary Research - MTR - Thesis

The Master's of Transdisciplinary Research program will provide students with the opportunity to pursue innovative research that builds upon knowledge between, across, and beyond traditional disciplines. Students can complete their degree with guidance from a supervisor and co-supervisor (where applicable) doing research in their area of interest.

Some of the unique and exciting features of the MTR are an emphasis on knowledge engagement and knowledge translation through a common course; experiential learning through collaborations with community (non-academic) partners ; and a cohort experience where students undertaking transdisciplinary research in many different areas can learn with and from each other.

Students who enrol in the program will have the opportunity to pursue cutting-edge, transdisciplinary research that they define in collaboration with their supervisor; this research could approach grand societal challenges with methods that merge, for example, the arts and sciences, and provide students with a unique and individualized program that is relevant not only to their interests, but also to broader society.

The MTR will provide a signature transdisciplinary pedagogy. At the core of the thesis-based program in Transdisciplinary Research will be opportunities for students who are working within new, innovative fields to collaborate with a cohort of peers who are pursuing transdisciplinary work.

This cohort experience will offer regular speaker series, workshops, and networking opportunities for students as well as members of industry and non-academic communities. In addition, all students will enrol in a course on knowledge engagement, where they will engage with industries and community partners. They also will be required to have a non-academic advisory member on their committee, and they will be required to generate a body of work (equivalent to one thesis chapter) that is relevant and applicable outside of academia.

Potential students are encouraged to visit the FGS non-traditional thesis webpage to explore the variety of research endeavours and methods of research presentation encouraged in the TD program.

Please consult the Transdisciplinary Graduate Programs website to confirm current specialization offerings.

Completing this program

Required courses include:

• TDST 600 (Introduction to Transdisciplinary Scholarship)
• TDST 601 (Knowledge and Community Engagement)
• Minimum of 9 additional course units (3 courses) as determined by specialization and supervisory committee.

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT including TOEFL iBT Home Edition) minimum score of 97.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0 (with no section less than 6.5).
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency minimum score of 191.
• Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL) overall score of 70 (no section less than 60).
• Academic Communication Certificate (ACC) with a minimum grade of B+ in each course.
• Duolingo English Test obtaining a minimum score of 125 (with no sub-score below 105).

*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.

• Draw upon advanced knowledge of fields of specialization in order to conduct cutting-edge transdisciplinary research that generates knowledge to address big problems in new ways.
• Demonstrate intellectual autonomy in the conceptualization, design and implementation of original transdisciplinary research.
• Engage meaningfully with community and/or industry partners to identify transdisciplinary problems and contribute to the development of new techniques, tools, practices, ideas, theories, approaches, and/or materials.
• Effectively communicate complex and ambiguous transdisciplinary research results clearly to a range of academic and non-academic audiences.
• Demonstrate and support appropriate professional behaviour to work autonomously in complex situations.