Master of Arts in Social Justice and Equity Studies
Master of Arts in Social Justice and Equity Studies, Co-op Option
Program Website: Social Justice and Equity Studies
Faculty and Administration
For a listing of program faculty and administrative contacts, please visit the program directory.
Program Description
This innovative MA in Social Justice and Equity Studies responds to the increasing need for individuals trained in the expanding field of Social Justice and Equity scholarship. It is interdisciplinary, diverse and pluralistic in its theoretical traditions, substantive problematics, methods and approaches.
While the field of Social Justice and Equity Studies is open, it is not completely unbounded. Its emergence as an academic field has historically been linked to ethicopolitical movements for progressive social change. The objective of the SJES program is to train students in critical analysis of social justice and equity issues as related to processes and struggles associated with age, ability, gender, sexuality, racism, speciesism, the environment, class and other patterns of inequality. Training in both theory and research methods links processes operating at and across a range of geographical scales, from the local to the global.
The emergence of the field of Social Justice and Equity Studies also reflects recognition of the links between power and knowledge in the university. Social Justice and Equity Studies seeks to enact an emancipatory politics of knowledge in favouring voices and perspectives that have been historically marginalized and who are actively resisting domination. These legacies and commitments inform the teaching and research done under the auspices of the SJES program at Brock and the criteria for affiliation and admission to the program. The program unites scholars from distinct academic disciplines to provide an exciting breadth and diversity of perspectives.
The program is made up of participating faculty from Child and Youth Studies, Communication, Popular Culture and Film, Dramatic Arts, Education, English Language and Literature, Geography and Tourism Studies, History, Labour Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Sport Management, Visual Arts, and Women’s and Gender Studies. Students will be equipped to pursue doctoral studies and to offer their expertise as policy makers or policy consultants to social advocacy and social movement organizations as well as a wider public.
Admission Requirements
Successful completion of a four-year Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline, with a minimum average of 75%. The program welcomes students from a variety of academic backgrounds. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in English as specified in the section titled “Proof of English Language Proficiency” in the Brock University Graduate Calendar.
Prospective students need to meet the university minimum requirements from the various accepted language proficiency tests. For full listing of accepted tests see the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs English Language Proficiency webpage.
The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of suitable candidates.
Individuals interested in part-time study should consult with the Graduate Program Director.