Social Justice and Community Engagement (MA)

Want to change the world? Our program fosters your ability to investigate and understand the root causes of the most pertinent social justice and environmental issues of our times. Through a combination of critical theory, methods, and an individualized community placement our Master of Arts (MA) program in Social Justice and Community Engagement (SJCE) engages students in the active promotion of social and environmental justice principles within our communities and around the world. 

Learning Through Scholarship and Practice

Through coursework, an individualized community placement and either practice-focused courses or a major research paper (MRP), you'll develop knowledge that contributes to your own understanding of how to make change in the world, as well as the skills that facilitate the development of communities, to undertake social justice and environmental work. Our program provides a firm grounding in the theories and methods of SJCE, and builds your research and writing capabilities through a variety of projects. Your community placement is an opportunity for you to gain practical experience applying theoretical ideas about social and environmental justice in a community setting. Placements are determined by taking into consideration your interests and needs, including any accommodations, while ensuring that the community organizations receive benefits from the placement. 

The full time program is normally completed in one year. We also offer a part time program. If you have accessibility needs that require consideration, you can contact our program coordinator to determine the best route through the program and discuss potential accommodations. 

Program Options

• The Coursework route includes eight seminar courses.
• The Coursework + Major Research Paper route includes six seminar courses and a major research paper with an oral defence.
• The Coursework + Major Research Project Creative route includes six seminar courses and a creative work accompanied by a written report with an oral defence.