The Master’s degree normally takes two years of full-time study, although students may be able to complete all degree requirements within one year of entering the Program . Students must complete all requirements within two years to remain in full time studies and thus be eligible to hold a Graduate Assistantship or Teaching Assistantship, as well as receive government student loans.
The sequence for the satisfactory completion of M.A. requirements is as follows:

1. The equivalent of three full graduate courses (18 credits in total*), of which:
   (a) at least one must be a formal SPTH course;
   (b) only one may be a reading course (Social and Political Thought 6001.06 or 6001.03)
   
   
2. The Major Research Paper.
   
   
3. An oral examination.

*  A full course is a 6 credit course and is usually offered over two terms. 

    A half course is a 3 credit course and is usually offered over one term.

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Students create their own, unique, study program choosing from a number of interdisciplinary courses that are often cross listed by graduate programs in English, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Humanities, and other relevant disciplines. In addition, reading courses are given by SPTH faculty members to meet students’ specialized interests and needs. All courses offered by SPTH are open to MA and doctoral students. Social and Political Thought does not offer any core courses. Course calendar

Language Competence

Competence in a language other than English is sometimes required for the MRP or PhD dissertation. In general the greater the importance placed on the interpretation of texts, the greater the linguistic competence required. Students requiring undergraduate language courses are encouraged to investigate the courses and their requirements through the Faculty of Arts, Department of Language, Linguistics and Literature. A placement test may be required if the student requires a language course at the intermediate or advanced levels. In addition, students will require the signed permission of the Social and Political Thought Director to register in an undergraduate language course. Forms are available at http://www.yorku.ca/grads/current_students/forms.html#petitions, course related section. Students interested in language courses should inform the Director, who may be able to advise on upcoming opportunities.

Availability of places in undergraduate language courses is determined by the Undergraduate offices; therefore, students are highly encouraged to investigate language courses at the earliest possible date and to ensure that all paperwork is submitted promptly to both the undergraduate and graduate offices.

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See Major Research Paper Guidelines

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The MA Oral Examination is a comprehensive exam that is held once all other degree requirements have been completed. It is a verbal examination based on 3 books that the student and the two readers have agreed upon. Generally the books are drawn from the MRP (Major Research Paper) bibliography.

An MA oral is booked for a 2 hour period, but may take less time.

The student is asked questions directly and indirectly related to the works that have been selected. Some aspect of the MRP that relates to the texts can be asked at the comps. Students need to demonstrate a clear understanding of the texts and an ability to explain the main arguments and concepts.

The Examination Committee

The MA oral examination committee consists of three faculty members – the supervisor (first MRP reader) the second reader and either the Director or a Director's Rep. All faculty members must be appointed to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in order to be on the committee.

The Director's Rep

It is more common to have a Director's Rep, than to have the Director due to the time commitments of the Director.

The student and the supervisor may make recommendations for a Director’s Rep, but the Director makes the final selection. Usually the student and Director will develop a list of two or three faculty member names and rank the list. The Program Assistant will ascertain the faculty members’ availability 

The Director’s Rep attends the exam, is responsible for handling the paperwork at the exam, ensuring all the committee members are present, explaining the process to other members that may never have sat on an SPTH comps exam (comps procedures vary from program to program at York), and aids in mediating the committee's questions, The Director’s Rep ensures that the signed paperwork is returned back to the SPTH Program Office.

The student is requested to provide the Director or Director's Rep with a copy of the MRP at least three weeks prior to the date of the Oral Exam (this copy does not have to be bound).

Timeline for MRP and Comprehensive exam

MA

The MRP must be read and passed by both readers (the to program office needs to have both “passes” )before we can begin booking the comprehensive exam.

The student must then email the director (and copy the program assistant),

1) the booklist (Title and author) of the three books

2) the date and time that the comps is tentatively planned for (both the student and the committee members have agreed on the time, and are available for that time and date)

and – if a preference has been indicated by the student or committee members –

3) any suggestions for the director’s rep.

The student does not select or contact the director’s rep.  Once the director has approved the books and ranked the list of any director’s rep, and program assistant will contact the first name on the list, and see if that faculty member is willing and able to participate in the exam. 

The reason that three weeks advance notice is needed is that the office needs time to arrange for a director’s rep, and the director’s rep may need time to review the books that are to be examined.  Three weeks time in the minimum time to book the exam once the MRP has been passed.

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SPTH MA students who are continuing to the PhD level must complete all the MA degree requirements by the end of the academic year if they are to be accorded PhD status. Students who have not completed these requirements on time will have to register as MA students. (Exceptions can be made if all course work and the Major Research Paper are completed and only the oral exam remains with the written approval of the Director.)

Students must meet with the director in February or early march if they wish to be advanced for the upcoming September session.  Normally the student should be enrolled in the courses required to complete their coursework, have a supervisor identified, and a timeline for completion of their MA work for the meeting.  During their final term (usually the summer term), the student must have at least a draft of the MRP completed, and a timeline for finalizing the MRP and holding the MA Comprehensive exam.

Students most frequently advance to the PhD in September of each year; however alternative timelines can be explored with the Director. Students are asked to note that their advancement to PhD is conditional on the successful completion of all MA degree requirement by the date agreed upon in writing when advanced to the PhD. Failure to successfully complete MA degree requirement by the stipulated date may require the student to withdraw from the PhD program, and return to the MA program as either a full time or part time student.

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