York is committed to excellence in research and scholarship in all its forms. Informed by a strong commitment to shared values, including the promotion of social justice, diversity, and the public good, we aspire through our research to better understand the human condition and the world around us and to employ the knowledge we gain in the service of society.
Current Research Projects

Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Research within the Graduate Program in Socio-Legal Studies is determined by the proposed projects presented by successful aspirants. Our students complete a thesis and/or dissertation, which then becomes published as "Electronic Theses & Dissertations" and sits as a public document within our institutional repository - YorkSpace.
Awards & Recognition

Professor Allyson Lunny receives Endowed Chair in Criminology & Criminal Justice at St. Thomas University
Her book Debating Hate Crime: Language, Legislatures and the Law in Canada (UBC Press, 2017), is recognized as a leading work in the field. Drawing on critical discourse analysis, she argues that the parliamentary debates on hate crime and hate speech legislation reveal deeper concerns, trepidations and anxieties about victimization, rightful citizenship, social threat, and moral erosion.

Osgoode Hall Law School Professor Benjamin Berger is the recipient of a prestigious awards recognizing excellence in teaching and research.
Benjamin Berger holds an appointment as an Associate Professor (status only) in the Department for the Study of Religion at the University of Toronto and is a member of the faculty of York’s Graduate Program in Socio-Legal Studies.

Ottawa renews $1.4-million Canada Research Chair at York
The federal government has renewed a Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Law, Communication & Culture at York enabling Professor Rosemary Coombe of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies to advance her research in the field of socio-legal studies.

| Academic Year | Description | Name | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Huizenga, Daniel | PHD |
| 2015 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Lockhart, Emily | PHD |
| 2015 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Roots, Katrin | PHD |
| 2015 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Trowbridge, Terry | PHD |
| 2016 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Dwyer, Patrick | PHD |
| 2016 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Huizenga, Daniel | PHD |
| 2016 | Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements | Huizenga, Daniel | PHD |
| 2016 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Lockhart, Emily | PHD |
| 2016 | Dr. Percy and Bernice Singer Award | Machtinger, Yael | PHD |
| 2016 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Roots, Katrin | PHD |
| 2016 | Nathanson Graduate Fellowship | Tasker, Heather | PHD |
| 2016 | Nathanson Graduate Fellowship | Taylor, Palmer | PHD |
| 2016 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Taylor, Palmer | PHD |
| 2016 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Templeman, Jessica | PHD |
| 2016 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Tompkins, Andrew | PHD |
| 2017 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Anderson, Melissa | PHD |
| 2017 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Dwyer, Patrick | PHD |
| 2017 | Nathanson Graduate Fellowship | Huizenga, Daniel | PHD |
| 2017 | Dr. Allen T. Lambert Scholars Award (OSOTF) | Morais, Chantell | PHD |
| 2017 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Morais, Chantell | PHD |
| 2017 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Tasker, Heather | PHD |
| 2017 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Templeman, Jessica | PHD |
| 2017 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Tompkins, Andrew | PHD |
| 2018 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Anderson, Melissa | PHD |
| 2018 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Dwyer, Patrick | PHD |
| 2018 | Dr. Allen T. Lambert Scholars Award (OSOTF) | Morais, Chantell | PHD |
| 2018 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Tasker, Heather | PHD |
| 2018 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Templeman, Jessica | PHD |
| 2019 | Manulife Graduate Scholarships | Anderson, Melissa | PHD |
| 2019 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Anderson, Melissa | PHD |
| 2019 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Garneau, Brianna | PHD |
| 2019 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Lemke Pietka, Monika | PHD |
| 2019 | St. George's Society of Toronto Graduate Award | Lemke Pietka, Monika | PHD |
| 2019 | Wilhelm Cohnstaedt Social Justice Award | Lemke Pietka, Monika | PHD |
| 2019 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Richer, Natilie | PHD |
| 2019 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Tasker, Heather | PHD |
| 2019 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Templeman, Jessica | PHD |
| 2020 | Manulife Graduate Scholarships | Anderson, Melissa | PHD |
| 2020 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Anderson, Melissa | PHD |
| 2020 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Garneau, Brianna | PHD |
| 2020 | Nathanson Graduate Fellowship | Lemke Pietka, Monika | PHD |
| 2020 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Lemke Pietka, Monika | PHD |
| 2020 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Michaud, Liam | PHD |
| 2020 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Montevirgen, Mathew | PHD |
| 2020 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Richer, Natilie | PHD |
| 2020 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Tasker, Heather | PHD |
| 2021 | Manulife Graduate Scholarships | Anderson, Melissa | PHD |
| 2021 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Anderson, Melissa | PHD |
| 2021 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Centorame, Paul | PHD |
| 2021 | CCCJ-John Lockwood Memorial Award | Das, Arunita | PHD |
| 2021 | Elia Scholars Program | Forjan, Kayla | PHD |
| 2021 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Garneau, Brianna | PHD |
| 2021 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Levit, Irina | PHD |
| 2021 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Michaud, Liam | PHD |
| 2021 | Mamdouh and Susan Shoukri Grad Award at York U | Michaud, Liam | PHD |
| 2021 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Montevirgen, Mathew | PHD |
| 2021 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Richer, Natilie | PHD |
| 2021 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Tasker, Heather | PHD |
| 2021 | Stevenson Scholar in African Studies OSOTF I | Tasker, Heather | PHD |
| 2022 | Nathanson Graduate Fellowship | Barnwell, Chante | PHD |
| 2022 | Anne Simone Grad Student Intn'l Conference Award | Das, Arunita | PHD |
| 2022 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Das, Arunita | PHD |
| 2022 | York International Mobility Award | Das, Arunita | PHD |
| 2022 | Elia Scholars Program | Forjan, Kayla | PHD |
| 2022 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Garneau, Brianna | PHD |
| 2022 | Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship | Huzik, Oleksandra | PHD |
| 2022 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Levit, Irina | PHD |
| 2022 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Maduakolam, Chika | PHD |
| 2022 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Martensen, Sophia | PHD |
| 2022 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Michaud, Liam | PHD |
| 2022 | Manulife Graduate Scholarships | Michaud, Liam | PHD |
| 2022 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Richer, Natilie | PHD |
| 2022 | Anne Simone Grad Student Intn'l Conference Award | Turgut, Can | PHD |
| 2023 | Nathanson Graduate Fellowship | Broomfield, Alanah | PHD |
| 2023 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Das, Arunita | PHD |
| 2023 | Elia Scholars Program | Forjan, Kayla | PHD |
| 2023 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Kutlu, Kutay | PHD |
| 2023 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Maduakolam, Chika | PHD |
| 2023 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Martensen, Sophia | PHD |
| 2023 | LaBarge Graduate Scholarship in Multiculturalism | Michaud, Liam | PHD |
| 2023 | Nathanson Graduate Fellowship | Michaud, Liam | PHD |
| 2024 | SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship | Broomfield, Alanah | PHD |
| 2024 | SSHRC - Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships | Da Silva Medina, Roberta | PHD |
| 2024 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Forjan, Kayla | PHD |
| 2024 | Dahdaleh Global Health Graduate Scholarship | Michaud, Liam | PHD |
| 2024 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Nagari, Deepa | PHD |
| 2025 | St. George's Society of Toronto Endowment for Graduate Student Award | Baran, Shaila | PHD |
| 2025 | Abella Scholarship for Studies in Equity | Michaud, Liam | PHD |
| 2025 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Nagari, Deepa | PHD |
| 2025 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships | Yahya, Hijaan | PHD |
| 2026 | Provost Dissertation Scholarship | Baran, Shaila | PHD |
| 2026 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Painter, Alexander | PHD |
| Academic Year | Description | Name | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | David L. J. Sealy Award | Saravanamuttu, Krisna | MA |
| 2015 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship | Saravanamuttu, Krisna | MA |
| 2016 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master's Scholarships | Montana, Phillip | MA |
| 2017 | David Hunter Jorgensen Memorial Award | Purushuttam, Salisha | MA |
| 2017 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master's Scholarships | Purushuttam, Salisha | MA |
| 2018 | Dean's Award for Research Excellence (DARE) | Forjan, Kayla | MA |
| 2019 | David Hunter Jorgensen Memorial Award | Adam, Nadia | MA |
| 2019 | David L. J. Sealy Award | Adam, Nadia | MA |
| 2019 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master's Scholarships | Adam, Nadia | MA |
| 2020 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master's Scholarships | Song, Hui Ying | MA |
| 2021 | CEWIL iHub Student Stipend | De Luca, Natalie | MA |
| 2021 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master's Scholarships | Song, Hui Ying | MA |
| 2022 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master's Scholarships | Al Naqeeb, Sarah | MA |
| 2022 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master's Scholarships | Butt, Iqra | MA |
| 2022 | CEWIL iHub Student Stipend | Clark-Alldread, Samantha | MA |
| 2023 | Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master's Scholarships | Basra, Nimrit | MA |
| 2023 | Stuart G. Robbins Awards | Ricker-Singh, Ilena | MA |
| 2023 | York University Sport Excellence Awards | Ricker-Singh, Ilena | MA |
| 2025 | Bank of Montreal Awards | Shouli, Kristen | MA |

Learn More
The Graduate Program in Socio-Legal Studies at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.






