Atlantic Canada Studies, MA

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Saint Mary’s University offers an interdisciplinary program in Atlantic Canada Studies (ACST) that integrates the teaching and research expertise of a number of faculty members from various Departments in Arts, Commerce and Science.

There are sound intellectual and practical reasons for pursuing an interdisciplinary program of regional studies. It offers a unique combination of social-scientific and cultural-historical perspectives. The program takes an interdisciplinary approach to three areas of specialization:

  1. the culture,
  2. political economy, and
  3. resource development of the region.

Students learn to apply the conceptual perspectives and analytical tools of one or more academic disciplines in their research and study.

There are particular advantages to an interdisciplinary approach to further study. This applies, for instance, to people employed by government at various levels. It also applies to:

  • managers in public and private enterprise
  • members of the teaching profession
  • business people
  • policy makers
  • individuals whose occupation requires them to deal with:
    • social,
    • economic,
    • political, or
    • cultural problems.

For many of these people, a broad understanding of the region’s political economy and culture is vital.

The general requirements for the Master’s degree apply to the graduate program in ACST.

Admission Requirements

The MA in Atlantic Canada Studies follows the general admission requirements and procedures of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research as outlined in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.  In addition, normal qualification for entry into the two-year Master’s program is an honours degree in ACST, or an honours degree in another discipline with substantial course content relevant to ACST, or a degree which the ACST Committee deems to be equivalent (i.e., to include at minimum a grade point average of at least B in the candidate’s final sixty (60) credit hours taken at university).  At the discretion of the Committee, a student may be admitted to the program subject to the prior completion of such qualifying work as the Committee shall prescribe.  Once the student has embarked full-time on the Master of Arts program, the normal goal is completion within 24 months, although in some cases thesis work may extend beyond this time period. The degree may also be taken through part-time study.

For the minimum and maximum time-for-completion of the MA in ACST see the table associated with FGSR Academic Regulation 19 of this Academic Calendar. 

Financial Support

Full-time students admitted to the program may be eligible for funding administered by Saint Mary’s University. Funding recommendations are made by the program All successful applicants are automatically considered for graduate funding. Students are encouraged to apply for external scholarships.