Doctor of Philosophy in Cultural, Social, and Political Thought

The Cultural, Social, and Political Thought major in the Ph.D. program is interdisciplinary in nature. It is based on a cohort learning model that fosters an environment of interdisciplinary engagement and exchange, research, peer mentoring, and collaboration. The overall academic aims of the major are to emphasize the breadth and depth of social, cultural, and political thought and to inculcate the intellectual and practical tools needed to work successfully with community partners and agencies to facilitate social change. Students graduating from the Cultural, Social, and Political Thought major are trained experts, who demonstrate a range of professional skills (e.g., teaching, peer reviews, presentations, critical thinking, etc.) and research competencies. Graduates are capable of producing novel, relevant, and rigorous research that makes significant and substantive contributions to interdisciplinary knowledge.

This major is thesis-based. Students are required to complete 9.0 to 18.0 credit hours of graduate semester courses and a thesis. A list of the required courses for this major is outlined in the Graduate Studies Calendar and Course Catalogue.

This program is highly theoretical and interdisciplinary in nature and intended to ground students in a body of cognate critical theories and methodologies. Across disciplinary boundaries, the Cultural, Social, and Political Thought major emphasizes the critical engagement of ideas and their manifestation in shifting cultural, social, and political contexts.

Applicants normally must meet the following requirements:

Hold a master's degree from a recognized degree-granting institution in the discipline of interest or in a related discipline.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00, on a 4.00 scale on all graded master's-level courses OR calculated on the most recently completed PhD if the applicant is applying for another PhD in a closely related discipline.

English Language Requirements:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within the last two years, with a minimum overall score of 86.

Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, taken within the last two years, with a minimum overall score of 6.5, and a minimum score of 6.0 in each band.

Academic Pearson Test of English (PTE), taken within the last two years, with a minimum overall score of 63.

Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment, taken within the last two years, with a minimum overall score of 70.