COURSE CURRICULUM

Students in both fields of the program must complete two required courses, CLAS 800 and CLAS 802, which provide foundational training in research methods and disciplinary approaches. From there, students select one of two completion pathways. Pattern I, the thesis option, requires four term-length courses totaling 12.0 units and the submission of a substantial thesis (CLAS 899), typically around 100 pages, on a topic developed in consultation with a supervisor. The thesis undergoes formal examination according to the regulations of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. Pattern II offers a coursework-intensive route in which students complete six term-length courses (18.0 units) and produce either a 50-page Master’s Essay or a Research Project accompanied by a minimum 25-page methodological and interpretive essay. While the essay or project does not require an oral defence, it is evaluated by both the supervisor and an additional faculty reader and must demonstrate strong analytical capacity, critical engagement with scholarship, and sound methodological grounding. Both pathways ensure students gain advanced skills in research, interpretation, and scholarly communication, while allowing flexibility to tailor the balance between coursework and research to their academic goals.