COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies (Thesis option) at Trent University is a research-intensive graduate program that focuses on advanced interdisciplinary study of Canada, Indigenous–settler relations, and related social, cultural, and political issues. The program requires the completion of 2.0 graduate-level CSID course credits, including CSID 5000Y Core Colloquium, along with other approved 5000-level CSID courses unless otherwise permitted. These courses are designed to strengthen students’ theoretical understanding, critical analysis, and research methodologies in Canadian and Indigenous Studies. A major component of the program is the thesis project, which involves the development of an original and in-depth academic study on an approved topic. The thesis is supervised by a committee consisting of a primary supervisor from the Frost Centre who must be a tenured or tenure-track faculty member, along with two additional committee members from the Frost Centre. Students must successfully complete an oral defence of their thesis, which is evaluated by their supervisory committee and an external examiner to ensure academic rigor and scholarly contribution. Overall, the program emphasizes independent research, critical engagement with key debates, and advanced academic writing, preparing graduates for doctoral studies or research-oriented careers in academia, policy, and related fields.