Master of Arts – Interdisciplinary Studies - Course information

Core courses

Students must complete the two core courses and at least one project course.

Core

We do not recommend taking the two core courses at the same time. The core courses are challenging courses, which take time and effort to complete. If students wish to take two courses at one time, we recommend a core and an elective.

Project

MAIS 601 and MAIS 602 will challenge students in areas of study that will most likely be unfamiliar to them. These two courses will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. The rationale for using Pass/Fail grading is to challenge students to take risks when working in Interdisciplinary studies areas, and undertaking assignment topics they might not consider if their performance was graded on a percentage basis. Refer to the MAIS course grading system for a breakdown of the grading scale used for most other courses.

Reading courses

Individuals or small groups of students may pursue directed reading courses under the supervision of a MA-IS faculty member. Students should consult the list of faculty willing to supervise reading courses and examine their declared interests.

Reading courses are only available to Program students who have completed MAIS 601 and MAIS 602 , and who are half way through the program (i.e. have completed 15 credits of course work). A Study Plan may include up to 3 reading courses, but arrangements must be made well in advance because such courses are not always available.

Reading courses are of two types: Foundational and Advanced.

Foundational Reading Courses

Such as MAIS 750 and MAIS 751, assist learners unfamiliar with an area of study to develop an understanding of and appreciation for the concepts, key thinkers, modes of inquiry, and body of knowledge in that area. Typically the instructor, in consultation with the learner, will prescribe the parameters of the study, as well as the readings and assessment process.

Advanced Reading Courses

Such as MAIS 760, are intended for students familiar with an area of study but who wish to explore a specific topic, issue, or question in greater depth. Typically the learner, in consultation with the instructor, will negotiate the parameters of the study, the prescribed readings, and the assessment process.

Other than a brief Course Guide that explains how to develop the required Learning Contract, there are no course materials for reading courses. Prescribed readings, assignments, and the assessment model are subject to negotiation between instructor and student. Acquiring the prescribed readings (either through purchase or loan) is the sole responsibility of the student. Copies of prescribed readings may be available from the AU Library or requested from other libraries through inter-library loan.

The supervision and research interests of MA-IS Faculty are listed on the MA-IS faculty page. Should you require further assistance to find a supervisor, please contact the MA-IS office.

Learning Contract

Learning Contracts are developed through consultation and negotiation between student and instructor and must be submitted, with the instructor's acknowledged approval, to the MA-IS office for the Director's or Associate Director's approval.

A learning contract is a binding letter of agreement between instructor and student; it should include a full description of:

  • The work entailed (including what each aspect of the work comprises, when it will be completed, and how it will be assessed)
  • The learning objectives (including desired learning outcomes)

Learning Contracts may, with the agreement of instructor and student, be amended after a course has commenced. In such instances, copies of the amended contract are to be submitted to the MA-IS Office.

Students register for Reading Courses as they do for any other MA-IS course; fees are the same as all our other formal courses. To register for the course, please submit the Alternate Course Registration Form located on the MA-IS Website under forms. Note that the instructor's name must be included in the Comments Field, and that registration will not be processed until the Learning Contract has been approved.

Senior method courses

MAIS 602 - Researching Society and Culture introduces students to research questions and methods early in the Program, but after students have completed several courses, they may wish to explore a particular mode of research and/or interdisciplinary method in greater detail. This result may be achieved through one of two means:

  • a foundational or advanced Reading Course supervised by an instructor who specializes in that mode of research and/or interdisciplinary method (e.g., ethnographic field research, statistical analysis, or archival research). Students who wish guidance in this area should contact the MAIS Office.
  • a senior methodology course: MAIS 640 Grounded Theory, Exploration, and Beyond; or MAIS 638 What I Tell You May Not Be True: Autobiography, Discourse Analysis, and Post-Colonialism.

Although these courses are intended to better prepare students for their final project, they can also serve as one of the four courses that comprise a focus area — at the discretion of the Directors, and only if the course's major assignment is pertinent to that concentration.

Please consult the Grouped Study and Individualized Study course list for availability.

Updated July 24, 2023 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)