The Humanities MA in Interpretations and Values is a two-year program offering a community practicum and a thesis stream option. Laurentian University's M.A.
Humanities program responds to the need for interdisciplinary inquiry from a number of disciplines: English, Modern Languages, Music, Philosophy and Religious Studies. While the program retains the textual focus of traditional disciplinary humanities study, it also extends the definition of text to include the disciplinary structures themselves as well as the structures of social organizations in
the community. The program places graduates of specialized Humanities programs within an environment of textual study, dialogue, debate, and action, all of which makes clear how interpretation and values operate within:
the varied disciplines out of which they have come;
the seminal texts of those disciplines;
the public and private sector organizations within our communities. The degree can serve as a bridge to further graduate work at the doctoral level in either disciplinary or interdisciplinary programs. It is definitely attractive to interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs (such as the Concordia Ph.D. in humanities) that are looking for breadth and flexibility in their applicants. Thesis
Humanities M.A. students have the option of pursuing a thesis stream. The subject of the thesis will be selected by the student, and must be approved by the program council. Under the supervision of a three-person thesis committee, the student will prepare and submit a written thesis proposal which includes:
the objectives
a tentative outline
a preliminary bibliography
After the approval of the proposal by the Program Council, the student will be permitted to proceed to the writing of the thesis. Practicum
A significant feature of our program is the practicum requirement. Unlike students in other MA programs in the humanities, our students will satisfy nearly one-third of their degree requirements (9 credits out of 30) by undertaking a practicum in an organization – an institution, program, company, agency or office – in Sudbury (or in her/his home if the student is enrolled at a distance).
