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2026-2027 FGS Academic Calendar Faculty of Graduate Studies

Social & Political Thought

Posted on 17 August 2022

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LocationEmail AddressProgram Website
S740 Rosssptprog@yorku.cayorku.ca/gradstudies/spth/

Founded in 1973, 91ÑÇÉ«'s unique interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Social and Political Thought undertakes to encourage, develop and advance the analysis of social and political ideas with the aim of integrating intellectual interests common to the humanities and social sciences. This program offers both MA and PhD degree programs. Not associated with any particular school of thought, the program values both the historical and the systematic study of social and political ideas. The curriculum, developed in cooperation with participating disciplines across the university, is structured around four flexible and related areas of study:

Courses in the History of Social and Political Thought area prepare students to develop innovative research programs relative to pivotal figures, texts and intellectual traditions that have been decisively influential for many fields that have traditionally been of considerable importance in the program. While student projects typically move beyond or cross traditional disciplinary boundaries, courses in this field would include texts and thinkers in Continental philosophy, Marxism, critical theory, queer theory, feminist thought, anti-colonial and post-colonial thought and forms of cultural theory that touch on social and political matters, broadly considered.

The Black Studies and Theories of Race and Racism area prepares students to develop innovative scholarship that explores and analyzes the distinct contributions of Black intellectual, political, and cultural productions, nationally and internationally, as well as to critically investigate and develop new methods and theories of critical, interdisciplinary scholarship on race and racism. This area provides frameworks for the study of practices of power and domination that underpin processes such as colonialism and slavery, migration and diasporization, globalization, criminalization, and racial profiling as well as for understanding struggles for liberation and self-determination.

Courses dealing specifically with socioeconomic and political institutions and relations.

Courses dealing with the study of cultural and philosophical foundations of society.

Application Procedures

Online applications are available through the Admissions Office from mid-October for entry the following September. Admission to both the MA and the PhD in Social & Political Thought is for the Fall term (September). The program does not admit students for Winter or Summer term start dates.

Admission Requirements

MA

PhD

Graduates with a four-year degree in a field of study relevant to pursuing graduate work in social and political thought from a recognized Canadian or United States university, or an honours degree from another recognized university, and with at least a B+ average in the last two years of study, are considered for admission as candidates for the MA degree.

Applicants for study towards the PhD degree are normally considered for admission only after they have been graduate students at a recognized university for at least one year and have been awarded the MA degree or an equivalent, with at least a B+ average, indicating preparation for advanced graduate work in social and political thought.

Degree Requirements

MA

PhD

MA

Candidates for the MA degree must satisfactorily complete the following studies, which may be completed in three full-time terms:

18 credits, 15 of which are chosen by the student in consonance with the interdisciplinary aims of the program, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director, of which: (a) at least one must be a formal Social & Political Thought course; (b) only one may be a reading course (Social & Political Thought 6001 3.0), (c) at least 15 credits of Social & Political Thought courses, along with a required 3-credit course, Social & Political Thought 6105 3.0: Master’s Practicum: Major Research Paper Development.

No more than six credits may be taken with one faculty member.

Social & Political Thought MA Major Research Paper (to be written in connection with one of the above courses, to be read by two faculty members chosen in consultation with the Graduate Program Director).

An oral examination to be taken upon completion of the above course work. The candidate is examined on three major works in social and political thought that relate to her or his major research paper research, to be chosen in consultation with the examining committee and the Graduate Program Director.

Candidates for the MA degree must demonstrate an ability to make effective use of such languages as are necessary to their study.

All master’s requirements are superseded by Faculty of Graduate Studies’ policies.

The MA program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Entry is fall term.

The expected degree completion time for full-time master’s students is 3 terms. For those students who complete degree requirements earlier than 3 terms, they must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of 3 terms of full-time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.

PhD

Candidates for the PhD degree must fulfil the following requirements:

Students must successfully complete PhD course requirements by taking 24 credits or equivalent, as follows:

  • a) Social & Political Thought 6106 3.0: Social and Political Thought: Theories, Approaches, and Methods I—this course must be completed in the first year, and,
  • b) an additional 18 credits, including 15 credits of Social & Political Thought courses, of which only 3 credits may be taken as a directed reading course (Social & Political Thought 6001 3.0).
  • c) Social & Political Thought 6107 3.0: Social and Political Thought: Theories, Approaches, and Methods II—this course should normally be taken in the third year after all other coursework is completed.
  • No more than 6 credits may be taken with one faculty member, with the exception of the core course.
  • In order to ensure interdisciplinary breadth, at least 3 credits must be taken in a Social & Political Thought field other than the student’s primary Social & Political Thought field.

Suitably comprehensive mastery over general areas of social and political thought relevant to the candidate’s program of study as determined by the candidate’s supervisory committee. The comprehensive requirements are to be completed after the completion of and prior to the submission of a dissertation proposal.

The dissertation proposal can only be submitted upon the completion of all coursework, and the comprehensive examination. The dissertation proposal must be approved by the supervisory committee, Graduate Program Director and the Faculty of Graduate Studies at least six months prior to the PhD oral defence.

A suitable interdisciplinary dissertation. The graduate program accepts theses/dissertations in monograph format. Approval to pursue a different format in line with Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations may be granted by special request.

The PhD Oral Examination is held once all other degree requirements have been completed. It is an oral examination on the dissertation that involves the supervisory committee, a Chair, as well as two examiners.

Candidates for the PhD degree are required to be competent in those languages essential to their research for and preparation of their doctoral dissertation.

Note: Candidates must consult the program’s supplementary calendar for a definitive statement of course offerings for each year.

The PhD program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Entry is fall term.

Normal degree completion time for full-time PhD students is 18 terms (6 years). Doctor of Philosophy students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of six terms of full-time registration. All requirements for a doctoral degree must be fulfilled within 18 terms (6 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time doctoral student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.