Programs

Master's and doctoral programs offered in Arts

Accounting | Anthropology | Classics | Digital Experience Innovation | Economics | English | Fine Art | French | German | Global Governance | History | Peace & Conflict | Philosophy | Political Science | Public Service | Psychology | Religious Studies | Russian | Sociology

Accounting and Finance MAcc | MTax | PhD

The School of Accounting and Finance has designed graduate programs to prepare students for professional practice, industry, commerce, or university faculty positions in the case of the PhD program. The MTax program is taught in downtown Toronto and its curriculum is well supported by financial leaders in the city. In fact, all our programs benefit tremendously from strong ties with the profession, providing unique opportunities for both scholarship and career development. Find out more: Master of Accountancy | Master of Taxation | PhD in Accountancy | Grad Student Profile

Public Issues Anthropology MA

Students and researchers in public issues anthropology engage with public discourses, concerns of civil society and a wide range of governance issues. In this program you’ll learn to apply anthropological methods to examine and gain a deeper understanding of current issues that impact and concern our public lives. From social media to human-animal relationships, the field of public issues anthropology encompasses archaeological, biological, physical and socio-cultural anthropology. Find out more: MA in Public Issues Anthropology | Grad Student Profile

Ancient Mediterranean Cultures MA

Ancient Mediterranean Cultures investigates how the Mediterranean basin, as a culturally and historically linked horizon, can enhance our knowledge of history, languages and civilizations. This unique perspective offers a deeper understanding of how the region has affected today’s world of multiculturalism, globalization and international trade. Our approach to ancient studies goes beyond traditional academic boundaries by drawing on a variety of disciplines, including ancient philosophy, anthropology, religion and culture. Find out more: MA in Ancient Mediterranean Cultures | Grad Student Profile

Master of Digital Experience Innovation

You’re looking for a strategic career in the digital media industry. You want to be a leader who innovates and thrives in an ever-changing industry. Based at the Waterloo-Stratford Campus, MDEI combines creativity, technology and business in one professional degree that gives you a superior advantage. MDEI is a project-intensive, one-year program that provides experiential-learning opportunities. You’ll develop project and product management skills, as well as leadership skills. You’ll also develop the ability to navigate the fast-moving and complex digital media industry. And you'll gain an appreciation for, and experience with, basic technical skills of digital products and implementation. Find out more: Waterloo Stratford Campus | MDEI program

Economics MA | PhD

We focus on applied economics - the application of contemporary economic theories and advanced empirical techniques to issues in public policy and business. Our faculty and graduate students conduct research in public economics, including environment, health, labour, natural resources, labour, and public finance. The MA co-op option opens the door to better long-term jobs. Our PhD students graduate as well trained research economists, prepared for advanced careers within the private and public sectors. Find out more: MA in Economics | PhD in Applied Economics | Grad Student Profile

English Language and Literature MA | PhD

Graduate studies in English at Waterloo are unique. We’re the only department in North America in which the study of literature is mixed with rhetoric and the creative application of digital media. Our literary research and teaching covers all periods of British, American and Canadian, and Postcolonial Literature. Beyond literature, we offer graduate students a wide range of opportunities to examine rhetoric, the creative and experimental use of digital media, writing and professional communication. Find out more: MA in Literary Studies | MA in Rhetoric & Communication Design | MA in Experimental Digital Media | PhD in English Language & Literature | Grad Student Profile

Fine Arts MFA

Our MFA program in studio art specializes in drawing, painting, sculpture (including ceramic sculpture), and computer imaging. An outstanding program feature is the Win Shantz Summer Internship, which funds our MFA students to travel anywhere in the world to live and work in a professional artist’s studio for six weeks. MFA students have opportunities to teach undergraduate courses, to show their work and to collaborate with other researchers, artists or performers from across the university, and from around the world. The MFA degree gives accreditation to teach fine art in post-secondary institutions. Find out more: MFA in Studio Art | Grad Student Profile

French Studies MA | PhD

Our graduate programs cover literatures of France, Quebec and worldwide Francophone communities. Beyond literary studies, the graduate students can also specialize in French cultural studies, the history of the French language, French linguistics and electronic archiving, editing and publishing. Research activities involving both faculty and graduate students include the MARGOT Groupe de recherche du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance - Informatique et textes, the monthly Café-rencontre series, biennial conferences as well as opportunities for students to develop teaching skills. Find out more: MA in French Studies | PhD in French Studies | Grad Student Profile

Germanic & Slavic Studies MA | PhD

Our programs combine literature, cultural and film studies, and applied linguistics. We’re committed to interdisciplinary approaches, both within the Department and with other departments at the university. Graduate courses, research and teaching opportunities are closely linked to ongoing faculty research interests and the community-oriented Waterloo Centre for German Studies. We have a long-standing partnership with Universität Mannheim – and as of 2011, offer a joint MA program with them. As well, our Department is home of Germano-Slavica, a refereed Canadian journal of Germanic and Slavic comparative and interdisciplinary studies. Find out more: MA in German | Joint MA in Intercultural German Studies | MA in Russian | PhD in German | Grad Student Profile

Global Governance MA | PhD

The world faces increasingly complex problems that have taken on global significance – including conflict and peace-building, humanitarian crises and intervention, international economic inequality and instability, and global environmental change. How are these problems addressed at the global level? And are the mechanisms used to address them effective and just? Based at the Balsillie School for International Affairs, the Global Governance graduate programs explore these important questions through an interdisciplinary examination of power and authority in the international arena. Students consider the policies and practices of international rule-making that affect billions of ordinary lives around the world. Find out more: MA in Global Governance | PhD in Global Governance | Grad Student Profile

History MA | PhD

The Tri-University Graduate Program in History integrates the scholarship and experience of over sixty faculty members of the history departments of the University of Guelph, Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo. With some 150 students enrolled, the Tri-U program collectively offers MA and PhD students a substantial range of courses and research opportunities in both traditional and innovative approaches to history.Students in the Tri-U program can enjoy both the intimacy of smaller departments and the resources and academic community of one of Canada's largest history graduate programs. Find out more: Tri-University MA in History | Tri-University PhD in History | Grad Student Profile

Master of Peace and Conflict Studies

The Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) is based at Conrad Grebel University College and governed by the Faculty of Arts. A new interdisciplinary professional program set to begin in September 2012, MPACS will prepare you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to contribute to nonviolent peace building efforts. Placing a unique focus on the pivotal role that individuals within civil society play, the MPACS program explores the potential of civil society to advance peace through principled advocacy, effective programming, and dynamic engagement with the state and marketplace. Fine out more: MPACS

Philosophy MA | PhD

Faculty and graduate students are devoted to addressing philosophical issues that could not even have been considered before recent technological and scientific innovations. Our recognized fields of expertise are Cognitive Science & Philosophy of Mind, Ethics and Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Mathematics, as well as Language, Logic and Metaphysics. We offer an excellent faculty to student ratio that permits close and frequent contact between them. Students also benefit significantly from faculty members' well-established affiliations with other uWaterloo departments including Systems Design Engineering, Psychology, Political Science, International Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies and Math. Find out more: MA in Philosophy | PhD in Philosophy

Political Science MA

Our master’s program in Political Science fosters a deeper understanding of political landscapes that range from the historical to the contemporary, from the Americas to Europe to the Middle East and on to the expanding economies of China and Asia. Our graduate students develop the analytical and professional skills required for success in both academic and non-academic job markets. We offer three primary research specializations: States and Societies, Conflict and Conflict Resolution, and Political Economy. As a whole, our department represents a diverse and comprehensive range of research fields. As well, we and our grad students benefit from our department’s strong links to the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) located in Waterloo. Find out more:
MA in Political Science | Grad Student Profile

Master of Public Service

Waterloo’s Master of Public Service (MPS) is a professional graduate program that seeks to build upon Canada’s strong civil service reputation by providing students with the training they need to hit the ground running in their new government careers. Open to students from a wide range of undergraduate disciplines, the MPS program provides an advanced education in government structure and function, policy implementation, historical contexts and current public issues. Students also develop necessary critical and applied skills in communication, finance, and leadership/ management. Find out more: Master of Public Service | MPS student profile

Psychology MASc | PhD

The Psychology graduate programs at Waterloo are among the best in the world. Approximately 100 graduate students focus their courses and research in one of six major areas of psychology: Cognitive Neuroscience, Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental, Industrial/Organizational and Social; also, a one-year masters' program in Developmental Communication Science. Our graduate students are noted for their success with national and international scholarship awards, and the Department continues to maintain a reputation as one of the top Psychology departments in North America. Psychology graduate students have access to some of the most advanced research groups and labs in the world, based right here on campus. Find out more: MASc in Developmental Communication | MASc in Industrial/Organizational Pyschology | PhD programs in Psychology | Grad Student Profile

Religious Studies PhD

Waterloo’s Department of Religious Studies has teamed up with the Department of Religion and Culture at Wilfrid Laurier University to deliver an outstanding PhD specializing in Religious Diversity in North America. The program prepares students for careers in both post-secondary teaching and research, as well as in the community and government as specialists in religious studies and cross-religion communication. Within its specialization, the program offers expertise in South Asian, South East Asian, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian traditions and communities, as well as new religious movements, religion and the media, politics, and ethics. Students are encouraged to develop advanced skills and knowledge in multidisciplinary theories and methods as well as public intelligibility. Find out more: PhD in Religious Studies

Sociology MA | PhD

Our graduate programs are distinguished by diverse research opportunities and rigorous training in contemporary and classical theory, and in quantitative, qualitative and interpretive methods. As well, we offer a unique sub-specialization to all graduate students in Community Research Methodology, which provides the training and credentials to design, administer, analyze and interpret social science research projects. Along with the MA co-op work term option, our students develop the professional skills to practice as sociologists in academic and non-academic sectors. With 15 faculty members teaching and supervising graduate students, plus over 10 affiliated and adjunct professors from other Waterloo departments and colleges, our students enjoy highly personalized and flexible instruction throughout their graduate studies. Find out more: MA in Sociology | PhD in Sociology | Grad Student Profile