Program Information

What types of M.A. degrees do you have?

We have two streams: a Thesis stream and a Knowledge Synthesis Project (KSP) stream. Both streams require students to complete a major paper under the guidance of a supervisor, but which stream is the best fit for you will depend on your current and future interests and goals.

The main differences between the two streams are summarized as follows:

A Thesis involves conducting an original piece of research, from conceptualization to final write-up, under the guidance of a faculty supervisor:

Theses vary in length depending on the nature of your project, but typically range between 80 – 120 pages (not inclusive of reference list, tables, etc.)
A formal proposal and proposal presentation is required before beginning work on the thesis
Theses will involve gaining ethics approval if you will be using human participants
The thesis is graded on a pass/fail scale after a presentation and evaluation by a thesis examination committee per Grad Studies’ standardized processes
In the thesis stream, you would take the 4 required courses, 2 electives, and complete the 9 credit hour thesis. Therefore, Thesis students take two fewer courses compared to KSP students.

A Knowledge Synthesis Project (KSP) involves synthesizing an existing body of knowledge via a specified and replicable methodology, under the guidance of a faculty supervisor:

There are various types of knowledge syntheses (e.g., scoping review, systemic review, meta-analysis, narrative synthesis)
A KSP does not involve original data collection or need ethics approval
KSPs vary in length depending on the individual project, but will typically range between 50 - 60 pages (not inclusive of reference list, tables, etc.)
The KSP requires a presentation on the work and is evaluated only at the departmental level. It receives a letter grade that is assessed by your supervisor and a second reader from within the department.
In the KSP stream, you would take the 4 required courses, 4 electives, and complete the 3 credit hour KSP. Therefore, KSP students take two more courses compared to Thesis students.

Is your program the same as a Masters in Law?

No. We are an interdisciplinary social science, liberal arts program.

Do you offer your program online?

No. This is an in-person M.A. program.

Can I finish your program in one year?

No. If you are a full-time student, this is a two-year M.A. If you are a part-time student, this is a four-year M.A.

Do you have a part-time option?

Yes. As a part-time student, you could take either the thesis or KSP streams.

If you are a part-time student, normal time to completion would be 4 years and you would take at least one course in each of Fall and Winter semesters until your coursework was completed.

It may be possible to take up to two courses over the spring/summer terms at other institutions through the Western Dean’s Agreement. You can discuss this with the Graduate Program Chair.

We know that many students seek part-time options for study because they have other obligations that mean engaging in full-time studies would not work for them (e.g., employment, care-related responsibilities). If you look at our course schedule one year and think that it couldn’t work for you, remember that schedules differ from year to year. In some cases, we are able to offer evening classes.

If you do have any questions about whether our class times can work for you as a part-time student, please email the Graduate Program Chair to discuss further.

Which courses do you offer?

Regardless of which stream you are in, all students must take our four core courses which are 3.0 credit hours each (total 12.0 credit hours): Conceptualizing Criminal Justice, Constitutional Law, Research Design, and Criminal Justice Policy.

In addition to core courses, students in the Thesis stream will take 6.0 credit hours of electives (typically two 3.0 credit hour electives) while students in the KSP stream will take 12.0 credit hours of electives (typically four 3.0 credit hour electives).

Electives offered vary from year to year, but those offered within the department have included Preventing Wrongful Convictions; Qualitative and Visual Methods; Critical Criminal Justice Theory; Colonialism and Criminal Justice in Canada; Penology; Ethnography; and Program & Policy Evaluation.

It is also possible for students to take Criminal Justice-related electives in other M.A. programs at UWinnipeg, and/or at other universities within and west of Manitoba through the Western Deans Agreement.

You can find descriptions of our courses in the Graduate Calendar; scroll down for “All Course Descriptions”: https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/academics/graduate-calendar/index.html

Are the courses all seminars?

There is some lecturing in a few classes but yes, courses are mostly seminar-based. This means students are assigned readings and are expected to present and summarize articles, lead discussion, and otherwise actively participate in class discussions. Term papers are common but most classes will also use some shorter written assignments.

What do your students think of your program?

We can let one of our students tell you herself! Here is an interview with Aleks Manzhura, one of our first graduates.

Where can I find more information about your program?

You can peruse this section of our website or visit the Faculty of Graduate studies website.