Prospective Students
General information for prospective students
What degrees are available?
Currently the Master’s in Cultural Studies program offers one degree with two specialized streams: an MA in Cultural Studies: Text and Cultures OR an MA in Cultural Studies: Curatorial Practices.
How long is the program?
Full-time students complete this program of study over a twelve-month period from September to August. Students also may be enrolled in the program on a part-time basis, beginning in September and normally completing the program requirements in two years. The maximum time in which to complete the program is three years.
Who can apply?
Applicants for the Texts and Cultures program should have an Honours or Four-year BA in English, a joint Honours or Four-year BA in English and another subject. Applicants for the Curatorial Practices program should have an Honours or Four-year BA in Art History, a joint Honours or Four-year BA in Art History and another subject. An Honours or Four-year BA in a field that provides the applicant with preparation in cultural, literary, textual, and/or visual studies (in this context, some degrees we will consider include Anthropology, History, Politics, Rhetoric and Communication, Sociology, and Women’s and Gender Studies) will be considered for both streams. Other degrees and/or experience also will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Can I study part-time?
Yes, students may study part-time. For more information, please see the Faculty of Graduate Studies Policies and Guidelines.
What funding is available?
The University of Winnipeg has three different types of awards that Cultural Studies students can apply for to assist them in funding their education:
1) Program Awards
- These awards are specific to the MA Cultural Studies program. They are generally funds that go towards securing students research assistantships, teacher assistantships, and administrative assistant positions during the school year, and on occasion funds go towards tuition scholarships.
2) Internal Scholarships/Fellowships
- These competitive awards are funded by the University of Winnipeg, and are open to students from all graduate programs. More information is available on the Internal Awards page of the University of Winnipeg's Graduate Studies website.
3) External Scholarships/Fellowships
- Each year top students compete for these publicly funded awards external to the University of Winnipeg, which are generally Canada’s major research granting agencies: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canada Graduate Scholarships. More information is available on the External Awards page of the University of Winnipeg's Graduate Studies website.
Additional information on scholarships can be found on the Scholarships and Awards page of the University of Winnipeg's Graduate Studies website.
Is there a research project component?
For the Curatorial Practices stream, students are required to work in a host institute (galleries and museums around the city) for their practicum class. Students from both streams will also have the opportunity to complete an individual research project towards the end of their degree as part of our Cultural Studies and Curatorial Practices Capstone Seminar. Students in either stream may also apply for Special Studies, where they may consult with interested faculty members who teach in the program and cognate departments to develop reading courses related to particular areas of cultural theories and practices.
Are all courses on the U of W campus?
Generally, yes, although students will occasionally have the opportunity to take a field course in another country, depending on what courses are being offered that year (please see Current Graduate Courses). Students also have opportunities to take courses in other Western Canadian universities via the Western Deans’ Agreement.
What sorts of careers does the degree lead to?
An MA in Cultural Studies will prepare students for careers in a multitude of fields, including teaching, public service, communications, and cultural industries such as publishing, arts administration, media, and policy analysis.
What further studies are available after a Cultural Studies MA?
Students will be able to pursue further graduate studies after their MA, in various disciplines under the Cultural Studies umbrella. These may include English, History, Art History, Media Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and a variety of other subjects.