Social Practice and Innovation, MA

General information

The Master of Arts in Social Practice and Innovation (MSPI) is an interdisciplinary program at the intersections of law, communication and digital media, and political science. Students will be trained to identify and employ theories and methods that are appropriate and useful to building an action component into innovative knowledge creation and knowledge mobilization projects. Students will learn to apply interdisciplinary knowledge from the three constituent fields to an outward-facing major research project of their own design. Each student’s major research project will aim to promote and facilitate public and community engagement, through which MSPI students will practice how to formulate, develop and deploy effective solutions to challenging and often systemic social and political issues in ways that can support social progress.

Admission requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate studies , MSPI applicants must meet the following program-specific requirements.

Applicants with an undergraduate degree in Communication, Legal Studies, Political Science or related fields and minimum overall academic standing of a B (GPA: 3.0 on a 4.3 scale or 73 to 76 per cent), with a minimum B average in the last 60 credits of a 120-credit undergraduate program are eligible to apply. Students with undergraduate degrees in other fields who are able to demonstrate an impressive level of commitment to social engagement in volunteer work or work experience are also eligible to apply.

All prospective applicants will be asked to demonstrate engagement with social innovation in a statement of purpose as part of their application package (e.g., through previous academic work, volunteer work, and/or work experience).

Part-time studies

The MSPI program is designed to be completed full-time. In exceptional circumstances, students can complete the final 12 credits of the program part time.

Degree requirements

All MSPI students are required to complete 18 credits of coursework and 12 credits dedicated to the major research project. All MSPI students will take two courses in Interdisciplinary Theory and Practice (three credits each), and one course in Foundations for Social Practice and Innovation (six credits). The remaining two courses will vary year to year from the list below. Students may choose to swap out one of these variable courses for Directed Studies of their own design, as approved by a faculty supervisor.

Course listing

Core courses

• MSPI 5010G - Interdisciplinary Theory and Practice I
• MSPI 5020G - Interdisciplinary Theory and Practice II
• MSPI 5030G - Foundations for Social Practice and Innovation

Electives (choose two)

• MSPI 5040G - Advocacy, Change and Social Practices
• MSPI 5050G - Communicating Law and Politics in Everyday Life
• MSPI 5060G - Information, Power, and Democracy: Constraints, Freedoms, and Ethics
• MSPI 5070G - Special Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies
• MSPI 5080G - Directed Studies
• Approved cross-listed 4000-level courses

Required major research project

• MSPI 5001G - Major Research Project I
• MSPI 5002G - Major Research Project II

Program learning outcomes

The following outcomes outline the knowledge and skills students will have achieved upon completion of the program.