Master of Strategic Studies thesis requirements

Students in the MSS Thesis program have a maximum of four years to complete their requirements but are expected to complete their programs in two years. Return to Masters Degree options.

Thesis-based course work (for Fall 2023 students.)

MSS, thesis-based students will complete 21 units of coursework consisting of:

12 units of core courses:

  • STST/HTST Classics of Strategy
  • POLI 685 Strategic Studies
  • POLI 681 Advanced International Relations
  • STST 603 Questions and Methods (Block Week Fall 2023 only; non-graded, credit only)

9 units of additional graduate courses. Please see the University of Calgary graduate calendar for a list eligible courses. These classes are subject to approval by the Graduate Program Director and the student's supervisor. 

Each student may choose any other three half-courses that are pertinent to their program of studies. These classes are subject to approval by the Graduate Program Director and the student's supervisor. 

 

MSS Thesis-based course work (for Fall 2024 students onward)

MSS thesis-based students will complete 21 units of coursework consisting of:

12 units of core courses:

  • STST/HTST Classics of Strategy
  • POLI 685 Strategic Studies
  • STST 610 Questions and Methods I
  • STST 612 Question and Methods II
  • STST 647 21st Century Security Issues

9 units of additional graduate courses. Please see the University of Calgary graduate calendar for a list eligible courses. These classes are subject to approval by the Graduate Program Director and the student's supervisor. 

Check out some potential supervisors

MSS Thesis proposal

MSS thesis-based students are required to present their supervisor with a formal thesis proposal normally no later than the end of their second term (usually, the end of the Winter Term of their first year for students who entered the program as thesis-based students; for students transferring from the course-based program, where at all possible the same general timeline should apply).

The proposal should generally be 7-10 double-spaced pages in length, not counting a brief preliminary bibliography. The content of the proposal should generally cover the following components:

  • State the research problem and explain its context and significance in the relevant literature;
  • Intent of the research project, including any hypothesis to be tested;
  • Subsidiary or component issues that show further research;
  • Any relevant methodological issues, including information and data sources, data analysis methods and case selection; Genoc
  • Suggest an initial general structure for the thesis.

 

MSS Thesis Requirements and Examination

An MSS thesis student must present and defend a thesis before an examining committee consisting normally of the supervisor and at least two other examiners, one of whom is external to CMSS. The Neutral Chair will be appointed by the Graduate Program Director.

A notice of the date and composition of the examining committee, should be submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at least four weeks before the defence. The final copy of the thesis should be presented to the examiners, either in hard copy or electronically, at least three weeks before the defence.

Faculty of Graduate Studies Thesis

MSS Admissions Requirements

 

Admissions Requirements

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, all MSS programs have the same requirements for admissions:

  1. A completed 4 year Undergraduate Degree (Normally a BA).
  2. A GPA of at least 3.4 on a four-point scale in the undergraduate program over the last 20 half courses or two years of study.
  3. All students whose native language is one other than English are required to pass the TOEFL with a minimum score of 600 (written) or 92 (web-based) or 7+ on the IELTS, or 84 on the MELAB test, or 70 on the PTE test. The test must have been taken within the last two years.
  4. Official transcripts must be sent directly from all post-secondary institutions you have attended (even if you did not graduate) to the UCalgary graduate program to which you have applied. Official Transcripts should now be emailed directly from the institution where your degree was conferred to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at gradtranscripts@ucalgary.ca. Hard copies of transcripts can also now be mailed directly from the issuing institution to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at: Faculty of Graduate Studies, ES1010 University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada

 

Admissions are open October 1 and close January 15 of the following year. New students are admitted in the Fall of each year. There is no winter admittance.

 

Thesis-based Master of Strategic Studies

Students applying for the thesis-based MSS must first contact and obtain consent from a potential supervisor.