M.A. in Social Justice and Ecology

Conditional upon approval by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Overview of the program

The Master of Arts in Social Justice and Ecology seeks to further student skills, knowledge, and comprehension in areas related to relationships between environmental degradation and social injustices and inequities.

The curriculum addresses both conceptual knowledge and practical connections between social injustices and ecological and social stability. This involves correlations between various social injustices and a range of ecological issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, energy and extractive industries, as well as animal welfare, habitat loss and other emerging topics. The program includes ecological literacy as well as various theoretical approaches to ethics and justice.

The interdisciplinary coursework builds on the research and teaching expertise of Saint Paul University’s schools and faculties, while providing opportunities for students to deepen their own interests and professional trajectories.

Admission details

Registration: full-time
Program length: 4 terms
Program delivery: some courses are also offered online.
Language: this program is also offered in French.

For information about admission deadlines, please click here.

Scholarships

Students registered in this program may be eligible for a number of scholarships. For more information, please click here.

This degree is conferred jointly by the Senates of Saint Paul University and the University of Ottawa.

Academic regulations.

BEAUVAIS Chantal, Rector
CHANDRA SHUKLA Rajesh, Associate Professor
CLOUTIER Sophie, Associate Professor
EATON Heather, Full Professor
FEIST Richard, Associate professor
LANOIX Monique, Associate professor
MCLENNAN Matthew, Associate Professor
PAQUETTE Julie, Associate Professor
PERRON Louis, Associate Professor

The admission requirements are as follows:

A four-year undergraduate degree or the equivalent in a relevant discipline in the Liberal Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences (such as: International Studies or Development, Human Rights, Criminology, Sociology, Geography, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Social or Environmental Thought, Environmental Ethics, Political Science, Gender Studies, Canadian Studies), or in another discipline with a relevant work experience
A minimum admission average of 70% (B)
A statement of interest (500 words maximum)
Two letters of reference (minimum of one from a professor)
Knowledge of the language of instruction (English or French)

Compulsory courses (9 units)

EPE5110 Integral Ecology (3u)
EPE5111 Social Justice and Ecological Issues (3u)
EPE6302 Environmental Ethics (3u)

Optional courses (9 units)

9 units from:
ECS5120 Selected Topics in Conflict Studies (3u)
EPE5101 Social Philosophy (3u)
EPE6303 Ethics and Human Rights (3u)
EPE6304 Ethics and International Development (3u)
EPE6309 Ethics, Philosophy and Public Policy (3u)
EPE6320 Selected Topics in Ethics (3u)
HUM5103 Justice, Peace and Ecology (3u)
INS5101 Theoretical Foundations of Social Innovation (3u)
INS5109 Selected Topics in Social Action (3u)
INS5110 Selected Topics in Critical Thinking (3u)
INS5303 Design and Social Innovation (3u)

Graduate courses other than those listed above may be selected subject to the approval of the program director.

Research (6 units)

6 units from:

EPE5112 Internship Report in Social Justice and Ecology (6u)
EPE5113 Research Paper in Social Justice and Ecology (6u)

ECS 5120 - SELECTED TOPICS IN CONFLICT STUDIES

EPE 5101 - SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY

Study of the philosophical underpinnings of social life from the theoretical approaches of living together and of the common good, to problems of contemporary societies, such as solidarity and social citizenship rights.

EPE 5110 - INTEGRAL ECOLOGY

Study of integral ecology: ecological iteracy; interconnected facets of economics, poverty creation, structural injustices and ecological degradation; links between cultural and biological diversity.

EPE 5111 - SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECOLOGICAL ISSUES

Understanding social justice. Study of the specific links between social and ecological problems with insights from ecojustice, climate justice, environmental racism, ecofeminism and The Earth Charter.

EPE 5112 - INTERNSHIP REPORT IN SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECOLOGY

Report on the theory and practical elements. Assessment on integration of courses content.

EPE 5113 - RESEARCH PAPER IN SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECOLOGY

Topic proposal, expectations and assessment discussed.

EPE 6302 - ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

Ethical analysis of environmental policies. Nature of the relationship between humans and the environment.

EPE 6303 - ETHICS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Problems of values and cultural relativism. Ethical foundation of human rights. Historical perspectives and contemporary debate.

EPE 6304 - ETHICS AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ethical components of development and underdevelopment theories. Rights and obligations of wealthy countries towards poor countries. Ethical critique of policies governing international aid.

EPE 6309 - Ethics, Philosophy and Public Policy

Study of the concrete and normative aspects of public policy and of their ethical and philosophical implications, both locally and globally. Study of the main public policy issues and challenges in Canada as well as in other countries.

EPE 6320 - SELECTED TOPICS IN ETHICS

Study of a specialized area in ethics.

HUM 5103 - Justice, Peace and Ecology

Study of the interrelationship of justice, peace, and the ecology in the context of what it means to be human. Focus on the challenges that this poses for ethical action in the contemporary global context. Explores current issues in dialogue with social justice frameworks and other relevant sources.

INS 5101 - Theoretical Foundations of Social Innovation

Critical study of founding texts in social innovation and of the main approaches in the field. Study of key actors and strategies in contemporary social innovation.

INS 5109 - Selected Topics in Social Action

In-depth study of selected topics and contemporary issues in collective action and social movements.

INS 5110 - Selected Topics in Critical Thinking

Study of a specific issue within contemporary critical theories, emancipatory projects and global alternatives to oppressive systems.

INS 5303 - Design and Social Innovation

Study of the main notions in design and practical analysis of this approach on social innovation projects: design thinking, social design, collaborative design, institutional design, creativity, etc.

Office of the Associate Vice-Rector, Strategic Enrolment Management
Room 148
Saint Paul University
223 Main Street
Ottawa, ON
K1S 1C4
CANADA

Notice to gmail address holders, be sure to check your junk mailbox regularly, as due to your server's firewalls our email response to your application may end up there.

Telephone: 613-236-1393
Fax: 613-782-3014
admission@ustpaul.ca

Hours of Operation