The Master of Arts in Indigenous Studies at McMaster University is offered through the Indigenous Studies Program, part of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The degree examines Indigenous histories, cultures, governance, and contemporary issues from Indigenous and interdisciplinary perspectives, combining graduate seminars with research training. Students choose between a project stream, typically completed in about twelve months of full-time study, and a thesis stream, typically completed in about sixteen months, allowing for a longer piece of original research under faculty supervision. Coursework draws on faculty expertise across Indigenous studies, social sciences, and humanities disciplines, and students are encouraged to engage with Indigenous communities and knowledge systems as part of their research. Graduates are prepared for further doctoral study or for careers in policy, education, community development, and other fields requiring advanced knowledge of Indigenous issues. Admission is offered for the September term, with a typical application deadline in mid-January. The program is administered within McMaster's School of Graduate Studies.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Admission requires an Honours Bachelor's degree in Indigenous Studies or a related field, with at least a B+ average (equivalent to a McMaster GPA of 8.5 out of 12) in the final year of study, from a recognized university. Applicants complete the standard School of Graduate Studies online application, which opens October 1 each year, and are ranked using application materials, supplementary documentation, GPA, and interview performance; facilitated admissions pathways are available for Indigenous and Black applicants. Students choose between a Major Research Paper (MRP) stream, completed in about 12 months, and a Community-based Research Project (CRP) stream, completed in about 16 months. Applicants whose first language is not English and who did not study at an English-medium university must meet a minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 92 (iBT, with component minimums of 22 reading, 24 speaking, 24 listening, and 22 writing), with no exceptions to this requirement.
