MAIS Program Structure
Thirty-three credits are required to complete the MAIS.
To meet the residency requirement, students must complete a minimum of 18 credits (six courses) through Athabasca University, including the two core courses and an integrated project.
Students may study in the program on a full- or part-time basis. The degree can be completed in two years or extended over six years, from the program start date. The expected normal completion time is three to four years.
Students will be asked to design a program that includes the completion of
- two core courses: a theory course (three credits) and a research methods course (three credits),
- seven or eight elective courses (21 to 24 credits), and
- one or two integrated projects (three to six credits).
Upon completion of the two MAIS core courses (MAIS 601 and MAIS 602), and two elective courses, students are required to submit a study plan to the MAIS Office for approval by the Director and/or Steering Committee. Students transferring in credit from other universities will be required to submit their study plans upon admission to the program.
Refer to MAIS Courses.
Effective September 2005, students must complete six credits of course or project work during a one-year academic period (September 1 to August 31) in order to maintain program status. Failure to meet this requirement may result in an inactivation of a student's program status.
Students may also be asked to successfully complete additional remedial writing work in order to continue in the program. Students will be required to submit official documentation confirming the successful completion of their remedial work to the MAIS Office, in order to remain in the program.
Students may interrupt their studies, without prejudice, contingent upon the submission of a written request and approval from the Program Director. There are no fees associated with this request. To request an Interruption of Studies, students are asked to send an email to the MAIS office.
It is important to note that simply maintaining program status does not meet the requirements established by the Students Finance Board for full-time funding purposes. Students are responsible to ensure that they follow the financial assistance guidelines outlined by the Students’ Finance Board in the province in which they live.
Individuals who are not enrolled in the MAIS program will be permitted to register as non program students in up to a maximum of five courses, space permitting; however, no more than two courses per semester will be allowed. No exceptions.
Courses taken as a non program student may be applied toward the program degree requirements, if and when the student becomes a program student.
For those students interested in individualized study, a number of graduate courses are available for registration throughout the year. Refer to MAIS Courses. The University is under no obligation to admit non-program students into the MAIS program. For more information on non-program status, contact the MAIS office.
Depending on their undergraduate preparation, and after successfully completing the two core courses, and two elective courses, students may design their graduate studies either as an independent track or a specialization. Students must declare their route through the submission of a written study plan. The study plan should outline whether the student will be pursuing the independent track or an area of specialization.
Students may choose to embark on an independent program of study by completing one project course, MAIS 701 Integrated Studies Project, plus eight elective courses woven across the MAIS curriculum in a comprehensive plan of study. Depending on their undergraduate preparation, students will identify a strategy for developing their own plan of study. The independent track is designed for highly motivated students who have shown excellence at the undergraduate level. Students should contact the MAIS office for advice on planning their studies.
Students who choose to study a specialization will successfully complete four courses in a cluster of inquiry (see below), MAIS 701 Integrated Studies Project, and four electives from across the curriculum. Students should contact the MAIS Office for advice on planning their studies.
To qualify as a specialization, students must complete four courses within the specialization before commencing their integrated project.
Students will be required to declare their route upon completion of the two core courses (MAIS 601 and MAIS 602) and two elective courses (i.e., area of specialization or independent track).
Students wishing to complete two areas of specialization, may apply to the Director (in their Study Plan) for approval of a second stream if they
- demonstrate plans to complete four courses in each stream; and
- provide a rationale as to how they will integrate course work across both streams in the MAIS 701 final project.
Specializations in development include Canadian Studies, Historical Studies, and Information Studies.
Refer to the MAIS website and select "Courses" for up-to-date information on course development.
Information effective Sept. 1, 2010 to Aug. 31, 2011.
Updated October 20, 2011
