Academic Programs - Graduate

Social & Political Thought

Experience a rigorous interdisciplinary graduate program in Social and Political Thought, in a supportive and personalized environment – the only one of its kind in Atlantic Canada.

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In Acadia's graduate program in Social and Political Thought you will dive into the study of political and social life through theoretical questions and engagements. The program is interdisciplinary in nature since social and political thought is a nexus connecting political thought, social theory, philosophy, postcolonial thought, literary criticism, media studies, cultural studies, environment studies, and gender studies. Working in close collaboration with its nationally and internationally celebrated faculty, you will take courses spanning several disciplines, increase your exposure to other areas of inquiry and approaches to theory through the core colloquium, and undertake a final interdisciplinary thesis (in year two).

Be Inspired

As a graduate student of Social and Political Thought at Acadia, you will benefit from the small school environment with small class sizes and high faculty-to-student interaction. Only MA programs without PHD programs above them can promise this kind of support, attention and engagement. While having access to professors with a diverse set of research interests, you can also expect a personalized research agenda. To ensure attention to the interdisciplinary nature of the program, you will be guided in your research by your supervisor and a second reader (selected from another discipline).

This program is designed around student engagement. The Social and Political Thought program hosts: a bi-weekly colloquium attended by students, faculty and guest lectures; a newly-founded graduate journal in social and political thought titled: To Be Decided; a community speakers forum; a film series; and a robust graduate student culture. The program also hosts a bi-annual graduate conference on social and political thought in the spring, attracting students and scholars nationally and internationally.

Research Interests

  • Paul Abela: Kant; Moral theory
  • Andrew Biro: Critical theory; Environmental political theory; Political ecology/economy
  • Rachel Brickner: Comparative political theory; Latin American politics
  • James Brittain: Critical Development Studies; Latin American Society and Politics; Political Economy; Social Change and Revolution
  • Jesse Carlson: Sociological theory, cultural sociology, morality, friendship
  • Alice Cohen: environmental geography, scales and boundaries, environmental policy and politics, political ecology, water governance and policy
  • Can E. Mutlu: science and technology studies, new materialisms, mobility, migration, security
  • Kait Pinder: literature and politics, aesthetics, arts in Canada
  • Marc Ramsay: Ethics and philosophy of law
  • Inna Viriasova: continental political philosophy, critical theory, non-Western and Indigenous thought, post-humanism and new materialisms, biopolitics
  • Geoffrey Whitehall: International political theory; Contemporary Political Thought; Discourses of Culture and Technology; Philosophy of Space and Time
  • Ian Wilks: Medieval philosophy; Philosophy of religion; Ethics and bioethics

Program at a Glance

Courses take place in-person at Acadia University.

Year One -
First Term

  • SOPT 5960
    Thesis
  • SOPT 5113
    Colloquium
  • POLS 5043
    Critical Political Theory
  • ELEC 5xx3
    Elective taught by SOPT faculty members

Year One -
Second Term

  • SOPT 5960
    Thesis
  • PHIL 5113
    Social and Political Philosophy
  • SOCI 5113
    Sociological Theory
  • ELEC 5xx3
    Elective taught by SOPT faculty members

Year One -
Third Term

  • SOPT 5960
    Thesis

Year Two -
First Term

  • SOPT 5960
    Thesis

Year Two -
Second Term

  • SOPT 5960
    Thesis
 
 
 

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