Online
Guides students in exploration of dominant theoretical paradigms currently used in applied social science studies. Draws from theories used in anthropology, communication studies, education, environmental studies, gender studies, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology. Places special emphasis on interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary theoretical frameworks and on theories guiding applied research.
Introduces communication strategies designed to enhance clear and effective written discourse at the graduate level across disciplines. Examines the basic principles of successful scholarly writing, including those specific to the students’ own disciplines, and the critical analysis of academic research and discourse. Students will write a critical literature review through a series of research and writing assignments in an interactive online environment.
Introduces students to qualitative and quantitative research methods commonly used in the social sciences. Emphasizes applied research projects designed from interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary or transdisciplinary perspectives. Covers basic research process, research topics and questions, research design, accessing and evaluating research, common methodologies, data collection, ethics, and analysis interpretation and communication of research results.
Introduces students to Indigenous ways of knowing in a global context by exploring Indigenous worldviews, identities, places and experiences, including colonialism and contemporary challenges. Outlines some key limitations to understanding Indigenous epistemologies, and privileges a decolonial approach that actively seeks to improve respectful relations with Indigenous peoples. Requires students to demonstrate graduate-level skills in reading, writing, and critical analysis.
The directed studies course is intended to help fill a conceptual void in the student’s program of study. The student will work with a faculty instructor to define a field of inquiry, develop a reading list related to the field of inquiry, and produce course deliverables that demonstrate an understanding of and engagement with the chosen reading list. This helps the student to explore areas that are not sufficiently covered in the current curricular offerings of the programs the student has combined in the MA in Interdisciplinary Studies. It is the student’s responsibility to select the topic, generate a draft reading list, and negotiate with the instructor an agreed upon literature list. The role of the instructor is to facilitate the student’s self-exploration. This course requires the student to work mainly independently, with the level of instructor involvement negotiated with the instructor.
Introduces students to history and current issues affecting 2SLGBTQI+ individuals and their communities with particular attention to seniors, youth, cultural and linguistic minority groups. Includes discussion of issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, agender, transgender, non-binary, queer and Two-Spirit individuals and communities. Examines ways of creating welcoming and inclusive organizations, public services, and communities and approaches 2SLGBTQI+ issues from human rights and cultural identity perspectives.
Illustrates why misinformation is a particularly wicked problem at this moment in history and helps to situate current misinformation trends within the long history of propaganda, fake news, and information operations. Provides students with strategies to address misinformation in their own lives and communities.
From COVID-19 to the conspiracy theories like QAnon, misinformation is everywhere. This course will help you to understand the problem of misinformation and begin to think about how to combat it. First, you will be introduced to definitions of misinformation and fake news. We’ll investigate misinformation as part of a long history of propaganda, fake news, and information operations, all the way up to the social media fueled misinformation tsunami of our current media environment. This course looks at misinformation from many angles. We’ll consider the ways that influence matters for the spread of misinformation; we’ll look at the role of media and key influencers in spreading misinformation and how social media accelerates the reach and speed of misinformation. Finally, the course will teach you about the individual drivers of misinformation sharing and how to combat them: how to assess the quality of different messages in personal and professional contexts and how to speak with others who are sharing misinformation. INDS545 teaches you strategies to address misinformation in your own personal and professional lives and your communities.
The objective of the course is to engages students in the study of timely, socially relevant topic`s from inter-, multi-, and transdisciplinary perspectives. Provides students with insights into emerging topics offered by scholars with topic-specific expertise. Course themes will focus on broad and/or complex issues that draw on a variety of disciplines in an integrated manner. Students learn through scholarship and research, discussion, and an applied project as they explore emerging areas of expertise. Course themes may be related to culture, society, technology, economy, governance, and the environment.
Topic: Language, Power and Persuasion
Offered Oct 13 till Dec 20, 2026. Instructed by matthew heinz.
This course explores the complex relationships among language, power, and persuasion in social, political, environmental, and organizational contexts. Students will explore the tools of content and discourse analysis to examine the relevance of everyday discourse, media discourse, and institutional language in shaping perceptions of people and events. Course readings will draw from sociolinguistics, communication studies, and critical discourse analysis. Students will explore how language can convey ideologies and maintain power hierarchies but also offer constructive alternatives that promote inclusion and equity.
Topic: Surveys, Interviews, and Focus Groups
Offered Oct 12 till Dec 19, 2027. Instructed by Stéphanie Vieille
This course offers master’s students deeper, practical guidance on collecting data from human subjects. It focuses specifically on three key methods: surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Students will gain applied skills in designing and conducting these methods, from crafting effective survey questions to facilitating interviews and moderating focus groups. Each module provides clear, step-by-step instruction, ethical considerations, and practical tools to support research planning and execution. By the end of the course, students will be well-equipped to gather qualitative and quantitative data confidently and rigorously—an essential step in conducting meaningful, human-centered research.
Constitutes a substantial written examination of a topic relevant to an interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary program of study. May include studies of application of knowledge to the field, development of instructional or organizational practices or resources, evaluations of practices or resources, critical analyses of problems or issues, policy analysis or development, performative writing, documentary work, systematic literature reviews or data analyses as negotiated with the instructor and based on publicly available data. Optimum length for a research paper is 6,000 words and should involve approximately 200 hours of effort by the student resulting in the awarding of 6 credit hours.
A thesis is a written product of a systematic study of a significant problem. The thesis demonstrates the ability of a student to analyze existing research, collate or collect data, and apply it in the context of an existing problem. The result is a de novo synthesis of theoretical and empirical information. The thesis identifies a problem, provides a rationale for the study, and states the hypothesis or research question. It identifies major theoretical assumptions, explains the methods chosen to study the problem, analyzes the data, and offers a conclusion or recommendation based on the data and theoretical framing. The finished thesis evidences originality, critical and independent thinking, appropriate organization and format, and thorough documentation. The thesis should constitute approximately 400 hours of effort by the learner.
The Introduction to Academic Integrity course illustrates academic integrity and plagiarism in real-life scenarios. A clear sense of academic honesty and responsibility is fundamental to good scholarship, and the integrity of university academic work and the degrees conferred by the university is dependent upon the honesty and soundness of the teacher-student learning relationship and of the evaluation process. Therefore, all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism, and other academic offences. The Introduction to Academic Integrity course serves as a helpful, interactive companion to the academic integrity policy and procedures outlined in the Student Policies & Procedures, which contains the policies and procedures that guide academic life at Royal Roads and support our mission as a university. MAISCON completion is a mandatory requirement (pre-requisite) for progression to any consequent course in the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program. This mini-course can be completed in approximately 45-60 minutes.
Prepares students for a successful launch into their learning journey by creating an opportunity for students to meet and get to know one another in a virtual setting. Offers a fully-online introduction to the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. Provides overview of the program and course options and introduces students to the RRU technology platforms. MAISCON completion is a mandatory requirement (pre-requisite) for progression to any consequent course in the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program.