You are considering applying for, or you have applied for, our MA in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) degree. Below are answers to some questions you may have.
What is an interdisciplinary degree?
A Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies degree is intended for individuals whose experience, education or interests do not fall neatly into any of our existing programs. It is a personalized degree, meaning that you can customize it to your unique interests by taking courses from a variety of different RRU programs – if you have the background knowledge, experience or prerequisites to do so.
What can I do with an interdisciplinary degree?
Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds. Because each student’s program is personalized, it is difficult to single out any one sector or career path which benefits most from a MAIS degree; however, employers know that the challenges of the future will require interdisciplinary solutions. A MAIS degree allows you to be flexible in your career, as you can use different elements of your learning in different contexts.
What do I need in order to complete my application?
We will send you an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) to complete. Your ILP will guide us in ensuring that the program and its courses will be the right fit for you.
Please see our application requirements for the list of items to include in your application.
Is there funding available?
To find out what kind of funding is available, please go to our Financial Aid & Awards page.
I’ve completed some graduate-level courses at another university (or at RRU), can I transfer these credits to this degree?
If the courses make sense in the overall framework of your program, then in most cases the answer is yes, unless you have taken them as part of a credential. If you completed a graduate certificate or diploma at Royal Roads, you may be able to ladder the entire certificate or diploma into the degree. You will need to apply for transfer credit and supply course outlines and an official transcript for the courses completed at other institutions in order for them to be considered.
How do I select courses and build my schedule?
Shortly after you apply to the MAIS program, we will send you an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) to complete. To complete the ILP, you will refer to this guide and work with our program advisor to select a number of courses that you’re interested in. The program team then builds a schedule for you, which you will then review and approve. There are often a few iterations of your schedules to find the best fit for you depending on a number of factors (e.g., Do you want to avoid overlap of courses? Do you need breaks between courses? Do you need to complete your courses by a particular date? etc.). Once your schedule is complete and has received your approval, a .pdf document is created which you add to your application for review by the Program Head.
What will my schedule look like?
Your schedule will be unique to you and the courses you select. Below shows the beginning of your schedule (and program). INDS505 and INDS500 must be taken at the beginning of your program and before moving on to other courses. The remainder (or bottom portion) of your program will be determined by what you select, e.g., did you select to do a residency, are you doing a course-based program or did you select to do a thesis, etc.
What should I consider when choosing between a course-based or Thesis pathway? How do I know what is the best option for me?
This will depend on your personal circumstances and goals. A Thesis allows you to explore an applied or academic research question that relates to an interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary field of study. These options allow you to bring your learning together into a cohesive and self-directed project. Thesis is also ideal for students looking to learn more about research-related work.
On the other hand, the many different courses offered in the MAIS program work well for students interested in acquiring a maximum breadth of knowledge across disciplines, and don’t need to develop or demonstrate the ability to conduct research. A course-based program is also ideal for students who have difficulty with self-directed learning, as there are regular assignments, deliverables and group work in this pathway.
NOTE: No matter what pathway you choose, you may decide to continue on to doctoral studies. If you do, it is important that you check now with the institutions you are considering on the specific deliverables they require from an MA degree in their entrance requirements.
If I’m on a Thesis pathway, is there something besides the required courses that I should consider incorporating into my program?
We often recommend that students completing a Thesis consider including a directed studies course (INDS 517) in their program. This will allow you to begin working with your potential supervisor early and is an opportunity to work on a literature review specific to your research interest.
This course is intended to help fill a conceptual void in your program. You’ll 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 will help you explore areas that are not sufficiently covered in current curricular offerings.
Should I consider enrolling in an on-campus residency?
We understand that for many of our students, attending a residency on campus is not feasible. However, if you have the ability to, we highly recommend that you come to campus for some of your coursework. Many students who have completed a residency express that it was extremely rewarding and allowed them to concentrate on their academics, something that we know can be difficult to do when balancing home, work, family and other commitments.