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Location: 8th floor, Social Sciences Building
Program number: 403.220.4038
Fax: 403.282.0594
Email address: cmssgrad@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)*
Master of Strategic Studies (MSS), course-based (including the co-operative education option) or thesis-based

*Applications to this program are currently suspended.

In addition to the requirements of the Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts, CMSS requires:

Master of Strategic Studies (MSS), course-based and thesis-based

a) A four-year bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of at least 3.40 on a four-point scale.

b) A writing sample.

c) For applicants to the thesis-based program, an agreement to supervise by a potential supervisor.

d) For applicants to the thesis-based program, a research proposal.

e) English language proficiency: TOEFL with a minimum score of 97 (Internet-based test), or 7.0 on the IELTS test, or 68 on the PTE test or a CAEL score of 70 with no section less than 70. This requirement can also be met by completing the with a minimum grade of "A-" in each course.

f) Two letters of reference.

Doctor of Philosophy

Applicants will be admitted only if the CMSS Graduate Committee is satisfied that adequate supervision is likely to be available for the duration of their studies. Successful applicants should be aware that admission to the program does not imply a Centre commitment to provide supervision for all research interests they may have. Students are also advised to consult the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Academic Regulations section in this calendar.

Prerequisites for admission to the PhD program are:

a) A completed master's degree.

b) A GPA of 3.70 on a four-point scale over all completed graduate courses in the master's program; 3.40 in the undergraduate program over the last 60 units or two years of study.

c) A detailed statement of the proposed thesis research.

d) A representative piece of written work, normally a master's thesis chapter or major research paper.

e) A tentative agreement from a faculty member to supervise. Students need to contact potential supervisors at the beginning of the application process.

f) English language proficiency: TOEFL with a minimum score of 97 (Internet-based test), or 7.0 on the IELTS test, or 68 on the PTE test or a CAEL score of 70 with no section less than 70. This requirement can also be met by completing the with a minimum grade of "A-" in each course.

g) Two letters of reference.

Deadlines for the submission of complete applications are available on the Future Students website:

MSS (thesis-based):

MSS (course-based):

PhD:

In the course-based master’s program, advanced credit may be given for a maximum of two courses (6 units) at the senior undergraduate (500) level. The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to the required level for admission.

Master of Strategic Studies

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies requires that all master's students complete core courses and areas of concentration courses:

a) Core Courses:
All master's students take, in any sequence, the following three core area courses:

• Strategic Studies/History 655 Classics of Strategy
• Political Science 681 Advanced Analysis of International Relations
• Political Science 685 Strategic Studies

All master's students will also take the following course in the Fall Block Week preceding their first term:

• Strategic Studies 603 Military and Strategic Studies: Questions and Methods

MSS students in the thesis stream are required to present their supervisor with a formal thesis proposal normally no later than the end of their second term (usually, the end of the Winter Term of their first year for students entering the program in the thesis stream; for students transferring from the course-based stream, where at all possible the same general timeline should apply).

b) Areas of Concentration:
In addition to the core courses in (a), thesis-based students must complete 9 units; course-based students must complete 27 units; and course-based Co-operative Education students must complete 18 units from the courses listed below. With the approval of the Graduate Program Director, any graduate course pertinent to the student's studies may be taken. Consult the Program website () for a list of other recommended graduate courses. Courses can be completed in any sequence.

(1) Arctic Security
Strategic Studies 662 Advanced Studies in Canadian Arctic Security

(2) Canadian Military Studies
Strategic Studies 609 Canadian Military and the Second World War
Strategic Studies 611 Canadian Military Studies
Strategic Studies 613 Canada and the First World War

(3) U.S. Security Policy
Political Science 633 U.S. Security Policy

(4) Domestic Security/Hemispheric Security

(5) Ethics and Morality in Conflict
Political Science 619 War and Interpretation
Political Science 684 Human Rights and Humanitarianism

(6) Intelligence and Security
Strategic Studies 657 Intelligence, Information Operations and Command, Control, Communications and Computers

(7) Military Anthropology
Anthropology 641 Graduate Seminar in Civil Military Relations

(8) Sea Power
Strategic Studies 659 Sea Power

(9) Unconventional Warfare
Political Science 689 Unconventional Warfare
Political Science 675 Special Topics in Comparative Politics

(10) Causes of War
Strategic Studies 663 War – Causes and Aftermath

(11) Military History
History 637 Topics in Military History

(12) Special Topics in Military and Strategic Studies
Strategic Studies 649 Special Topics in Military and Strategic Studies

(13) With the approval of the Graduate Director, thesis-based students may take 3 units from the following and either course-based students or course-based students with Co-operative Education may take one or more courses from the following:

Strategic Studies 651 Reading Seminar I
Strategic Studies 653 Research Seminar I

c) Co-operative Education: The Co-operative Education option is only available as part of the course-based MSS program. Students will complete an 8-month work placement during their second year, which will replace three other non-core courses. Thesis-based MSS students will be permitted to transfer to the course-based co-operative education option during their first year of study. For further information interested students should contact the CMSS faculty co-operative education advisor or the Centre website.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) Course Work:

Each student must normally take 18 units including three core courses:

• Political Science 681: Advanced Analysis of International Relations
• Political Science 685: Strategic Studies
• Strategic Studies 655: Classics of Strategy.

All PhD students will also take the following course in the Block Week preceding their first term:

Strategic Studies 603 Military and Strategic Studies: Questions and Methods

For candidacy examinations, students will have two major fields of study. One of these will be strategic studies and the other the dissertation area. Students will be required to take at least 3 units in each field, namely Political Science 685 and an appropriate elective.

b) Written and oral candidacy examination.

c) Doctoral thesis proposal.

d) Written doctoral thesis.

e) Oral thesis defence.

Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)

The Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies for our MSS thesis-based and course-based programs will not permit the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade) for any course offered by the CMSS and the other departments from which our students take courses.

Students may not choose the CG grade for a course taken extra to load.

The use of the CG grade will affect students' eligibility for internal awards.

None.

With the approval of the Graduate Director, students enrolled in the thesis-based MSS program may apply to take one 500-level course for graduate credit, but will be required to complete additional requirements for the course. Students in the course-based program may apply to take one 500-level course for graduate credit, but will be required to complete additional requirements for each course.

Expected completion time for the thesis-based and course-based Master of Strategic Studies is two years. Maximum completion time is four years for the thesis-based Master of Strategic Studies and six years for the course-based Master of Strategic Studies.

Expected completion time for the PhD in Military and Strategic Studies is four years. Maximum completion time for the PhD in Military and Strategic Studies is six years.

Students must contact a possible supervisor before admission. Agreement from a supervisor must be included in the application package.

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the program requires:

Candidacy

Doctoral students must pass oral and written Field of Study examinations. For complete details of candidacy requirements and examination format, see .

Thesis Examination

Scheduling of the Examination

All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student's draft thesis document before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee

The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

Doctoral students must complete a written Thesis Proposal, which is approved by their Supervisory Committee in a Thesis Proposal Meeting. See for further information.

Not applicable.