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Graduate Studies Calendar 2023-2024 Program Descriptions Military and Strategic Studies CMSS
Military and Strategic Studies - CMSS
Contact Information

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

1. Degrees and Specializations Offered

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)*
Master of Strategic Studies (MSS), course-based**
Master of Strategic Studies (MSS), thesis-based

*Doctoral students will normally be admitted as full-time students.  In consultation with the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Program Director may, however, approve requests for part-time registration or transfer from fill-time to a part-time status.


The MSS, course-based details listed here are for students beginning the one-year program in September 2024 (for 2023 information, please reference ).

**The course-based Master of Strategic Studies is a continuous program with no scheduled break. Students who do not enrol in courses continuously will be withdrawn from the program for failure to register unless they are on an approved leave of absence.
2. Admission Requirements

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); 7.0 on the IELTS test; 68 on the PTE test; a CAEL score of 70 (with no section less than 70); a Duolingo score of 135 (with no subscore below 115); or a Cambridge Proficiency score of 191. This requirement can also be met by completing the with a minimum grade of "A-" in each course.

f) Two letters of reference.

g) For applicants in the thesis-based MSS, email confirmation from a potential supervisor who is interested in supervising the student's work is required.

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 depends upon a match between student and faculty interests, as well as availability of faculty supervision. 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) Normally, a minimum of two years of professional, on-going experience (or equivalent) in the security and defence field.

c) 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.

d) A detailed statement of the proposed thesis research explaining how the thesis would relate to one's work experience and/or professional career goals.

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

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

g) English language proficiency: TOEFL with a minimum score of 97 (Internet-based test); 7.0 on the IELTS test; 68 on the PTE test; a CAEL score of 70 (with no section less than 70); a Duolingo score of 135 (with no subscore below 115); or a Cambridge Proficiency score of 191. This requirement can also be met by completing the with a minimum grade of "A-" in each course.

h) Two letters of reference.

i) Email confirmation from a potential supervisor who is interested in supervising the student's work is required.

3. Application Deadline

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

MSS (thesis-based):

MSS (course-based):

PhD:

4. Advanced Credit

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.

5. Program/Course Requirements

Master of Strategic Studies

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

Master of Strategic Studies (thesis-based)

MSS, thesis-based students will complete 21 units of coursework consisting of:

a) 12 units of core courses:
b) 9 units of additional graduate courses which may include, but are not limited to:
With the approval of the Graduate Program Director, any graduate course pertinent to the student's studies may be taken. Also consult the program website for a list of other recommended graduate courses.

MSS thesis-based students 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 who entered the program as thesis-based students; for students transferring from the course-based program, where at all possible the same general timeline should apply).

Master of Strategic Studies (course-based)

MSS, course-based students will complete 24 units of coursework consisting of:

With the approval of the Graduate Program Director, any graduate course pertinent to the student's studies may be taken. Also consult the program website for a list of other recommended graduate courses.

c) Strategic Studies 653* (3 units) research paper

*Skills Internship Option: An extra to degree option available to students upon completion of all degree requirements. Through the Faculty of Graduate Studies students may take a Transformative Talent Internship designed to explore career options and develop practical skills. .

Doctor of Philosophy

a) Doctoral students will normally complete 15 units of coursework consisting of:
It is strongly recommended that PhD students also take:
*For candidacy examinations, students 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 3 units preparation in each field, namely Strategic Studies 751 and Strategic Studies 753.
6. 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.

7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses

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

8. Time Limit

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

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

9. Supervisory Assignments

Master of Strategic Studies (thesis-based)

An incoming student for the thesis-based program must have a proof of agreement to supervise from one or more faculty members in the student’s proposed area of thesis research. Admission will not be granted without proof that adequate supervision is available during the applicant’s studies. The selection of an eligible Permanent Supervisor is made by mutual agreement between the student, the faculty member, and the Graduate Program Director. A permanent Supervisor should normally be appointed by the end of April of the first year of registration. At the time of appointment, the Permanent Supervisor should be currently active in research in an area related to the student’s interest.

Master of Strategic Studies (course-based)

There are no supervisors for the MSS course-based program.

Doctor of Philosophy

An incoming student must have a proof of agreement to supervise from one or more faculty members in the student’s proposed area of thesis research. Admission will not be granted without proof that adequate supervision is available during the applicant’s studies. The selection of an eligible Permanent Supervisor is made by mutual agreement between the student, the faculty member, and the Graduate Program Director. A permanent Supervisor should normally be appointed by the end of April of the first year of registration. At the time of appointment, the Permanent Supervisor should be currently active in research in an area related to the student’s interest.

The Supervisory Committee should be appointed as quickly as possible but no later than three months after the appointment of the Permanent Supervisor.

10. Required Examinations

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

Candidacy

Doctoral students must complete a written thesis proposal, which is approved by their Supervisory Committee in a thesis proposal meeting, as well as pass oral and written Field of Study examinations. For complete details of candidacy requirements and examination format, see cmss.ucalgary.ca/phd/program_requirements.

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.

11. Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.