Master of Arts in English with Specialization in Social Justice Studies

at Lakehead University - Thunder Bay Campus Canada

Government policies influence virtually every aspect of our lives, from housing to education to crime. Our Political Science program studies the institutions, ideas, practices, and power that shape government and policy at all levels. Students will gain a thorough understanding of political systems - with a particular focus on Canadian politics - and overarching notions of freedom, equality, and justice.

Our goal is to provide a well-rounded Political Science education by applying both theoretical and practical modes of analysis to examine sociological, economic, and historical contexts.

If you have an interest in political systems abroad, you will also have the opportunity to explore the politics of America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Additionally, you will study:

• International Relations
• Political Theory
• Law and Politics
• Public Administration and Policy
• Indigenous Governance
• Comparative Politics

The Lakehead Advantage
Our diverse course content, combined with an intimate learning environment, provides a comprehensive education in classic and contemporary government, law, and politics, as well as highly developed writing, research and analytical skills.

If you are thinking about applying to law school in the future, consider taking our specialized Pre-Law Program. It is designed to introduce you to the study of law by emphasizing subject matter related to the legal process, in addition to politics. Graduates from this program are regularly accepted to excellent law schools.

If you are interested in understanding the world around you, and how its functioning can be put into practice in everyday life, join us at Lakehead University.

Our students are exposed to cutting edge knowledge in a wide variety of fields in physics including condensed matter physics, lasers and optical physics, nanotechnology, materials science, medical imaging and mathematical physics to equip them with the knowledge and technical skills needed for successful careers.

Students interested in the physics program at Lakehead University will develop

• Problem solving skills
• Technical skills with a variety of experimental equipment
• Computational skills
• Teamwork

Psychology
Psychologists share a desire to make a positive contribution to human welfare through understanding and influencing the thoughts, emotions, and behaviour of individuals. They are concerned with what motivates us, what social, physical, and biological factors affect us, and what makes us unique.

Our multidisciplinary approach to Psychology provides you with the opportunity to explore these topics and the inner workings of the brain through either an Arts or Science stream, depending on your academic interests. Whichever stream you choose, you will graduate with the objective tools to develop theories, test them through scientific experimentation, and develop new knowledge through comprehensive research methods.

The breadth of study within our Psychology program is what sets Lakehead University apart. Throughout your undergraduate degree, you will gain at least one credit of exposure to all elements of the disciplines and sub-fields including Biological, Cognitive-Affective, Individual, Social, Abnormal, and Developmental, in addition to your stream electives.

Women's Studies
The field of Women’s Studies has transformed dramatically since its introduction to Lakehead University in 1990. Alongside women’s experiences and gendered systems, you will examine elements of:

• Sexuality
• Queer Theory
• Law
• Masculinity
• Transnational Activism
• Ecofeminism
• Social Justice
• Pop Culture
• Embodiment

Through these topics and more, it is our goal to demonstrate how people are constrained by various ideological notions and how these notions can be challenged to facilitate equality.

The Faculty of Education at Lakehead University offers a Master of Education program designed to meet your professional and academic goals and interests. Our Master of Education (MEd) program provides you with a unique learning opportunity, which addresses the current landscape of both education and research. Our program consists of two distinct fields of study, Educational Studies and Education for Change.

Our Educational Studies field offers you the opportunity to earn your Master's of Education while studying educational research, theory, and practice in a variety of educational contexts, as well as the chance to specialize in Gerontology or Women's Studies.

All class sizes are small, giving you the opportunity to interact with classmates, instructors, and other faculty members. Our Faculty members have expertise in a wide variety of areas; for more information about our faculty and their research areas, please see the Faculty and Staff page.

We are also the home of two Canada Research Chairs (in Environmental Education, Arts Integrated Research), the Centre for Place and Sustainability Studies, the Multi-Data Convergence Laboratory, and the Canadian Journal of Environmental Education.

The MSc in Environmental Engineering provides a common curriculum to train graduates from Engineering and related Natural Sciences in providing effective solutions to environmental challenges faced by industries and communities.

Join the exciting interdisciplinary scientific community at Lakehead University to pursue an advanced study in the frontiers of environmental engineering! This unique Master of Science in Environmental Engineering program provides a dynamic and unique curriculum to train graduates from engineering and related natural sciences in providing effective solutions to environmental challenges faced by industries and communities. Our research-based masters program encourages exploration of the beauty of science and engineering by providing flexibility, supports, and guidance. Graduate students in our program benefit from a small class size, friendly working environment, and close supervision of international-caliber faculty members to achieve their dreams.

Our extensive research capabilities are supported by outstanding laboratory facilities, including a centralized instrumentation laboratory. Our faculty members and graduate students conduct cutting-edge research in both fundamental studies and applied science and engineering to address the global environmental issues, such as climate change, water crisis, and energy crisis etc.

Lakehead University offers a Master of Science degree in Psychological Science.

As an exception to the general Master's regulations, applications to this program must be made by December 15.  Only complete applications will be reviewed.
The Master of Science in Psychological Science is a research-intensive program that addresses all areas of psychology including biological, cognitive, and individual and social bases of behaviour. The Psychological Science curriculum is based on an apprenticeship model, which includes flexible core courses that are appropriate to a student's area of research. 

Bioinformatics is the application of information technology to the field of molecular biology. As a relatively new area of study, we are one of the very few universities in Canada that offer this program from year one. 

Our Department of Bioinformatics integrates tools and theories from several disciplines including:

• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics 

Whether designing a new life-saving drug, decoding a genome sequence or developing algorithms to analyze medical images, Bioinformaticians solve problems that arise from the analysis of biological data. As a student skilled in Bioinformatics, you will be at the forefront of this newly emerging field which has a widespread impact on the way we approach important global issues and topics including healthcare and sustainability.

You will gain the necessary education and training in all of the component fields and insight into:

• the complex interactions of living systems
• big data collection and analysis
• the physical and chemical nature of the environment
• building descriptive models based on biological data
• theoretical biology

Our program is well-rounded and small in size allowing for one-on-one interaction with educators and many research opportunities. Additionally, we maintain close relationships with local knowledge-based businesses and organizations which contribute to unique course content and job opportunities post-graduation.

Lakehead University offers a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology. The master degree normally requires two years of full-time study.

As an exception to the general Master's regulations, applications to this program must be made by December 15.  Only complete applications will be reviewed.
The MA Clinical program strives to develop and nurture skills within students that are grounded in science, critical thinking, and ethics, so that they may serve as competent researchers, clinicians, and educators. The program adheres closely to the scientist-practitioner model of training and practice in psychology.  

Our Geoarchaeology program is truly unique, and one of the few offered in North America. Our location in Northwestern Ontario, among diverse landscapes, soils, and natural features, makes Lakehead University a great place to study the hands-on discipline. 

The program is a collaboration between the departments of Anthropology, Geography, and Geology, and focuses on applying the concepts and methods in these fields to interpret artifacts left behind by ancient societies. 

You will explore very diverse topics, related to humankind and Earth, including: 

• Archaeological Site Formation 
• Physical and Natural Science 
• Ancient Cultures 
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 
• Human Evolution 

If you are inquisitive and enjoy being outdoors and learning about different cultures, Geoarchaeology is the program for you. You will have opportunities to immerse yourself in adventure and discovery with training in the field, access to cutting-edge laboratory facilities, and research collaboration with faculty members.

The Faculty of Education at Lakehead University offers a Master of Education program designed to meet your professional and academic goals and interests. Our Master of Education (MEd) program provides you with a unique learning opportunity, which addresses the current landscape of both education and research. Our program consists of two distinct fields of study, Educational Studies and Education for Change.

The Educational Studies field refers to a wide range of educational research, theory, and practice within formal, non-formal, and informal contexts. This is a dynamic field of study in areas such as educational sociology, philosophy, psychology, law, policy, leadership, measurement, assessment, and curriculum content areas such as mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies, to name a few. 

The Gerontology Program actively collaborates with the Faculty of Education to provide you with an innovative, interdisciplinary learning perspective. You have the opportunity to access multifaceted resources and work together with complementary disciplines. Research and theory in Gerontology is reviewed, and the thesis or portfolio, where applicable, is taken in the collaborating academic unit and must have a gerontological focus.