Program Overview

Master of Spatial Analysis

The Master of Spatial Analysis (MSA) is offered to students on either a full-time or part-time basis.

Program Structure

The program is the same for full-time and part-time students, except that the internship requirement is waived for part-time students in appropriate program-related employment.

• Full-time program: scheduled to be completed in one year (12 months) or 16-20 months for thesis students.
• Part-time program: takes two years (24 months).
• Thesis option: extends the program by one or two terms, and requires the student to write a thesis instead of a Major Research Paper (MRP).

Curriculum

The typical schedule to complete the MSA program on a full-time basis starting in the Fall is as follows:

• September to December: 4 core courses; develop ideas for MRP.
• January to April: 2 elective courses and internship; start work on MRP.
• April 30th: MRP proposal due.
• May to August: research and writing of MRP.
• May 31st: literature review due.
• June 30th: analysis completed.
• July 31st: complete MRP draft due to supervisor.
• Mid-August to early September: oral defence of MRP.
• By mid-September: required MRP revisions completed and submitted to the Yeates School of Graduate Studies.

The typical schedule to complete the MSA program on a part-time basis starting in the Fall is as follows:

• September to December: 2 core courses; develop ideas for MRP.
• January to April: 2 elective courses; develop ideas for MRP.
• April 30th: MRP short proposal due.
• May to August: start work on MRP.
• August 31st: literature review due.
• September to December: 2 core courses (coursework now finished); work on MRP.
• December 31st: methods chapter due.
• January to July: research and writing of MRP.
• April 30th: analysis completed.
• July 31st: complete MRP draft due to supervisor.
• Mid-August to early September: oral defence of MRP.
• By mid-September: required MRP revisions completed and submitted to the Yeates School of Graduate Studies.

Time Commitment

Each course will take at least one day per week of time. In addition, the practicum accounts for two full work days per week, and any funded teaching or research assistantship will require an additional time commitment. The successful completion and defence of the MRP requires full-time commitment during the period of May to September (full-time students).

Program Objectives and Outcomes

The MSA program consists of original research that is often of publishable quality. The thesis option allows for longer involvement in academic research and a more in-depth treatment of the student's research topic. The vast majority of students complete the MSA degree in the scheduled time. At the last program evaluation (2007), 84% of full-time students and 81% of part-time students had completed the degree on time. The extra time needed by the remainder can usually be attributed to personal circumstances.