Challenge the boundaries of traditional studies and customize your graduate degree.
You see connections others don't. Discover a flexible degree program that lets you study and think across boundaries.
Choose from courses in different academic fields to create a personalized, transdisciplinary education.
Connect your experience and profession with a range of inter-related academic subjects and complete applied research that's relevant to your life and career goals.
Flexible delivery
Design a program that fits your life with online courses and an optional two- or three-week residency.
Customized courses
Combine courses that interest you from other RRU graduate level programs.
Completion options
Choose from one of three completion options: course based, research paper or thesis.
Upcoming offerings
Stay tuned for updates or contact us for more information.
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Design your own program
This program gives you the flexibility to customize your degree by combining courses from different master’s and graduate certificate programs at Royal Roads.
This means that you can choose from courses across disciplines, led by experts in different academic fields.
Integrate knowledge from your experience and profession with a range of inter-related academic subjects. And complete applied research that's relevant to your life and career goals.
Work with an advisor to build your schedule
Our program advisors will work with you to build a schedule that aligns with your career or research interests. As part of your application, you’ll create a course plan together, which usually takes about a month.
You can design a program and a schedule that fits your life, with online courses and an optional two- or three-week residency.
Since the degree is interdisciplinary, no more than half of your courses can come from any one program.
Completion options
You can choose to complete your program through a course-based, major project or thesis option.
This lets you decide how to showcase your learning: build broad expertise through coursework, create applied solutions with a major project, or contribute new research through a thesis. Learn more.
Ways to build toward this degree
You can apply credits from the Graduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Studies or Graduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies toward this degree program.
Program length & delivery
You can expect your degree to take two to two and a half years to complete. You can do one on-campus residency with another master's program or you can complete your degree entirely online.
Online learning
Online courses consist of assigned readings, synchronous or asynchronous lectures, interactive discussions, and individual and team assignments.
You’re expected to meet deadlines and contribute meaningfully to your class. Your contributions are a big part of everyone’s learning.
Normally, you’ll take one course at a time. Each online course requires approximately 20 hours of work per week.
Residency
You have the option of taking a blended program, which includes online courses and a two- or three-week residency on campus.
Residencies are intensive and immersive. Many students say this time together is the highlight of their program.
During your residency, you can expect to:
- attend classes full time (e.g., Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- complete homework and individual and team assignments outside of class hours
- take part in extracurricular activities
Residencies are offered for program areas such as business, communication and culture, environment and sustainability, humanitarian studies, leadership and tourism.
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Standard admission
- Completion of a four-year (or comparable) undergraduate degree from a recognized post-secondary institution, with a minimum GPA of 'B+' (3.33/4.33).
- Normally, a minimum of three years of professional experience.
Flexible admission
While an undergraduate degree in a relevant field of study is recommended, applicants may be assessed for admission on the basis of their skills, knowledge and background developed outside traditional learning structures. This flexible admissions approach opens doors to higher learning for qualified candidates who otherwise might not meet traditional admission requirements, and thereby serves the needs of a diverse group of students.
English language proficiency
If English is not your primary language, please review our English language requirements.
Additional recommendations
Ideal candidates are self-directed and highly motivated and possess strong interpersonal, research, and communication skills. MA in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) students move between cohorts and need to be comfortable with completing an individualized program at their own pace while integrating into student teams from different programs.
At a minimum, all applications must contain the following:
Application form
In order to apply online, you will be required to create a log-in account using your email address. You will be required to list all credit courses and/or programs you have completed or are currently enrolled in. An application fee will be required. If your application fees are being paid by a third party, review sponsored student information. Once submitted, you may check the status of your application at any time.
Missed your application deadline? While we can’t make any guarantees, we may be able to accommodate late applications if there's still space and enough time to process. If you're interested in an intake that is now closed to applications, apply for the next available intake and email Admissions with your preferred start date. Make sure you’re prepared to submit your program's required documents right away. We can't make an admissions decision without them.
Official transcripts
Applicants are responsible for arranging for the submission of official transcripts from ALL post-secondary (higher education) institutions currently or previously attended, for all credit courses and/or programs. Transcripts are not required for non-credit programs or courses, though some programs may require proof of professional certifications or designations.
Transcripts are considered official only if submitted directly by the Registrar or other recognized authority of the providing institution in the institution's original, sealed envelope. If the envelope has been opened, the transcripts are no longer official and new (official) transcripts will be required to complete your application.
All international transcripts or credentials are subject to an international transcript and/or credential evaluation.
Personal statement
Your personal statement should be a maximum of two pages and address the areas outlined below. Applicants are encouraged to organize their statements using the following headings to ensure that all topics are clearly addressed.
- Educational and career goals (In this section, you should speak to the role the degree would play in your professional development, and why you are seeking entrance to the program at this time)
- Pursuing a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (In this section, you should discuss why your career goals require courses from multiple academic program areas)
- Academic courses and/or training (In this section, you should provide information on courses and/or training you have taken that would provide a foundation for your master’s studies)
- Work and educational history (In this section, you should provide evidence of flexibility in responding to new situations, self-direction, and self-motivation)
- Motivation for seeking entrance to MAIS (In this section, you should discuss what you hope to learn, why RRU, your unique strengths, and any other information you believe relevant)
The MA in Interdisciplinary Studies requires a high degree of flexibility and self-direction from students. We will assess your potential fit for the program in part on the content provided in your personal statement.
Detailed résumé
A detailed résumé is one that provides a comprehensive profile of the applicant. It should include education, work experience (including voluntary/unpaid), reports and publications, professional memberships and affiliations, and other relevant information.
Letters of reference
Your application requires two letters of reference. These letters could be from either a current or past employer, or someone who has known you in an academic or volunteer setting. One of the reference letters could be a personal character reference; however, the emphasis will be placed on professional and academic reference letters.
- Professional reference: This letter should attest to your current or previous performance in your professional life. The letter can address areas such as communication skills, interpersonal and leadership skills, management potential, work ethic, etc.
- Academic reference: This letter should attest to the applicant’s performance in the context of their current or previous studies. The letter can address such areas as academic achievement, study skills, teamwork, leadership potential, flexibility, communication, and technical skills.
- Personal character reference: A personal character reference should consist of a letter from someone who has known the applicant for several years such as a friend, coach, or mentor, etc. The writer must indicate the length of time and context in which they have known the applicant, and consider the following attributes in the letter: compassion; empathy; integrity; equal concern and respect for others; initiative; adaptability; maturity; responsibility; continuity and perseverance. References will not be accepted from members of your family.
Proposed program schedule
After submitting an application online, applicants will be contacted by the College of Interdisciplinary Studies to design a program schedule that includes courses to be taken as part of the program. The development time for an individualized program schedule can vary, however, applicants can expect it will take approximately one month. An application is not considered complete and will not be assessed until it contains a program schedule endorsed by the applicant and the College of Interdisciplinary Studies. Applicants will need to submit their endorsed program schedule as part of their application.
If applicable:
- Applicants declaring permanent resident or Convention Refugee status in Canada must submit a copy of their Permanent Resident Card (PR card) along with their application.
- Transcript evaluation fee or credential evaluation report, if submitting international transcripts.
- An official English language proficiency score report or other evidence of proficiency if English is not your primary language.
For information on how and where to send your supporting documents, please refer to the document submission guidelines.
Admission timelines
As a personalized course schedule is required as part of the assessment process, usual turn-around times do not apply to applications for the MA in Interdisciplinary Studies. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that applicants apply early and begin working with the College of Interdisciplinary Studies as soon as possible to finalize a course schedule.
Curriculum questions
Please contact us with any questions you may have about the curriculum for the MA in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Financial aid and awards
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Program completion options
Choose from three completion options for the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies.
A major project or thesis allows you to explore an applied or academic research question that relates to an interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary field of study.
Course-based
You'll complete 36 credits of on-campus or online courses, including the following:
- 9 credits from three required courses in academic writing and critical thinking, interdisciplinary theory and methods
- 27 credits from courses in master's or graduate certificate programs
The coursework option allows you to acquire a maximum breadth of knowledge across disciplines without developing or demonstrating the ability to conduct research. If you struggle with self-directed learning, the regular assignments, deliverables and group work offered in this completion option may help you.
Research paper
You'll complete 36 credits of on-campus or online courses, including the following:
- 9 credits in three required courses in academic writing and critical thinking, interdisciplinary theory and methods
- 21 credits from courses in master's or graduate certificate programs
- 6 credits dedicated to a research paper that aligns with your professional field
The research paper is an independent, interdisciplinary, and applied project that constitutes of an examination of a topic chosen by you and agreed upon by your instructor. You will determine your research goals and develop a research question to guide your work. You will not engage in primary data collection but you may use existing, publicly available data; conduct a theoretical analysis; create a literature review; or pursue a policy analysis. Some, but not all, research-related learning outcomes of the program will be demonstrated in the research paper. Your instructor will provide advice and supervision.
This option is ideal if you want to use your interdisciplinary learning in your workplace or to leverage your research project for consulting.
Thesis
You'll complete 36 credits of on-campus or online courses, including the following:
- 9 credits in three required courses in academic writing and critical thinking, interdisciplinary theory and methods
- 15 credits from courses in master's or graduate certificate programs
- 12 credits dedicated to a master’s thesis
A thesis is a systematic study of a significant problem, issue or phenomenon. The thesis demonstrates your ability to analyze existing research, collate or collect data and apply it to an existing problem, issue or opportunity. The result is a synthesis of theoretical and empirical information, and recommendations for further action.
Requirements for a thesis completion include the following:
- submission for publication in Royal Roads University's digital archive, Pro-Quest and library, and Archives Canada, unless an exemption has been granted
- PDF summary with a minimum of 2,500 words for theses in non-traditional formats
- oversight by a thesis committee, including a supervisor, who is qualified at the doctoral level and demonstrates relevant competency in content and methodology
- public defence and review by an external academic examiner
- approximately 400 hours of effort
