Current Student and Alumni Experiences
"The Interdisciplinary Master's of Philosophy (MPHIL) in Policy Studies program at UNB in Fredericton provided me with a unique opportunity to learn prevailing theoretical concepts and apply them to real-life circumstances. I chose this program because it allowed me to develop my course load to meet the needs of my research topic. In addition, this program permitted me to use the talent pool of the entire university. Without the limitations of a traditional faculty, I was able to solicit aid from diverse fields of study such as Electrical Engineering, Education, Renaissance College, and the Centre for Property Studies. Overall, it was an innovative and enlightening experience."
- Chris Gunter, Fredericton NB, MPHIL 2011
"Coming back to UNB 30 years after receiving my bachelor's degree, the interdisciplinary Masters of Philosophy degree was a perfect fit for me. I did not have a disciplinary specialty, nor was I interested in picking a narrow focus for my research. In the MPhil program, I had the freedom to choose my focus and find the professors whose interests matched mine, across departments. Through the 18 months of study, my research interests expanded, so I chose to continue in the Interdisciplinary PhD program. While there are challenges to not having a disciplinary "home", the benefits of working across disciplines and with a diversity of professors to pursue my interest in the intersection of ethics, culture and ecological political economy far outweighs those challenges."
-Janice Harvey, Waweig New Brunswick, MPhil 2009, PhD IDST Candidate
"I was initially attracted to the MPhil program because it seemed like it would allow me to explore my academic interests from both a theoretical and a more applied perspective. It has, indeed, given me the opportunity to approach these various interests in new and different ways. Although the openness and freedom within the program requires a lot of self-motivation and discipline, my committee members and the program's Graduate Academic Unit (GAU) have provided a lot of support, guidance, and encouragement. Most of all, the value of the MPHil program, for me, has been the opportunity to meet and learn from both students and faculty who work in a wide range of fields. My interaction with scholars from so many different disciplines has greatly enriched my own knowledge, research, and experience as a graduate student."
-Paula Graham, Ottawa Ontario, MPhil Candidate
"The idea of returning to university after a decade in the workforce was daunting at first. Many of my initial reservations promptly disappeared once I discovered the options available to me in the MPhil (Policy Studies) program offered through the School of Graduate Studies at UNB. I quickly found every contact I had at UNB to be friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable. The UNB staff walked me through all my options in the program and as a potential part-time graduate student. The MPhil program has become a perfect fit. As a part-time student, I've been able to develop a course schedule that fits my professional responsibilities without sacrificing the ability to learn from an amazing roster of professors at a world-class institution. The interdisciplinary approach to the MPhil program has allowed me to broaden both my research and my own thinking on complex problems. Further, the professors encourage students to think analytically about some of the most pressing public policy issues facing governments - whether they are local, national or international - today and develop possible policy options that draw on a variety of different academic disciplines. On a personal note, the lively and engaging debates that are encouraged inside the program are without a doubt my favorite part of every class. Community is also an extremely important part of the MPHil program. The staff and students work hard to make every person in the program feel at home once they arrive. "
-Daniel McHardie, Fredericton NB, MPhil Candidate
