Admission Requirements
We are now accepting applications from interested students!
The SSP Collaborative Master's program provides an opportunity for existing graduate students to gain additional training. To be accepted into the Collaborative Master's program, you must be admitted to one of the participating programs (at the University of Ottawa) listed (see below).
To apply, please complete the registration form and brief cover letter outlining your research interests in science, society and policy. Instructions for the cover letter are available directly in the registration form. Please submit your completed forms to sspgrad@uOttawa.ca.
N.B. Applications are currently being accepted and admissions to the SSP Collaborative Program are processed on a rolling basis. Interested students are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
The Specialization in SSP
The ISSP launched its inaugural master’s level Collaborative Program in Science, Society and Policy in September 2015. The program will allow students registered in one of the participating master’s programs to specialize in science and innovation policy.
The objective of the Collaborative Program is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate the challenges confronting decision-making at the interface of science and policy, and to employ an interdisciplinary approach for addressing policy development and implementation relating to science and technology (S&T) innovation, governance and/or communication.
Participating Programs (Primary Programs) include:
- MA in Communication
- MA and MSc in Geography
- MA in Public and International Affairs
- MSc in Biology
- MSc in Chemistry
- MSc in Earth Sciences
- MSc in Physics
- MASc in Chemical Engineering
- MASc in Civil Engineering
- MASc in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- MIS in Information Studies
ISP Course Descriptions
Descriptions of the courses offered by the ISSP as part of the graduate program are provided below.
ISP 5101: Decision-making at the interface of science and policy (3 cr)
This course explores a number of critical issues in the design and implementation of science (or, more generally, evidence)-based policy. Topics will include: the nature of scientific evidence; who has standing in the provisioning of scientific evidence; the science and non-science of risk assessment; ethical dimensions of policy design and implementation; the role of science in policy design and implementation; the policy making process; and science policy performance evaluation.
ISP 5903: Science, Society and Technology Capstone Practicum (3 cr)
This practicum is designed to partner students with external public, non-governmental or private institutions engaged in activities relating to science and technology policy, regulation, governance or communication. Students will undertake, either singly in groups, a research project co-directed by both an internal supervisor from ISSP, as well as an external supervisor from the sponsoring institution.