The waiting game

The frustrating truth about ad-hoc degrees is that theres a lot of waiting. You can follow up with Susan Sharpe about your submission, but in all honesty, youre going to have to hold tight for awhile before you hear anything back, and once you do, before it shows up on your transcript anywhere. The more you keep in touch with Susan Sharpe (susan.sharpe@mcgill.ca, her contact info is also on the McGill website to get in touch via phone or to find her office), the better informed youll be and hopefully the faster it will go.

Ad-Hoc Programs
in the Faculty of Arts at McGill:

a How-To Guide
by Shaina Agbayani and Allison Jones
shaina.agbayani@mail.mcgill.ca allisonlouisejones@gmail.com

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Contents
Introduction 1. What is an ad-hoc program?
2. Why would somebody want to do an ad-hoc program?

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3. Testimonials and advice 4. How do I create an ad-hoc program? 5. How do I write a proposal for an ad-hoc program? 6. Example proposals 7. How do I nd a professor to advise and supervise my ad-hoc program? 8. Example support letter from professor The waiting game

Through the completion of this program, the student will: [list what you will learn from the program]. [Conrm that no other program satises these learning objectives and that the courses you are suggesting are appropriate to do so]. [Professors description of their eld of study, expertise, and the relevance to this degree, as well as any other comments they may have.] I have agreed to be an advisor for [students name] ad-hoc program [program name] and I recognize and accept the responsibilities of this position: to support and supervise the completion of [the program]. I will ensure that [the student] continues to adhere to administrative requirements, including Faculty regulations for the number of credits, GPA requirement, etc. necessary to complete their degree. Thank you very much for considering this degree proposal, and please contact me at [contact information] with any questions. Sincerely, [Professors Signature] [Professors Name]

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Professors willing to be approached to support students pursuing an ad-hoc program:

Adrienne Hurley, East Asian Studies Vrinda Narain, Faculty of Law and Faculty of Arts Aziz Choudry, Integrated Studies in Education Jenny Burman, Art History and Communication Studies Thomas Lamarre, East Asian Studies Michelle Hartman, Institute of Islamic Studies Charmaine Nelson, Art History Lisa Spanierman, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology Derek Nystrom, English

Introduction
Shaina is an Equity Studies major who was inspired to co-write this zine after discovering the wealth of interrelated knowledge in relation to equity that was offered in several departments. She was particularly frustrated by the lack of focused recognition on issues of racial diversity offered through existing degrees at McGill. So she ended up successfully changing her degree to the ad-hoc program Equity Studies after 3 years of technically being a student in Political Science and Womens Studies.

8. Example support letter from professor

This is an example of what the support letter from your professors could look like. The letter must state that: 1. the professor(s) are willing and able to support and supervise you for the program 2. the courses you have chosen make sense 3. you will still follow Faculty of Arts regulations (for example, number of credits, minimum GPA, et cetera). Allison began her degree at McGill in Social Work, but quickly grew frustrated due to the lack of focus on community organizing and on building alternative social structures, as well as less-than-inspiring classroom dynamics. She quickly realized that these are common problems at McGill, and created an ad-hoc minor in Social Change and Social Justice Studies. This program has allowed her to explore the processes of social change, and develop her understanding of and engagement in alternative education, which she sees as central to this process.

To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this letter to express my support and enthusiasm for [name of students] proposed [name of adhoc program]. [Basic introduction to the topic of your ad-hoc program]. Page | 18 Page | 3

1. What is an ad-hoc program?

An ad-hoc program is a student-proposed program that is (mostly) autonomously developed. This program can be in the form of a major, joint-major, or minor program. Ad-hoc programs are the by-product of students who want to do a degree whose scope of courses is currently not offered through any degree at McGill. There are a few important components to an ad-hoc program: a) you, your ideas, and your desire to learn, b) your degree proposal, c) the supervising professor for the program and their official support, and d) the waiting game, all of which will be explained throughout this zine.

SWRK 221: Public Social Services in Canada 3. Understand and apply critical perspectives on social norms and systems SWRK 325: Anti-Oppression Social Work Practice 4. Examine characteristics and examples of social change SOCI 386: Contemporary Social Movements SOCI 511: Movements/Collective Action 5. Develop methods for creating social change and sharing social justice values EDEC 249: Global Education and Social Justice SWRK 325: Anti-Oppression Social Work Practice

2. Why would somebody want to do an ad-hoc program?

McGill has a pretty limited number of programs and range of issues that they focus on teaching students about, and the most likely reason that someone would want to do it is to break out of those restrictions! Many ad-hoc programs that we know about are much more interdisciplinary than most McGill programs, so you could want to look at one issue from a variety of lenses (for example Scott Bakers Post Colonial Studies degree; see his testimony on p. 5). You may also want to try to develop a certain framework for looking at issues that isnt generally used at McGill (for example you could look at Shainas Equity Studies program on p. 11). There are also certain degrees that students only have access to if they are fully registered in that program, Page | 4

7. How do I nd a professor to advise and supervise my ad-hoc program?

(a) You can refer to list below for some supportive professors, or approach a professor that you already know and who studies something related to your ad-hoc program subject. (b) Talk to the professor about the proposal. Send them a draft version of your proposal and make a meeting to go in and discuss it in person. Ask them for their insight into courses: are you missing something crucial? Are these courses offered regularly? Do they know any other professors who could offer you advice? Page | 17

and applied courses, which is facilitated by the professionoriented and applicable nature of the Social Work and Education departments combined with the more theoretical approach of Sociology that I propose for this minor. This minor is designed to take an interdisciplinary approach. Social Work, which focuses on social justice and works towards creating social change, is an integral part of this minor. Sociology, as the empirical study of society, is also important to understand how social change occurs in varied situations and the theory of how social movements work. Finally, as education is one of the strongest methods of perpetuating or changing social perspectives, it is an important component in the exploration of how social change occurs and social justice develops. No other minor program provides the same possibility of applied and theoretical study of these issues, particularly with the focus on a Social Work perspective. Objectives: The objectives of this minor, and the courses which correspond to their completion, are as follows: 1. Understand the history and ideological roots of social change organizing SWRK 220: History and Philosophy of Social Work 2. Understand the current Canadian social systems and their origins, strengths, and weaknesses

and maybe youd like to take some courses from one of those programs to complement your other studies (see, for example, how Allisons minor program includes Social Work courses usually limited to Social Work students on p. 14). Its also worth remembering that doing an ad-hoc program can be a lot of work and bureaucracy, so choosing to do it isnt the easiest route. You will have the pleasure of studying what you want, how you want, with which profs you want, though, which is more than can be said for many other programs! If youve got the energy it can definitely be worth the effort.

3. Testimonials and advice

Scott Baker: Ad-Hoc Degree in Post-Colonial Studies
I was actually quite surprised at how smooth it was to create an ad-hoc degree, though my expectations were low. I think the main factors in my success were my confidence in the validity in my program, the legwork I did to provide supporting evidence about the gap this program fills, and the connection I made with the people inside the Faculty of Arts office. I cant over-emphasize this last element... make friends with the bureaucrats... they are good people, and they are your best ally. If I am to advise future undergrads on creating an Ad-Hoc degree I would offer these four additional pieces of advice: 1. Know why you want to make an ad-hoc degree and be sure that you cant accomplish this in other programs.

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2. Make sure you have a good professor that has not only the willingness, but also the time to support your program. 3. Write a major thesis around your topic. It will really tie the whole thing together, and give you something to show future schools, or employers to explain the experience. 4. Research and connect with other programs in other schools. Whatever you would like to do, there is a high probability someone somewhere has done something close to it before. They will be an important guide, and a valuable resource to take your inquiries further.

Aaron Vansintjan: Ad-Hoc Degree in Environment and Philosophy, Joint Honours

To be able to do an ad hoc, I worked with my faculty advisor. Since I was creating a new joint honours, I needed: 1. Approval from a philosophy faculty member who would act as my supervisor, and the philosophy department 2. Approval from the McGill School of Environment chair 3. A letter of why I thought this was important, addressed to Dean of Students of the Faculty of Arts 4. A detailed course list and explanation from the two departments of the reasoning. Then I waited for 3 months and got approval from Andre Costopoulos, followed by the Dean of Students.

interested in studying Social Change and Social Justice because I am currently involved in popular and alternative education initiatives and would like to spend my life participating in similar projects. Social change and social justice are an integral part of popular and alternative education, which is aimed at recognizing or creating spaces of learning outside of the traditional education system, particularly in community settings and with marginalized groups. Traditional education, for example schools, is one of the key methods by which our current social values and norms are passed on and perpetuated, so in order to create social change and move towards a society in which social justice is realized, I believe alternative education and popular education are critical. This is why completing a Minor in Education is not the appropriate field of study for me to progress in my understanding of and participation in popular and alternative education, as the Education program at McGill focuses on teacher training for the traditional education system. By gaining a broader understanding of social change and social justice my future participation in popular and alternative education initiatives will be informed with a deeper understanding of the impacts of learning outside of the schooled system and an awareness of the other social struggles to which my work is linked. A comprehensive introduction to the topics of social change and social justice requires a combination of theoretical

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Part D: Degree Preparation The Equity and History of Inequality degree as Ive proposed provides the broad support I require to prepare me for my desired career in developing research and public policy that promotes equity in the law and in community practices. Please do not hesitate to contact me for any additional information / insight about my choices in proposing this degree and its ultimate practicality. I sincerely appreciate the consideration. Best Regards, Shaina Agbayani

Matt Park: The non-ad-hoc route!

Majors and Minors arent set in stone. I wouldnt recommend changing your major and minor as many times as I did, however, if you suddenly realize in your fourth year that youre actually more interested in Science than the Arts, its never too late to switch programs (it might be a bit of a hassle going back to first year classes in your 4.5th year), but if its what you really want to do, almost anything is possible. To help you sleep better at night, here is what my transcript looks like: Year 1 - Arts Faculty Program Environment - Ecological Determinants of Health in Society Major Concentration History Minor Concentration Economics Year 2 - Arts Faculty Program Environment - Environment & Development Minor Concentration Science for Arts Students Minor Concentration Economics Year 3 - Arts Faculty Program Environment - Environment & Development Minor Concentration Science for Arts Students Minor Concentration African Studies Year 4 - Science Major Environment - Biodiversity and Conservation

Allison Jones: Ad-Hoc Minor in Social Change and Social Justice Studies
Proposed Courses: SWRK 220: History and Philosophy of Social Work SWRK 221: Public Social Services in Canada SWRK 325: Anti-Oppression Social Work Practice SOCI 386: Contemporary Social Movements SOCI 511: Movements/Collective Action EDEC 249: Global Education and Social Justice Alternate course (in case of changes in course offerings) SOCI 342/343: Independent Study Proposal: I am proposing an Ad Hoc Minor Program in Social Change and Social Justice to replace my current Minor Concentration in Education for Arts Students. I am Page | 14

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4. How do I create an ad-hoc program?

(a) Create a draft of your proposal (see page 9) (b) Approach a professor to be your advisor (see page 18) (c) Contact Susan Sharpe (susan.sharpe@mcgill.ca, who oversees ad-hoc programs in Arts) to inform her you plan to propose an ad-hoc program (d) Finalize your proposal (see examples on page 11) (e) Ask your supervising professor to write you a letter of support (a basic outline for that is included on page 18) (f) Submit your proposal to Susan Sharpe (g) Wait! For science students, there is some information to be found on: http://www.mcgill.ca/science/about/administration/helpminerva-course-proposal-revision Under Program Specific Information then under the subheading Guidelines for Ad-Hoc Programs, it is noted that: Ad hoc programs are initiated by the student, and are usually joint programs. Normally, the student discusses the proposal with advisors in the two departments involved, and once approved by the departments, an advisor is assigned from each department. Next, the student submits the proposal to the Director of Advising Services, Nicole Allard nicole.allard@mcgill.ca. Ad hoc programs must then be approved by the Academic Committee and by the Faculty of Science. Page | 8

Gender and Sexuality (12 Credits) WMST 200: Intro to Womens Studies RELG 271 : Sexual Ethics ANTH 342: Gender, Inequality, and the State WMST 303: Feminist Theory and Research SOCI 519: Gender and Globalization SOCI 270: Sociology of Gender Race / Colonialism (12 Credits) PHIL 327: Philosophy of Race ENGL 444: Womens Writing in Post-Colonial Societies WMST 401: Special Topics- Women in Post-Colonial India CANS 410: Seminar- Migration and Racialization in Canada ANTH 575: Concepts of Race ENGL 320: Post-Colonial Literature SOCI 512: Ethnicity and Public Policy Local and Global Cultural and Socioeconomic Inequality (12 credits) CANS 202: Canadian Cultures: Context & Issues HIST 309: History of Latin America to 1827 POLI 474: Inequality and Development ANTH 212: Anthropology of Development HIST 360: Latin America Since 1825 POLI 227: Developing Areas / Introduction

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a mix of what currently at McGill is Anthropology, Womens Studies, Politics, History, and Philosophy. However, the respective majors in these departments as well as the aforementioned interdisciplinary majors do not encompass a breadth of courses that would thoroughly highlight the history and politics of local and global inequalities as they relate to the intersections between gender, race, and class. For example, Womens Studies does this from a primarily gendered perspective while dabbling into how race is incorporated, Cultural Studies does this from a broad theoretical perspective that oftentimes elides a strong political and historical understanding of it, Canadian studies focuses on the Canadian context without sufficiently exploring how global histories and economy creates in equality in Canada , while International Development takes on an economic and global perspective on inequality that doesnt sufficiently encompass local perspectives. Moreover, none of these degrees provide more than a few race-centered components, something which my proposed degree really attempts to take into account through the courses outlined under the Race / Colonialism category. Part C: Course Requirements Outline The following demonstrates a similar break-up of course requirements to that of UofT and highlights the courses Ive taken that fulfill the group requirements (courses already taken are in italics.)

The following are guidelines for ad hoc programs: Students should propose ad hoc programs near the beginning of their undergraduate degree. The Director of Advising Services will check to see if an existing program could accommodate the student, and if so, will propose that the student follow the existing program. The number of credits for a joint honours program should not exceed 81, and for a majors program should not exceed 75 (with the aim of 72).

5. How do I write a proposal for an ad-hoc program?

(a) Think about the courses that you want to do
Youre going to need to justify the courses that you take, so it is important to think both about what would be interesting and exciting to take as well as why they are relevant to what you want to study and how they relate to one another. It is also important to think about how often courses are offered, what prerequisites they have, and what you need to do to register for them.

(b) Write a proposal listing out each of those courses

Your proposal should include the courses you expect to do as well as some back-up options, in case one is not offered or you cannot register for some reason.

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(c) Justify each of your chosen courses

Here you should outline why you chose these courses in particular. How do they relate to one another? What will you learn? What is interesting about the combination you have created that may not be as apparent in a singlediscipline degree program?

already exists. If it does, its much easier for you and for McGill for you to do that degree. Do your research and make sure no other program fits what you want to study.

6. Example proposals
Shaina Agbayani: Ad-Hoc Degree in Equity and Inequality Studies
Part A: Overview I propose a degree that takes on an interdisciplinary approach to social justice theory and practices in a variety of local and global contexts. This degree will look at equity and d the history of inequality for multiple lenses, most notably through gender, race, and sexuality through a historical, political, and anthropological examination of the progress of inequality, colonialism and gender rights. A similar type of degree is currently offered as a major and at the University of Toronto, as Equity Studies (see http:// www.artsandscience.utoronto.ca/ofr/calendar/crs_new. httm). At UofT, students must select from four course groups: (a) gender (b) race, creed, ethnicity (c) sexual diversities (d) general equity. Part B: Why This Degree Instead of a Degree that Currently Exists at McGill The degree that I would want to take would, at McGill, be closest to International Development, Canadian Studies, Womens Studies, Cultural Studies because of the interdisciplinary nature of my degree. My proposed degree is Page | 11

(d) Explain why this major or minor program is necessary for you
This is a crucial part of the application. You need to explain why this program is necessary to you, to your life, to your future plans, to your current situation. The committee does not want to see reasons like Well, I already took all these classes and just want credit for them or I think itd be a lot of fun. They want you to really justify your program. Your reasoning can be very personal, maybe you want to follow a career that McGill doesnt prepare you for, or that is inter-disciplinary. Maybe you are interested in a particular topic that isnt covered in one department. For inspiration, it can help to look at the proposal examples included later in this zine, as well as the descriptions McGill offers for its interdisciplinary programs (for example the MSE degree in Sustainability, Science, and Society or the Minor Concentration in Canadian Ethnic and Racial Relations).

(e) Prove that no other degree covers the topic that you want to study
This is also very important, but should be easier to do. Make sure that you are not just recreating a program that

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