School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS)
About Us
The School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS) is the home of five interdisciplinary programs of study: Childhood and Youth Studies (CHST), Human Rights and Social Justice (HRSJ), and Indigenous Studies (INDG), Master of Arts in Human Rights and Social Justice (HRSJ), and African Studies. SIS brings together faculty and students from across the campus who share research interests that cut across traditional disciplinary boundaries in the arts, social and natural sciences. In IIS, research and teaching draw on critical perspectives on societal issues.
While each program is unique, they all share the goal of supporting students in applying critical approaches that challenge historical and contemporary inequities. Across the programs, we offer courses that advance anti-colonial, decolonial, anti-racist, Indigenous, transnational, and community approaches to learning and research. SIS strives to teach our students how to make connections, think critically, and contribute significantly
Five Programs. One Commitmment to People.
African Studies
The African Studies program draws on Carleton’s deep faculty expertise and the wider Ottawa-Gatineau region to offer fresh insight into Africa’s dynamics: the slave trade, religion, livelihoods, conflict, and the arts.
Childhood and Youth Studies
The Childhood and Youth Studies program centres on childhood and youth, and its focus on critical intersectionality, children’s rights, and youth activism makes it the only program of its kind in Eastern Ontario.
Human Rights and Social Justice
The Human Rights and Social Justice program at Carleton studies historical and contemporary human rights and social justice issues and their impact on human lives in different contexts.
Indigenous Studies
Critical Indigenous Studies unites us in commitment to Indigenous resurgence, community-engaged learning, and dissecting colonial power. A degree prepares you for decolonization, climate action, and law reform.
Master of Arts Human Rights and Social Justice
Our MA program emphasizes social justice frameworks born out of anti-colonial, decolonial, anti-racist, transnational, and community-based knowledge processes and practices in the context of graduate studies.
Students Advising
For undergraduate advising inquiries please email us at iis@carleton.ca
For graduate advising inquiries please email us at iisgrad@cunet.carleton.ca.
For in-person, one on one undergraduate advising, we are available Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please email us at iis@carleton.ca to make an appointment.
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