MHR frequently asked questions

The Practicum offers the prospect of relevant employment experience, employability skills, and the application of knowledge to a human rights organization. A Practicum differs from a Thesis in its emphasis on the application of theory; however, it is similar in scope, span, and rigour. The Practicum does require a 7,500-10,000-word major research paper after the site placement. The Thesis offers the opportunity to do in-depth original research and might be particularly attractive for those who intend to pursue doctorates and academic careers.

Prior to commencing your placement, you must create a Learning Contract with the MHR Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) that outlines concrete and measurable learning objectives. You must sign all the required Practicum documentation (these are Appendices in the Manual), including a Code of Conduct. On site, you must complete 300 unpaid, supervised hours in your practicum site, and log your hours and activities daily. The log of these hours must be signed by the Site Supervisor. When the hours are completed, you are required to write and pass a 7,500-10,000 major research paper, related to the work at your site. Throughout the academic year, you are to attend all mandatory MHR meetings and participate in a 3 professional development workshops.

By January 15 of your first year, you submit a Practicum Outline to the MHR Director and PDC outlining 3 key interests and suggesting 3 human rights organizations that you think align with your interests for placement. The outline should also include a one-page statement of interest outlining the precise skills and training you seek to develop during your practicum placement.

Any organization that does human-rights related work (this often means addressing injustices) may qualify, but all placements must be approved by the MHR Director through the Professional Development Coordinator.

At the site you become a part of the organization. You may learn to write grants, reports, develop policy positions, lead workshops, etc. The kind of work you do will depend on the kinds of skills and training you are seeking.

You will work closely with the MHR Professional Development Coordinator and together you will find a meaningful placement.

Yes. In fact, we expect you to recommend organizations that might interest you. There is no need to contact the sites at this point but do explore their websites and learn what you can.

Often the sites will ask for an interview and your CV or resume. This is part of making certain your placement will be good for both parties.

Some sites offer multiple placement opportunities, but ultimately the site chooses who will work with them for the MHR practicum.

Yes, but this is somewhat complicated so discuss your ideas with the MHR Director or the Professional Development Coordinator.

It often takes two-three months to set up new site Practicums in Winnipeg and up to six months outside of Winnipeg and Canada. Established sites take much less time.

The Practicum requires 300 hours. Once those hours are completed, if the agency wishes to continue their working relationship with you it takes place outside of the framework of the Master of Human Rights Practicum.

Yes, the MHR Practicum fee for 2024-25 is set at $526 per Practicum. The University also charges Continuing Fees until your degree is complete. It is your responsibility to understand and pay these fees.

The MHR Director has general authority of the program and will ultimately approve all placements and successful completion of the Practica.

The MHR Professional Development Coordinator oversees the practicum process, including the development of learning objectives, determining suitable placements, and the delivery of multiple professional learning opportunities for MHR students throughout the academic year. The MHR PDC is your main contact throughout your practicum placement.

The Practicum Faculty Advisor is chosen by the student with the assistance of the MHR Director and guides the conceptualization, development, and final assessment of the major research paper. Their role is most active after the placement hours are complete, but it is preferable to begin collaboration with your faculty advisor early in the placement process.

These are official reports of your progress through your Master’s degree. They are completed with your Faculty Advisor and submitted to Grad Studies by June 1 every year.

This is a publishable quality academic paper that critically reflects and contextualizes the impact and influence of your Practicum within the broader field of human rights. It can be no longer than 10,000 words including Bibliography and Notes. The MRP is supervised by your Faculty Advisor.

The Practicum Symposium takes place at the end of November. Student research from both the Practicum and the Thesis streams present their major research papers/theses from a Briefing Note format.

A Practicum differs from a Thesis in its emphasis on the application of theory; though it is similar in scope, span, and rigour. The extent of work required for the Practicum is equal to that required for the Master’s Thesis. Practicum students pay a fee for the Practicum, and complete 300 unpaid supervised hours in a human rights-based organization and write a 7500-10,000 word paper instead of a Thesis.

• create a Practicum ‘contract’ outlining goals and learning expectations for the Practicum
• complete 300 unpaid supervised hours in an approved Practicum site
• develop and write a 7,500-10,000-word Major Research Paper and obtain a Pass grade.
• attend at least three (3) professional seminars (if applicable)
• attend all mandatory Practicum progress meetings.
• develop a 2-page Brief and participate in the Student-led Symposium in November

Yes, the MHR Practicum fee for 2020-21 is set at $500 per Practicum. The University also charges Continuing Fees until the degree is complete. Make sure your student understands these fees.

This is a publishable quality academic paper that critically reflects and contextualizes the impact and influence of the student’s Practicum within the broader field of human rights. It can be no longer than 10,000 words including Bibliography and Notes. The MRP must be passed by the Faculty Advisor and the appointed Examiner, presented at the annual MHR Student-led Symposium, then uploaded to the Student Research Portal on the MHR Website.

The MHR Professional Development Coordinator oversees the practicum process, including the development of learning objectives, determining suitable placements, and the delivery of multiple professional learning opportunities for MHR students throughout the academic year. The MHR PDC is the main contact throughout the practicum placement, but we encourage FAs to be involved as interested parties during this phase.

The Faculty Advisors’(FA) primary responsibility pertains to the development and defence of the Major Research Paper. The FA assists the student in the development of their Major Research Paper. While the student is in a practicum site, the FA can assist the student in the development of a topic and purpose for their paper related to their Practicum. The FA becomes more actively involved as a mentor in the Practicum process once the Practicum placement is completed. The Faculty Advisor then oversees and grades (Pass/Fail) the Major Research Paper in collaboration with the Examiner. The FA is also responsible for Annual Reports and to ensure the student is aware of any fees associated with their program plan. Some Advisors take a more active role in connecting students with relevant Practicum placements, but these must be coordinated with the MHR Professional Development Coordinator and approved by the MHR Director before the commencement of any placement.

Advisors are approached typically by students. When an agreement to work together is reached, the Faculty Advisor is formally appointed by the MHR Director. This must be done prior to the progress report (June 1 every year). Students and Advisors must complete the advisor-student guidelines form together on JUMP:

• Advisor-Student guidelines

Examiners are recommended by the FA to the MHR Director.

Purely evaluative. They Pass/Fail the Major Research paper.

Yes.

The Faculty Advisor is not responsible for finding a Practicum placement, though may have recommendations for the student. The logistics and learning objectives of the Practicum placements, the primary relationship with the student during their Practicum is guided by our Professional Development Coordinator, who is responsible for developing/coordinating/monitoring/evaluating the work placements and development and achievements of student learning objectives.

The Practica must be human rights related. The MHR currently has organizations we work with, including the Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties, KLINIC, Public Interest Law Centre and the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, and each yar have expanded so that now we have over 30 in our network. We interpret human rights related work broadly, so final approval is granted by the MHR Director.

Yes (but not during COVID19 restrictions), but this is complicated and is primarily coordinated through the International Centre.

No, placements within Winnipeg are not eligible for funding. There are funds available for some placements through application to the Mauro Travel Fund outside of Winnipeg (including both those elsewhere in Canada and outside of Canada).

There are no stipulations preventing paid Practica, but most are not paid.

Typically they begin in May after the completion of Winter term. All required coursework and legal documents must be completed before the placements begin.

Practica are normally be part-time and are worked as 25 hours/week for 12 weeks, though this can vary. The Supplementary Regulations indicate that Practica shall normally occur over the course of three months during one semester. This can be extended but requires approval from the MHR Director.

The MHR Student -led Symposium takes place at the end of November and is coordinated by the MHR PDC. Student research from both the Practicum and the Thesis streams present their major research papers/theses from a Briefing Note format, which is coached by the PDC.

Once the paper has passed, FAs are responsible for some last oversight: students must upload their paper to MSpace in accordance to the format and procedure. The Advisor and Examiner must also fill out the final report form and return it to the MHR Director for signature and submission to graduate studies.

As the principal mentor for a graduate student, the Thesis Advisor coordinates the Thesis process, including the preparation and grading of the Thesis Proposal, the preparation of the Thesis, and the oral defence of the Thesis. The Advisor recommends qualified faculty members to be appointed to the Thesis Advisory Committee. When the Thesis Proposal is ready, the Thesis Advisor gives tentative approval of the final proposal for presentation to the Thesis Examining Committee. Thesis Advisors also submit yearly Progress Reports to the MHR Director, and then the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The Thesis Advisor completes and submits the Advisor Student Guidelines form (on JUMP), as soon as possible after registration but no later than the submission of the first Progress Report. The student must also complete the SSG Instructions form.

• ASG Instructions 

The Advisory Committee is organized by the Thesis Advisor and approved by the Director of the MHR. It will normally consist of 3 members – the Advisor and two Examiners. At least two members of the committee must be members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The thesis examiners’ role is evaluative. They provide feedback and grade the Thesis Proposal, as well as the final Thesis.

The MHR Thesis Advisor recommends Examiners to the MHR Director, who appoints them to the Committee.

The Thesis Proposal should be 10-15 pages in length and includes an introduction, a context section, the theoretical background of the study, the methodology to be used, the research questions, and the significance of the study.

Yes. Proposals are submitted to the Thesis Advisory Committee, but after 9 credit hours of coursework are completed. Normally students submit their Thesis Proposals within three months of completing their coursework.

No, but the Thesis Proposal must still be approved by both the Thesis Advisor and Examiner(s).

Yes, and the Thesis Advisory Committee meeting to consider the proposal must adhere to the procedure outlined in the MHR Supplementary Regulations.

The Thesis is graded Pass or Fail by a majority of the Thesis Committee.

The Thesis should also demonstrate that the candidate has made an original contribution to knowledge in the field of human rights research. It is 20,000-25,000 words of double-spaced typescript, including notes and bibliography.

Research involving human subjects must receive ethics approval from the relevant University of Manitoba Research Ethics Board before any data collection may commence.

Deadlines for graduation are found in the University calendar. All program requirements must be completed before students may be recommended for graduation.

Yes. The defence is open to all members of the University of Manitoba community.

The Examining Committee is normally be the same as the Thesis Advisory Committee.

The final examination for the MHR thesis proceeds in two stages: a) the student will first present a summary (10-15 minutes) of the research contribution; and b) the examination of the candidate’s thesis. The examination portion should not exceed 70 minutes.

Typically two (2) rounds of questioning are permitted: the first of 10 minutes for each Examiner, and the second of 5 minutes for each Examiner. The Examining Committee then meets in private to determine whether the Thesis passes and whether revisions are necessary.

The Thesis is graded on its merits according to the following categories:

• Acceptable, without modification or with minor revision(s); or
• Acceptable, subject to modification and/or revision(s); or
• Not acceptable.

The MHR Student -led Symposium takes place at the end of November and is coordinated by the MHR PDC. Student research from both the Practicum and the Thesis streams present their major research papers/theses from a Briefing Note format, which is coached by the PDC.

The Advisor and Examiners must submit the Thesis final report to the MHR Director, who submits it to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The student must upload their final Thesis in correct format to MSpace.

The Thesis stream is often chosen by students intending to pursue further thesis-based degrees such as doctorates because it gives you the opportunity to engage in sustained and substantial original research on a topic of interest. An essential feature of the Thesis is that you demonstrate competence to complete a research project and present the findings. A practicum emphasizes practical work experience.

You take the initiative to contact a potential advisor the approved list on the MHR website. Other University of Manitoba faculty members may also be considered but they must agree to advise the student, be eligible according to the University. You must get approval from the MHR Director for advisors not on the list. Once you have chosen a Thesis Advisor, complete the Advisor Student Guidelines (on JUMP).

The Progress Reports are annual reports of your academic progress through the program. They are completed after a meeting between you and your Advisor, then submitted to the MHR Director before May 23 each year.

The Thesis Proposal is a 10–15-page proposal for thesis research prepared under the supervision of your Advisor. It is to be submitted to your Advisor after 9 credit hours of MHR work is complete and must be approved by your Thesis Advisory Committee before any research work can begin.

The Advisory Committee is usually 3 members (an Advisor and 2 Examiners), organized by the Thesis Advisor and approved by the Director of the MHR.

No, but the Thesis Proposal must still be approved by the Thesis Advisor and Examiners.

The Thesis Advisory Committee passes or fails the Thesis Proposal by majority vote.

You must receive ethics approval for any research that involves human subjects, and no data collection may commence until you have written approval.

• Human ethics index

The Thesis demonstrates your mastery of a specific field of human rights research and that you are fully conversant with the relevant literature. The document is 20,000-25,000 words of double-spaced typescript, including notes and bibliography, and makes an original contribution to knowledge in the field of human rights. This normally involves original research (i.e. interviews, surveys, participant observation, the analysis of jurisprudence, archival research, etc.) Thesis guidelines are strict.

• Thesis guidelines 

This depends on you. The university offers three graduation deadlines each year, details are found on the Faculty of Graduate Studies deadlines. You must complete all your graduation requirements to be eligible to graduate.

This is the same committee as your Proposal Committee. They are appointed by your Advisor.

The examiners evaluate and grade your Thesis.

Yes. The date is set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and all members of the University of Manitoba community are invited to attend.

You present a 10–15-minute summary of your research contribution, and then there are two rounds of questions from the examining committee lasting up to 70 minutes.

The Thesis is graded as Acceptable with Minor Revisions, or Acceptable with Major Revisions, or Not Acceptable.

This is rare because your Advisor guides and advises your work to ensure you produce a quality document. If, however, two of the three examiners do not pass the Thesis, it will fail. It can be submitted for examination a second time (and no more than a second time).

Thesis students are invited to participate in our annual Master of Human Rights Symposium on a separate Thesis panel, normally held in late November or early December of each year. The Symposium emulates an academic conference. After the Symposium, presented papers are uploaded to the MHR Student Research Portal.