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Masters in Human Systems Intervention

Mastering the art and science of change

Program overview

The MA in Human Systems Intervention prepares you to plan and implement whole system change processes. You will explore the theories behind various change approaches in order to facilitate and engage with clients as you design and implement interventions. Collaborating with other students, you will gain a deep understanding of how individuals, teams and systems function, and will apply that knowledge to interventions for third-party organizations. Our course schedule is designed so that students can immediately put the skills they acquire to use in the workplace. Our field supervisors are graduates who now occupy positions in companies such as Deloitte, Manulife Financial Corporation, Bombardier Inc., the McGill University Health Centre and the House of Commons of Canada.

Program details

Admission Requirements

  • Minimum two years of full-time work experience.
  • Bachelor's degree with a minimum B average or a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00.
  • A clearly delineated career intention concerning the development of intervention expertise for a particular domain of professional practice.
  • Capacity to undertake all core courses of the first year in the scheduled sequence of the program.
  • Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.

Degree Requirements

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits.

Please see the Applied Human Sciences Courses page for course descriptions.

Human Systems Intervention MA (45 credits)

27

credits of Required Courses:

  AHSC 610 Group Process Intervention (3.00)
  AHSC 620 Learning and Individual Change Processes (3.00)
  AHSC 631 Research Methods (3.00)
  AHSC 632 Planning Human Systems Intervention (3.00)
  AHSC 660 Philosophy and Ethics of Intervention (3.00)
  AHSC 670 Consultation Methods (3.00)
  AHSC 680 Facilitating Individual and Group Learning Processes (6.00)
  AHSC 685 Coaching Interventions and Processes (3.00)

15

credits:

  AHSC 698 Master’s Project (15.00)

3

credits of Elective Courses chosen from:

  AHSC 675 Introduction to Open Systems Theory (3.00)
  AHSC 681 Special Topics (3.00)
  AHSC 682 Special Topics (6.00)
  AHSC 695 Independent Study I (3.00)
  AHSC 696 Independent Study II (3.00)

Your completed application will include:

Please apply online. Read the how-to guide for application procedures. 

Note: An interview is required before admission to the program.  Selected applicants will be contacted by the program office.

 

  DEGREE
 
FALL
(September)
WINTER
(January)
SUMMER
(May/June)
Human Systems Intervention
MA Feb. 1 n/a n/a

First-year Students

Orientation for new HSI students

Thursday, August 3, 2023
7pm - 9pm

  AHSC 610 
Group Process Intervention Laboratory Monday, August 28 - Thursday, August 31, 2023
9am - 9pm
  Friday, September 1, 2023
9am - 5pm
  AHSC 620, 631, 632, 660, 670

1st Year Class Weekends

August 4, 5 and 6, 2023

 

September 22, 23 and 24, 2023

 

October 27, 28 and 29, 2023

 

November 24, 25 and 26, 2023

  January 12, 13 and 14, 2024
 

February 9, 10 and 11, 2024

  March 8, 9  and 10, 2024
 

April 12, 13 and 14, 2024

 

May 3, 4 and 5, 2024

Second-year Students
Orientation for new HSI students

Thursday, August 1, 2024

7pm – 9pm

  AHSC 685
On Campus Intensive:
Coaching Interventions and Processes

Monday, May 29 – Friday, June 2, 2023

 

ELECTIVE: AHSC 675
On Campus Intensive:
Introduction to Open Systems Theory
Monday, June 12 – Friday, June 16, 2023
  AHSC 680
On Campus Intensive:
Human Systems Laboratory Work

Saturday, August 26 – Thursday, August 31, 2023
9 am – 9 pm

September 1, 2023
9 am – 12pm

On Campus Intensive:
Workshop Preparation, Implementation
and Evaluation

Friday, October 20 – Monday, October 23, 2023
8 am – 10 pm
  AHSC 698 
  Friday, May 5, 2023
1pm – 3pm
  Friday, August 25, 2023
1 pm – 4pm
  September 30 and October 1, 2023
  November 11 and 12, 2023
 

January 20 and 21, 2024

  March 23 and 24, 2024

Project Colloquim Dates

May 25 and 26, 2024

 

June 15 and 16, 2024

 

July 6 and 7, 2024 (if necessary)

First-year Students
Orientation for new HSI students Thursday, August 1, 2024
7pm – 9pm
  AHSC 610
Group Process Intervention Laboratory

Monday, August 26 – Thursday, August 29, 2024
9am – 9pm

Friday, August 30, 2024
9am – 5pm

  First-year Class Weekends

Friday and Saturday:
9am – 9pm

Sunday:
9am – 5pm

 

Friday, August 2 – Sunday, August 4, 2024

Friday, September 20 – Sunday, September 22, 2024

Friday, October 25 – Sunday, October 27, 2024

Friday, November 29 – Sunday, December 1, 2024

Friday, January 17 – Sunday, January 19, 2025

Friday, February 14 – Sunday, February 16, 2025

Friday, March 14 – Sunday, March 16, 2025

Friday, April 11 – Sunday, April 13, 2025

Friday, May 2 – Sunday, May 4, 2025

Second-year Students
  AHSC 685
On Campus Intensive:
Coaching Interventions and Processes
Monday, May 27 – Friday, May 31, 2024
  ELECTIVE: AHSC 681
On Campus Intensive:
Theory U: An Awareness-Based Method
Monday, June 17 – Friday, June 21, 2024
  AHSC 680
On Campus Intensive:
Human Systems Laboratory Work

Saturday, August 24 – Wednesday, August 28, 2024
9am – 9pm

Friday, October 4 & Saturday, October 5, 2024
9am – 5pm

Friday, November 8 & Saturday, November 9, 2024
9am – 5pm

Saturday, January 25 & Sunday, January 26, 2025
9am – 5pm

  Second-year Course Weekends
 

Sunday, May 5, 2024
1pm – 3pm

Friday, August 23, 2024
1pm – 4pm

Saturday, February 15 & Sunday, February 16, 2025
9am – 5pm

Saturday, March 8 & Sunday, March 9, 2025
9am – 5pm

Saturday, April 5 & Sunday, April 6, 2025
9am – 5pm

Saturday, April 26 & Sunday, April 27, 2025
9am – 5pm

Sample classes offered:

  • Group Process Intervention
  • Learning and Individual Change Processes
  • Research Methods
  • Consultation Skills
  • Philosophy and Ethics of Intervention

Consult the graduate calendar for a complete list of current courses.

Several awards and scholarships are available for new students, and consideration for funding opportunities is automatically part of the admissions process.  In addition, students are eligible for Research Assistant positions on funded research grants, and are encouraged to network with faculty members to determine if work opportunities are available. 

The Faculty of Arts and Science supports graduate students by awarding a variety of scholarships and bursaries such as:

  • Faculty of Arts and Science Master's Fellowship
  • Campaign for the New Millennium Graduate Award
  • Harriet and Abe Gold Endowment
  • Hydro-Quebec Graduate Award
  • Out-of-Province Fee Remission Awards

Please consult Concordia’s graduate funding page and Financial Aid and Awards for more information.

Research-active faculty members represent the diversity of approaches that are built into our program. They regularly publish in a variety of different venues and have won a number of awards for excellence in teaching.

  • Faculty research interests include:
  • knowledge creation in healthcare
  • group dynamics in extreme environments
  • homophobia, violence and applied interventions
  • lifestyle wellness coaching
  • collaborative creativity
  • planned change and innovation
  • wellness in the workplace
  • Indigenous youth leadership development
  • learning communities as complex adaptive systems

Our alumni are highly sought after by intergovernmental organizations, universities, multinational corporations, consulting companies, governments, community-based programs and international aid organizations. Graduates are working as advisors, consultants, writers, coaches, professors, counsellors, associates and directors.

Example of organizations and institutions our alumni are currently working for include:

  • A+ Transitions
  • Bombardier Inc.
  • Canadian Department of National Defense
  • Centre for Intercultural Learning
  • CGI
  • Conference Board of Canada
  • Desjardins group
  • Foot in the Door Consulting
  • Forbes
  • Head & Hands
  • House of Commons of Canada
  • IMIXcoCREATION
  • International Civil Aviation Organization
  • Kids Helpline
  • KPMG Canada
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Manulife Financial Corporation
  • McGill University
  • NewLeaf Performance
  • OneSmallWorld
  • PMC Training
  • Process Inc. Consulting
  • Project Chance
  • Pyxis Technologies
  • RBC
  • Rio Tinto Alcan
  • Royal Roads University
  • Ryerson University
  • St. Francis Xavier University
  • The Pillars
  • United Nations
  • Vision Coach International

“The program not only gave me tools and experience in individual, group and system change processes, it also significantly shifted my worldview and the ways I approach my personal and professional relationships.”

Juniper Belshaw

 “What I valued most is the collective intelligence and wisdom of the HSI community. They are a committed group of professionals who are busy changing the world and always eager to connect and share resources.”

Cédric Jamet

“Everything I do is informed by what I learned in this program. Professors often pop into my head, offering their lenses for seeing and doing work with systems in ways that are collaborative and generative.”

Christie Huff

“What distinguishes HSI from what I have experienced before is the quality of the faculty and staff. They are a group of people committed to giving students a safe space to explore and to question.”

Fodé Beaudet

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