Dr. Ben Mckay

Associate Professor

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Biography

Ben McKay is an Associate Professor in the Global Development Studies program, within the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Calgary. His research primarily focuses on critical development studies and critical agrarian studies, particularly examining the political economy, agrarian change, and food sovereignty in Latin America. McKay's recent work investigates issues such as agrarian extractivism and agroecology, maintaining active research projects in countries like Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. He has been involved with various initiatives, including the BRICS Initiative for Critical Agrarian Studies (BICAS) and serves as a co-convener of the Calgary Institute for Humanities Working Group on Rethinking Latin American Studies from the South. McKay's extensive background includes a PhD in Development Studies from the International Institute of Social Studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam, and an MA from Saint Mary's University. He has received multiple grants and awards for his work, including SSHRC funding and recognition as a GREAT Supervisor by the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Calgary.

Research Interests

Awards

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Insight Development Grant

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Insight Grant

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GREAT Supervisor Award

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Connection Grant

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Kari Polanyi-Levitt Prize

Courses

DEST 393 Theories & Applications of Development ANTH 421 Contemporary Latin American Society DEST 405 Environment and Development DEST 401 Advanced Topics: Political Economy, Ecology, Agriculture, Food and Environment DEST 402 Global Food Politics

Requirements for University of Calgary

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.3
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Listening
Required:20
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:97
GRE General
Verbal
Required:150
Quantitative
Required:159
Analytical Writing
Required:5.5
Overall
Required:5.5
Prerequisites
4-year Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent 3rd or 4th year course in Theory of Computation 3rd or 4th year course in Software Engineering 3rd or 4th year course in Systems (OS, Compilers, Networking) 3rd or 4th year course in Application (AI, Graphics, Databases)
Application Checklist
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Two Letters of Reference
Specialization Notes

Department of Computer Science Master's program. GRE scores are expected for international students.