McMaster's graduate and undergraduate enrolment numbers were presented to University Senate last week.

Preliminary enrolment figures for the 2003-2004 academic year (as of Nov. 1) show full-time undergraduate enrolment is 16,183, with 5,334 students enrolled in level 1. This is slightly above McMaster's overall enrolment target for full-time undergraduate students, which was 15,361, with 5,130 in level 1. Currently 2,710 part-time students have completed registration.

Undergraduate enrolment in 2002-2003 was 14,692 (full-time) and 2,906 (part-time).

At the graduate level, dean of graduate studies Fred L. Hall reported that as of Nov. 1, 2003, graduate enrolment is 2,269 full-time graduate students. “The numbers have gone up even further than I expected them to from the numbers I presented in October,” he said.

Final enrolment numbers will be presented to Senate in December.

New graduate programs

A new Master's Program in Globalization Studies at McMaster will be the first of its kind in Canada. Administered by the Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition, the program will provide students with the opportunity to think creatively about and conduct interdisciplinary research related to a central process of the contemporary era: globalization. The program brings together social science and humanities perspectives on globalization.

Students of a new Professional Masters Program in Engineering and Public Policy will acquire an enhanced understanding of public policy and its effects on technological, social and ecological systems. In today's complex world, engineers are called upon to design technical systems that provide goods and services to society in a safe, efficient and environmentally sound manner.

Advanced engineering studies, innovation and entrepreneurial skills development and engineering enterprise, are the three components of a new Master's Program in Engineering in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Students will graduate with leading edge engineering skills through business stream activities. An engineering enterprise project will run throughout the entire study period and will result in both a business and technical plan for an engineering prototype project, with an identified customer base and a plan outlining the way to commercialization.

Offered through the engineering departments of McMaster, Queen's University, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo and the University of Western Ontario, a new Master's Program in Nuclear Engineering was prompted by the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering. The self-funded, full-cost recovery program will comprise the application of nuclear science and technology.