Graduate Program Requirements

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Our graduate program has several defined requirements to ensure the successful completion of your studies.

Masters Stream

Students in the M.Sc. stream must complete the equivalent of 1/2 credit in graduate course work, attend the weekly student seminars regularly, give one student seminar, and conduct regular committee meetings. During their tenure, the student will have conducted independent and original research that will form their thesis. In addition, they will have demonstrated in-depth knowledge of their scientific field. There is no requirement for the work to be published in peer-reviewed literature.

Typically the M.Sc. thesis contains an introduction, methods, one data chapter, and conclusions. Students typically take two years to complete their M.Sc.

Reviewing data

Doctoral Stream

Students in the Ph.D. stream must complete the equivalent of 1 & 1/2 credits in graduate course work (direct entry or transfer students) or 1 credit (if the student already has an M.Sc.), attend the weekly student seminar regularly, give three student seminars, and conduct regular committee meetings. During their tenure, the student will have conducted independent and original research that will form their thesis. In addition, they will have demonstrated in-depth knowledge of not only their scientific field, but that of related fields. While there is no strict requirement for their work to be published in peer-reviewed literature, it is expected that the work done is of publishable quality. Typically the Ph.D. thesis contains an introduction, methods, two or three data chapters, and conclusions. Students typically take 5-6 years to complete their Ph.D.

Most students enter the program as an M.Sc. student, although there are exceptions whereby students enter directly into the Ph.D. program. A majority of students by-pass their M.Sc. and transfer into the Ph.D. program at the 18 month point in their tenure.