Program Milestones
Program Milestones
All graduate students are required to meet with their Advisors/Supervisory Committees to review their progress and academic performance at least twice per academic year (approximately every six months), and in some academic units once per academic term (see the School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures).
- Master of Nursing (Thesis route) students: You are are required to meet with the Supervisory Committee at least once per academic term (Fall, Spring, and Summer).
- Master of Education and Master of Counselling students: You are required to submit Progress and Standing Reports if completing the Project or Thesis
- Master of Education (Counselling Psychology) and Master of Counselling students: You are required to submit an annual progress report specific to your profession
You and your Supervisory Committee conduct a review meeting to discuss and assess your program, work completed and the plan for the upcoming term. You are encouraged to discuss professional development opportunities during these meetings as well.
Submission of this report is a two-part process:
- You submit the Statement of Progress (Student) form which includes details about milestones completed as part of your program and a work plan for the upcoming term. Use this form to request a program extension.
- Your supervisor (or one of your co-supervisors) submits the Statement of Progress and Standing (Supervisor) form which includes a recommendation of your standing in the program with rationale from your Supervisory Committee. Any changes to your planned courses should be reported here.
Students in the following programs have a Supervisory Committee:
- Master of Arts
- Master of Counselling and Master of Education (Project routes)
- Master of Education (Thesis route)
- Master of Fine Arts
- Master of Music
- Master of Nursing (Thesis route)
- Master of Science
- Master of Science (Management)
- Doctor of Philosophy
Review the The School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures for details about when your Supervisory Committee must be established by and the requirements for membership of your committee. All members of your Supervisory Committee must also be approved and current members of the School of Graduate Studies (see the School of Graduate Studies Governing Principles for details).
Supervisor - Student Guidelines
This document should be completed by students and supervisors in programs where a supervisor is required. The Supervisor - Student Guidelines are designed to provide a discussion framework for you and your supervisor to use to establish guidelines for supporting and managing your relationships and interactions.
If you are in a program that requires a supervisor to be identified prior to beginning your program, the Supervisor – Student Guidelines document should be completed at the start of your program and then reviewed annually.
If you are in a program that requires a supervisor to be identified after beginning your program, the Supervisor – Student Guidelines document should be completed as soon as your supervisor is identified and then reviewed annually.
School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures
Applies to students in the Master of Arts, Master of Education (Thesis route), Master of Science (Management) and Doctor of Philosophy programs. See the School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures for details.
The Thesis Proposal Defence is completed prior to submission of the Thesis Proposal. Following the defence appropriate suggestions, changes and/or additions to the proposal are addressed by the student before the Thesis Proposal is submitted.
Submit your Thesis or Project Proposal
Students in the following programs are required to submit a Thesis or Project Proposal:
- Master of Arts - Note: Master of Arts students are required also to submit an initial Thesis Proposal and a full Thesis Proposal
- Master of Counselling
- Master of Education
- Master of Fine Arts
- Master of Music
- Master of Nursing (Thesis and Project routes)
- Master of Science
- Master of Science (Management)
- Doctor of Philosophy - Note: For this program, the supervisor submits the Thesis Proposal form
- Doctor of Philosophy (Education) - Note: For this program, the supervisor submits the Thesis Proposal form
The deadline to submit your Thesis or Project Proposal is available in the School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures
Comprehensive Examination Request
All students in the Doctor of Philosophy program must take and pass a comprehensive examination and the exam is due by the end of your second year in the PhD program.
Submit your request at least four (4) weeks prior to the scheduled date of the comprehensive examination, unless specified otherwise in approved program area Comprehensive Examination guidelines.
Questions? Review the School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures and the approved program area Comprehensive Examination guidelines.
Culminating Activities - Thesis, Project, Capstone
Consult with the Office of Graduate Studies and Research in Education to determine which culminating activity is the best fit for you
The Capstone is conducted in a supportive seminar environment that draws on the participant’s experience in the graduate program in order to synthesize the student’s learning in the creation of a significant contribution to scholarship and/or professional practice.
A Project is generally intended as an application to an existing methodology or procedure. Often, students will use the project as a demonstration or as an implementation of something that does not currently exist in their system. Thus, it is more practice oriented, even though it must have solid grounding in the literature. Students engage in a systematic inquiry of a topic relevant to their profession. This inquiry is grounded in theory and research but typically focuses on practice. Methods of inquiry may be both qualitative or quantitative.
A Thesis is theory-oriented, and begins with the posing of a question that will in some way contribute to the building or validating of theory. Considerable depth is expected in the review of literature, the application of a disciplined and clearly described methodology for dealing with the research questions, a thorough description of the results of the work (both descriptive and connotational), a synthesis of the research finding with extant literature, and implication of the research for both theory and practice.
Carefully review the forms, guidelines and reference information regarding your culminating activity. It is critical that students orient themselves to the process.
Refer to the School of Graduate Studies Policies and Procedures and the Graduate Studies Calendar and Course Catalogue for detailed information.