Oct 13, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Academic Calendar 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Academic Calendar [ARCHIVED CALENDAR]

Thesis, project or major paper



Supervisory committee

Each graduate student in a thesis-based graduate program requires a supervisory committee. The supervisory committee should be formed early, meet regularly and maintain formal meeting records.

For more information on the timelines, composition and responsibilities, visit the university’s policy on graduate student supervisory committee.

Permission to begin

Graduate students must be granted permission to begin their thesis, project or major paper.

Information on permission to begin a thesis can be found in the graduate student supervisory committee policy. Information on the project or major paper is outlined in the graduate project or major paper evaluation policy.

Use of copyright material in student work

When preparing a thesis, project, major paper or other program work, students may include some copyright material, typically in the form of excerpts from books or articles, charts, diagrams or similar previously published materials. It is the student’s responsibility to acknowledge properly any copyright materials used, strictly following the citation guidelines and rules of the faculty and/or program.

More information on use of copyright material can be found in the graduate submission of thesis, project or major paper policy.

PhD candidacy examinations

Each student in a doctoral program is required to prepare a written thesis proposal and pass a candidacy exam. The examination is to determine whether the candidate has the appropriate knowledge and expertise to undertake a thesis in the selected field of study.

Information on candidacy examinations can be found in the doctoral candidacy examination policy.

Oral examination for master’s and doctoral candidates

Master’s candidates whose programs require a thesis and doctoral candidates are required to defend their completed thesis orally in front of an examining committee.

Visit the thesis oral examination for master’s and doctoral candidates policy in the university’s policy library for more information on examining committee, conflict of interest for examiners, oral examination and outcomes.

Project or major paper evaluation

Some programs require a project or major paper. The graduate project or major paper evaluation policy provides information on the evaluation process and outcomes.

Permission to withhold thesis from public domain

In exceptional circumstances, a student may submit a request to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies to withhold their thesis from immediate publication. Students should refer to the graduate submission of thesis, project or major paper policy.

Submission of student work

For information on the submission of thesis, project or major paper visit the graduate submission of thesis, project or major paper policy.