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Note: University regulations apply to all students at Laurier. If there is any discrepancy between the program or progression requirements outlined on this page and those in the university's academic calendars, the academic calendars are the official sources of information. The information below is from the latest calendar, and you may be following progression requirements from an earlier calendar. Students are responsible for checking the appropriate calendar. Contact your program coordinator should you notice any discrepancies.
In their first year of study, PhD students are required to take four 0.5 credit courses, typically two in each term.
There are two PhD Candidacy exams: the Comprehensive Area Exam and the Specialization Area Exam. Both exams are designed to prepare students in areas of specialization for teaching and research. The Comprehensive Area Exam is comprised primarily of canonical texts for a teachable area, while the Specialization Area Exam is orientated towards the dissertation and may cover, in-depth, both the canonical and the non-canonical texts necessary for the dissertation research. The two exams complement and reinforce each other, but occur at separate stages of the program and are graded separately.
The student submits a reading list for the Specialization Area Exam to the committee for approval. This list is self-directed in consultation with the examining committee; it comprises 70-80 works (90-100 text units).
The student begins work on the dissertation.
Within eight weeks of the oral exam, the student submits to the committee a final version of the dissertation proposal (six-eight pages) that addresses any feedback offered by the committee arising from the SAE.
By the end of the winter term of the student’s third year, the student must have submitted a working chapter of the dissertation to the committee (minimum 25 pages) that demonstrates the feasibility of the project, as well as the student’s ability to realize it. Failure to achieve this milestone will result in a rating of unsatisfactory on the annual progress report; two such consecutive ratings will result in a recommendation to withdraw from the program.
Doctoral students are required to meet the language requirement by demonstrating reading proficiency in at least one language other than modern English. (French is the recommended language though students may propose a language other than French if it has direct relevance to the student’s program of study.) The language exam must be completed in Year 3 of the student’s program.
If the student proposes a language other than French, the selection of the language will be determined by the student in consultation with the dissertation advisor.
A student may also submit for approval by the Graduate Studies Committee a written request to have the language requirement waived where evidence of demonstrated proficiency in a relevant second language can be provided. (Any such request must be submitted to the graduate program coordinator no later than the Winter term of the student’s second year in the program.) Credit will not normally be given for the completion of an undergraduate-level language course.
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A minimum standing of B+ in all prescribed graduate courses and seminars is required. Students are normally expected to maintain an A- average in the program. A student who twice fails the Comprehensive Area Exam, the Specialization Area Exam, or the language exam will normally be required to withdraw from the program.
On April 15 of each year of registration, students are required to complete a research progress report detailing the achievements of the previous year and the objectives for the next year. The report must demonstrate satisfactory progress, and must be signed with comments by the advisor and graduate coordinator, and filed with the graduate coordinator and the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies office. Failure to submit a satisfactory report may result in a suspension of the student's funding or the student being required to withdraw from the program.
Note: Your supervisor may request an updated progress and activity report to be submitted at anytime during the academic year.
Contact Us:
E:
English and Film Studies
T:
548.889.4879
Office Location: 3-120 Woods Building
Office Hours:
Spring: In-person Mon.-Wed. 7:30-4:00 / Remote Fri. 7:15-12:15
Fall/Winter: Mon.-Thurs. 8:00-4:00 / Remote: Fri. 8:00-4:00
E:
Chair, Dr. Markus Poetzsch
T:
548-889-4885
Office Location: 3-120 Woods Bldg.