• About the Program
• Academic Regulations
• Admission Requirements
• Program Requirements

About the Program

The Ph.D. program considers geography to be an integrative discipline across the interface of the Earth’s social and environmental systems. It is structured around two fields:

• geographies of societal change with emphasis on the global political economy; restructuring and the environment; geographies of socio-cultural evaluation; feminist geographies.
• geographies of environmental change with emphasis on environmental processes and anthropogenic impacts; appraisal and societal management of environmental resources.

Integrative learning is fostered through two core courses, GEOG 6000/GEOG 6001, which address substantive, conceptual and methodological issues arising out of the interactions of social and environmental systems.  Thesis research in either of the above broad themes may be cross-cutting and inter-disciplinary or focussed within one of the themes listed under the MA and MSc programs.

Academic Regulations

• See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Admission Requirements

• The normal requirement for admission to the Ph.D. program is a master's degree (or the equivalent) in geography, with at least an A- average.

• A student already registered in the M.A. or M.Sc. program who shows outstanding academic performance and research promise may be permitted to transfer to the Ph.D. program with a recommendation by the Departmental graduate committee.

• Applicants whose academic preparation has deficiencies in certain areas may be admitted to the Ph.D. program with the requirement that they complete additional course work.

  Admission to the Ph.D. program is granted on a full-time basis in September for the fall term.

Program Requirements

 

Program requirements for the Ph.D. degree are outlined in the General Regulations section of this Calendar. The specific program requirements of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies are:

• 10.0 credits:
  • GEOG 6000/GEOG 6001
  • Either GEOG 6003/GEOG 6004 or GEOG 6006/GEOG 6007
  • One written comprehensive examination in either GEOG 6906 or GEOG 6907
  • Presentation and oral defence of the thesis proposal as outlined below
  • A thesis equivalent to 8.0 of the required 10.0 credits which must be defended at an oral examination

Comprehensive Examination

• Each doctoral candidate is required to write one comprehensive examination: GEOG 6906 or GEOG 6907, according to the chosen field of specialization
• The comprehensive examination must be completed after course requirements for the Ph.D. have been completed. The examination will occur no later than the winter term of second year of registration in the Ph.D. program. Failure to complete the examination successfully will result in denial of permission to continue in the program.

Thesis Proposal

• Candidates normally register in the thesis on entry to the program and work actively to define their research topic during the first term of registration. The thesis proposal is normally presented after comprehensive requirements have been fulfilled. Candidates submit and defend the thesis proposal at an oral examination no later than the end of the winter term of the second year of registration in the Ph.D. program. Continuous registration is required after initial registration in the thesis.

Residence Requirements

• All Ph.D. candidates must be registered full time in a minimum of six terms to satisfy the residence requirement.