Program Overview

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Geography is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and research skills in the field of geography.

Admission Requirements

There are two routes of entry into the doctoral program. The first requires a master's degree in geography or equivalent, with a minimum average of A- on all graduate work. The second route allows exceptional students to enter the PhD program directly from the master's program, provided they have completed all MA/MES requirements except the thesis, demonstrated a superior academic record, and satisfied other conditions.

• Guidelines for admission requirements are as follows:
  • Normally, only a master's student with an A- average on all graduate work will be admitted.
  • Exceptional students may be admitted directly from the master's program.
  • Additional requirements for international students are detailed on the graduate studies website of the student's home university.

Coursework

The course load at the doctoral level is normally one research seminar (selected from GEOG 600, 620, 640, 660) and GEOG 691. Additional coursework may be assigned subject to the needs of individual candidates.

• Note:
  • All doctoral candidates are expected to attend colloquia and guest lectures while in residence.
  • Doctoral candidates are required to give a seminar in a class setting after completion of the comprehensive examination and before defending their dissertations.
  • Those who have completed a master's degree in the Waterloo-Laurier joint program are exempted from GEOG 691.

Comprehensive Examination

The Comprehensive Examination is held in public and aims to confirm that the student has adequate knowledge in the chosen field of study and has identified a major research issue to be pursued in the thesis research. The examination includes both a written and an oral component.

• The written component:
  • Involves the student writing answers to a question or questions over a period of three weeks.
  • The answer(s) will not exceed 10,000 words excluding the bibliography, abstract, figures, and tables.
• The oral component:
  • Normally lasts no longer than three hours.
  • The student defends the written document.

PhD Thesis Requirements

Upon successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination, a Thesis Committee consisting of four members will be established. The student will submit a thesis proposal to the Thesis Committee for approval before undertaking thesis research.

• The thesis proposal:
  • Must be submitted within three months and approved within four months after the successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination.
  • The format of the proposal is approved by the Thesis Committee in consultation with the student.
• The thesis:
  • Students have the option of a normal, traditional thesis or a manuscript thesis.
  • Read the guidelines for the manuscript PhD thesis.
• The Thesis Examining Committee:
  • Consists of the Thesis Committee plus an external examiner and a chair, both of whom are appointed by the graduate dean or designate of the appropriate university.
  • The decision of the Thesis Examining Committee is based both on the thesis and on the candidate's ability to defend it.

Thesis Evaluation

The Thesis Examining Committee evaluates the thesis based on the following criteria:

1. Accepted: The thesis may require typographical and/or minor editorial corrections to be made to the satisfaction of the supervisor, normally within one month.
2. Accepted conditionally: The thesis is acceptable but requires some changes in substance or editorial changes, which are to be made to the satisfaction of members of the Examining Committee designated by the committee.
3. Decision deferred: The thesis requires modifications of a substantial nature, the need for which makes the acceptability of the thesis questionable.
4. Rejected: The thesis is rejected, and the Examining Committee shall report the reasons for rejection. A student whose doctoral thesis has been rejected will be required to withdraw from the PhD program.