A student's program of study is structured based on a set of requirements laid down for the degree by the departments/programs and the School of Graduate Studies.  The basic patterns of requirements for master's and doctoral degrees are:

 

Program Pattern I

Advanced courses plus research and thesis

 

Other Patterns for Master's Degrees

For Master's degrees only, some departments/programs offer alternative patterns of program requirements:

 

Program Pattern II

Advanced courses plus project and report, or plus master's essay(s).

 

Program Pattern III

Advanced coursework.

 

A master's degree taken according to one of the alternative patterns represents an equivalent standard of academic achievement to that of the same degree taken according to Pattern I.

 

The program of study depends on the student's academic background, field of study, and the department/program requirements for the degree. It is drawn up by the student's supervisor and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for approval according to its procedures. The program is then entered into the student's record. This should be done early in the initial term of registration.

 

Once a student's field of study has been determined, a supervisor or supervisory committee with expertise in that field is appointed by the Head of the Department/Program or the department/program committee on graduate studies according to the procedures of the home department/program.