Full-Time Status and Residency Requirements
All students in the PhD Program are admitted on a full-time basis. In accordance with Graduate Studies regulations, all full-time graduate students are expected to be regionally located to be eligible for funding through Graduate Studies. Classes for the first year of the program are in-person. If students leave the general region to do research for an extended period they must file an away from campus form with Graduate Studies.
Program Standards
Students must attain a minimum of B+ in each course. If this standard is not attained and all efforts have been made to assist the student to attain this level, they could potentially be asked to leave the program upon recommendation of the Student Progress Committee. Students are also expected to complete all coursework in each academic year. Students with outstanding work from year one will not be allowed to register in second-year courses (unless prior approval has been granted by the program director).
Part-Time Status
Part-time status is only available to students who have completed and defended a dissertation Proposal, and who have approval from the program. Students who wish to change to part-time status must contact the Program Assistant for appropriate forms.
Language Requirements
Students will be required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English, preferably an Indigenous language. Proficiency in an Indigenous language may be demonstrated by:
Passing an examination in an Indigenous language administered by the Indigenous Studies department; or
Presenting a transcript with a grade of "B" or better in an Indigenous language course taken at an accredited university.
Students who do not meet the Indigenous language requirement prior to admission may satisfy the requirement by:
1) Attaining a grade of "B" or better in an introductory Indigenous Studies language course during their first or second year in the program.
2) Students may register for one of INDG6625H, 6626Hor 6627H. These land-based topics language courses are offered periodically when budget permits.
3) Students may alternatively work with an approved language speaker to fulfill the requirement. Upon completion of the language training, it is the responsibility of the student to obtain a letter from the language instructor providing details on the level of language learned accompanied by a letter grade.
Please note: The Graduate Studies Committee requires proof of proficiency in the English language for candidates whose first language is not English, by means of one of the following:
1) Test of English as a Second Language - TOEFL- Minimum Score of 550 F (Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA);
2) Carleton Academic English Language Assessment - CAELA, alternate test only for applicants who do not have access to TOEFL(Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S5B6);
3) The English Language Institute, Testing and Certification Div., North Univ. Bldg., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor., Michigan 48104, USA.
Families and Field Trips
Note About Travel and Families: Families are welcome to accompany you on any day or overnight trips. However, we have limited funding, which only covers students in the program. Given the high cost of accommodation and food, students will be asked to cover costs for family members that accompany them on any overnight trips. The program normally books two students into one room when travelling away from campus. If you are bringing your family and need your own room, you would be expected to pay the additional cost that would be incurred. As an example: if a room costs $150 per night, then the program will reimburse you half of that cost for that room which is $75.00. You would need to book this room on your own and submit an expense reimbursement form to the financial officer, Sandra Tomatuk. The same would apply to meals eaten out while travelling. The program can cover your meals as a student but not those of your family. You would submit a reimbursement form for the meals and the hotel upon returning. You must submit original receipts with the form.