Graduate Calendar - University of Guelph

Degree Regulations

Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Veterinary Science
Graduate Diploma: International Rural Development Planning
Graduate Diploma: Veterinary Specializations
Master of Applied Nutrition
Master of Arts, Master of Engineering, Master of Science and Master of Science (Aquaculture)
Master of Business Administration (Agriculture) (with Athabasca University)
Master of Business Administration (Business Studies)
Master of Business Administration (Hospitality and Tourism)
Master of Fine Arts
Master of Landscape Architecture

Disclaimer

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission:
There are three means of entry to PhD study:

An applicant who holds a recognized master's degree obtained with high academic standing may be admitted to PhD studies as a regular or provisional student.

An applicant who has achieved excellent standing at the honours baccalaureate level and who wishes to proceed to doctoral study may enrol, in the first instance, in a master's degree program. If the student achieves a superior academic record and shows a particular aptitude for research, the Board of Graduate Studies, on the recommendation of the department, may authorize transfer to the PhD program without requiring the student to complete the master's degree. The application for transfer must be made between the end of the second semester and the end of the fourth semester.

At the applicant's request, some departments may choose to recommend to the Board of Graduate Studies direct admission to the PhD program after completion of an honours baccalaureate with high (first-class) standing and demonstration of research promise. Information on direct admission and procedures to be followed is available from Graduate Program Services.

Minimum Duration
     At least five semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the doctoral program following completion of a recognized master's degree. At least seven semesters are required for those who are permitted to proceed from the honours baccalaureate without completing the master's degree. For a student registered part-time, the minimum duration period is based on the equivalence of three part- time semesters to one full-time semester.

Completion
     Normally, the thesis must be formally submitted (see Submission of Thesis) within forty-eight months of the completion of the minimum duration. Candidates must understand, however, that announced departmental policy may require completion of the degree requirements within a briefer time period.

Advising
     The advisory committee will consist of no fewer than three members of the graduate faculty in the selection of whom the graduate student normally participates. At least one of the committee members must be in a department other than that in which the student is registered. The committee chair is normally the advisor of the student's research, and is nominated by the department chair.

Courses
     The PhD degree is primarily a research degree; for that reason coursework commonly comprises a smaller proportion of the student's total program than is the case at the master's level.

Prescribed Courses: Some departments may designate that certain courses be taken as part of the student's background in his or her discipline. Other courses may be designated because of the close relationship to the research topic. It is such substantive courses that should comprise the prescribed courses in which the candidate must obtain an overall weighted average of at least ‘B-' standing (see Establishment of Program and Prescribed Studies).

Additional Courses: In addition to the prescribed courses, it is not unusual for the student to complete ancillary courses supportive of the discipline and special field. The language requirement of some departments may be for some students most readily met by completing one or more courses in the language concerned (see entry for Departments of French Studies and Languages). They would not be regarded as prescribed.

Research
     In the total program of a doctoral student, it is expected that the major part of the student's time will be devoted to research for their thesis. The research proposal should be formulated at as early a date as possible and presented to the advisory committee for approval. When it is necessary for the research, or some part of it, to be conducted off-campus, the arrangements are subject to the prior approval of the dean of Graduate Studies.

Qualifying Examination
     As early as possible and in no case later than the final semester of the minimum duration requirement, the student is required to pass an examination to assess his or her knowledge of the subject area and related fields. The examination ordinarily will be in several parts (written and/or oral) and should be completed within a two-week period if possible.
     The qualifying examination is an examination by the academic unit in which the student is enrolled (as distinct from an examination by the advisory committee). Upon completing it satisfactorily, the student is deemed to have met the departmental standards and becomes a candidate for the PhD degree. The examining committee, appointed by the chair of the academic unit concerned, consists of some or all of the members of the advisory committee, together with two additional members of the graduate faculty, at least one of whom must be a member of the unit. The chair of the academic unit concerned or the chair of its graduate studies committee serves as chair of the examining committee, and is responsible for making all arrangements. As a qualifying examination, consideration is to be given not only to the student's knowledge of the subject matter and ability to integrate the material derived from his or her studies, but also to the student's ability and promise in research. The examining committee, therefore, will receive from the advisory committee a written evaluation of the quality of the student's research performance to date and of the student's potential as a researcher. The examining committee will determine the relative importance to be given to these two major components of the qualifying examination.
     The student is deemed to have passed the qualifying examination if not more than one of the examiners votes negatively. An abstention is regarded as a negative vote. The results of the qualifying examination will be reported to the dean of Graduate Studies through the chair of the academic unit. The report to the dean will record the decision as unsatisfactory or satisfactory. If unsatisfactory, the student may be given a second attempt at the examination. A student who fails the qualifying examination and who is being given a second opportunity to pass the examination will be required to repeat it no later than six months after the failed attempt. Academic units may impose a shorter time limit. A second failure constitutes a recommendation to the Board of Graduate Studies that the student be required to withdraw (see Unsatisfactory Progress and Appeals of Decisions).

Thesis
     Each candidate shall submit a thesis, written by the candidate, on the research carried out by the candidate on an approved topic. The thesis is expected to be a significant contribution to knowledge in its field and the candidate must indicate in what ways it is a contribution. The thesis must demonstrate mature scholarship and critical judgement on the part of the candidate and it must indicate an ability to express oneself in a satisfactory literary style. Approval of the thesis is taken to imply that it is judged to be sufficiently meritorious to warrant publication in reputable scholarly media in the field.

External Examiner: For each doctoral thesis an external examiner from outside the university is appointed on behalf of the dean of Graduate Studies by the department chair, in consultation with the advisor. The nomination will be made when the candidate's advisor declares that the thesis is about to be prepared, normally no later than the beginning of the student's last semester. The external examiner will submit a written appraisal of the thesis (at least seven days prior to the examination) to the chair of the department who will then provide these comments to the candidate and the Advisory Committee. The external examiner is expected to participate in the final oral examination and to assist in evaluating all aspects of the candidate's performance.

Procedures: The thesis may be submitted at any time of the year, but candidates are advised to allow ample time for revision and examination. A copy of the schedule of deadlines should be obtained from Graduate Program Services by the candidate no later than the beginning of the semester in which the candidate intends to graduate.
     It is understood that, as the thesis is being written, the candidate will be in regular communication with the advisory committee. When a draft is completed which the advisory committee recommends for examination, the candidate, with the endorsement of the departmental chair, formally requests an examination. A copy of the final draft is then sent to the external examiner as fair copy of the thesis. Arrangements for the final oral examinations are made. It is understood that as a result of the final oral examination corrections may be necessary to produce a revised final draft of the thesis.

The Final Oral Examination: The final oral examination is devoted chiefly, but not necessarily entirely, to the defence of the doctoral thesis. It is a faculty (as distinct from a departmental) examination, for which the arrangements are made by the department on behalf of the faculty in consultation with Graduate Program Services.
     The examination is conducted by a committee consisting of five members:

A member of the graduate faculty who is not a member of the advisory committee appointed to act as chair by the department chair on behalf of the dean;
The external examiner;
A member of the graduate faculty, who is not a member of the advisory committee, selected by the departmental graduate studies committee;
Two members of the student's advisory committee, selected by the advisory committee.

     The dean of Graduate Studies, or a designate, may attend a part or all of the examination. The examination is open to the public but members of the audience may question the candidate only upon invitation of the chair of the committee.
     The members of the examination committee, including the external examiner, report individually on the final examination and the thesis. The candidate is deemed to have passed if no more than one of the five examiners votes negatively. An abstention is regarded as a negative vote. Concurrently, the members sign the Certificate of Approval, which is submitted with the approved thesis in its final form to Graduate Program Services (see Submission of Thesis). The report to the dean of Graduate Studies will record the decision as unsatisfactory or satisfactory. If unsatisfactory, the candidate may be given a second attempt. A second unsatisfactory result constitutes a recommendation to the Board of Graduate Studies that the student be required to withdraw (see Unsatisfactory Progress and Appeals of Decisions).

Copies of Thesis: Two unbound copies of the certified thesis must be submitted to Graduate Program Services by the deadline date shown in the Academic Schedule in the calendar. Both copies must include the Certificate of Approval signed by the external examiner and the members of the examination committee. Also included must be a copy of an abstract consisting of no more than 350 words and a copy of the circulation waiver and the copying licence.

Publication: The Certificate of Approval indicates that the thesis is suitable for publication. The university requires publication of the thesis in the following manner:
     One unbound copy of the thesis is forwarded to the National Library of Canada, together with an agreement form signed by the candidate authorizing the National Library to microfilm the thesis and to make copies available for sale on request. The National Library will film the thesis exactly as it is and will list the thesis in Canadiana as a publication of the National Library.
     The National Library's Microfilm Publication Agreement will be sent to the candidate prior to the final oral examination, to be signed and submitted to Graduate Program Services immediately after the successful completion of the examination.
     An abstract of not more than 350 words, prepared by the author and approved by the advisor, is forwarded by the National Library to the publishers of American Doctoral Dissertations. The abstract is printed in this work and the availability of the thesis in microfilm at the National Library is announced.
     The candidate, in consultation with the advisor and the department chair, shall have the right to request that circulation and/or copying of the thesis in any form be withheld for up to one year.
     Publication in the above manner does not preclude publication of all or part of the thesis in journals or in book form.

Departmental Regulations
     Individual departments may have specified regulations in addition to those described in this calendar. The student is responsible for consulting the department concerning any such regulations. University regulations, as specified herein, take precedence and may not be overruled by any department regulations.

Doctor of Veterinary Science

Admission

The normal basis for admission to DVSc studies as a regular or a provisional student is a DVM or equivalent degree which would allow the applicant to be eligible for licence to practice veterinary medicine in Ontario. The applicant must have achieved high academic standing as set out in the Admission Requirements. If a student enrolled in the graduate diploma program achieves a superior record and shows a particular aptitude for applied studies, the Board of Graduate Studies, on recommendation of the Interdepartmental DVSc Program Committee may authorize transfer to the DVSc program effective in the following semester. The recommendation must be made no later than the end of the second semester.

An alternative basis for admission is a DVM or equivalent degree plus either an acceptable graduate diploma or an acceptable MSc degree or PhD degree, with upper ‘B' level average standing. Students so admitted may be granted credit for two semesters in the DVSc program.

Minimum Duration
     At least nine semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the doctoral program. Credit may be allowed for up to two semesters of previous graduate study as indicated above. For a student registered part-time, the minimum duration period is based on the equivalence of three part-time semesters to one full-time semester.

Completion
     Normally, all requirements for the degree must be completed within twenty-four months of completion of the minimum duration.

Advising
Advisory Committee: This committee will consist of no fewer than three members of the graduate faculty. The graduate student normally participates in their selection. At least one of the committee members must be in a department outside the one in which the student is registered. The committee chair is normally the advisor of the student's program and is nominated by the department chair.

Interdepartmental DVSc Program Committee: This program committee, appointed by the Board of Graduate Studies, will consist of one member of the graduate faculty in each of the departments involved, and will be chaired by the dean of the Ontario Veterinary College or a designate. The program committee will review and make recommendations to the dean of Graduate Studies upon all applications for admission; it will review the proposed program of study and the semester evaluation reports of each student (see Department Review) ; and it will determine the membership of each qualifying examination committee. The program committee may specify regulations in addition to those set out here, and will be responsible for publicizing them in each department, where the student is responsible for seeking out this information.

Courses
     The DVSc degree is an advanced applied degree which requires the acquisition of applied skills and in-service training, and the submission of a thesis based on research investigations in an applied area. Depending upon the background of the individual student, the proportion of time devoted to investigational work normally will be no less than one-third of the total.

Prescribed Studies: The program committee may designate certain courses be taken as part of the student's background in the disciplinary area of specialization. Other courses may be designated because of the relationship to in-service training and applied skills. Such substantive courses comprise the prescribed courses in which the candidate must achieve an overall weighted average of at least ‘B-' standing (see Establishment of Program and Prescribed Studies). At least 2.5 credits of prescribed courses must be completed, of which no more than 1.0 credits may be in Special Topics courses. Students who are granted credit for previous graduate study may, with the approval of the DVSc Program Committee and the dean of Graduate Studies, have the credits from prescribed courses reduced to no fewer than 2.0.

Additional Courses: In addition to the prescribed courses, the student may complete ancillary courses supportive of the discipline and specialty fields.

Program of Study
     The program of study will involve coursework and research work on a problem with applied aspects. The total program, including the research proposal, should be formulated as early as possible, but in no case later than the end of the second semester. Prepared in consultation with the advisory committee, the program is subject to the approval of the program committee and, ultimately, the dean of Graduate Studies. If it is necessary for any part of the program to be conducted off-campus, the arrangements are subject to the prior approval of the program committee and the dean of Graduate Studies.
     Each semester, the student's advisory committee prepares a written evaluation of the student's performance in coursework and of progress in applied skills. The evaluation will be discussed with the student before being sent to the program committee. If the student fails to make satisfactory progress, the program committee may recommend to the Board of Graduate Studies that the student be required to withdraw (see Cancellation of Registration).

Qualifying Examination
     Prior to the end of the sixth semester, the student is required to pass a qualifying examination to assess his or her overall ability in the selected area of specialization. The examination will be in two parts (one written, one oral), and will normally be completed within a two-week period. Upon completing it satisfactorily, the student is deemed to have met the departmental standards and becomes a candidate for the DVSc degree.
     The qualifying examination is an examination by the academic unit in which the student is enrolled and the examination committee is appointed by the Interdepartmental DVSc Program Committee. The examination is conducted by a committee consisting of five members, as follows:

The chair of the program committee, who acts as chair of the examination committee;
Two members of the graduate faculty who are not members of the advisory committee, at least one of whom must be a member of the department in which the student is registered;
Two members of the advisory committee.

     The qualifying examination will primarily assess the student's knowledge of the area of specialization, the basic sciences supporting this area, and to a lesser extent, the student's area of research. The student's general ability to integrate and apply this knowledge is also assessed. In addition, the examination committee will take into account a written submission from the student's advisory committee evaluating the quality of the student's applied skills and performance to date in the program.
     The student is deemed to have passed the qualifying examination if not more than one of the examiners votes negatively. An abstention is regarded as a negative vote. The results of the qualifying examination will be reported to the dean of Graduate Studies through the chair of the program committee. The report to the dean will record the decision as unsatisfactory or satisfactory. If unsatisfactory, the student may be given a second attempt at the examination. A student who fails the qualifying examination and who is being given a second opportunity to pass the examination will be required to repeat it no later than six months after the failed attempt. Academic units may impose a shorter time limit. A second unsatisfactory constitutes a recommendation to the Board of Graduate Studies that the student be required to withdraw (see Establishment of Program and Prescribed Studies).

The Thesis
     Each candidate shall prepare a thesis on the approved research project. The thesis is expected to be a significant contribution to knowledge in its field and the candidate must indicate in what ways it is a contribution. The thesis must demonstrate mature scholarship and critical judgement on the part of the candidate and it must indicate an ability to communicate in writing in a satisfactory style.
     The thesis will be based on the research project carried out in the DVSc program. Like all theses, it will contain a detailed critical review of the pertinent theoretical and empirical literature and place the work in the context of existing knowledge in the field. The hypotheses, research design, results, and discussion of the results will be presented in normal thesis format as approved by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

External Examiner: For each doctoral thesis, an external examiner from outside the university is appointed on behalf of the dean of Graduate Studies by the department chair, in consultation with the advisor and the program committee chair. The nomination will be made when the candidate's advisor declares that the thesis is about to be prepared, normally no later than the beginning of the student's last semester. The external examiner will submit a written appraisal of the thesis (at least seven days prior to the examination) to the chair of the department who will then provide these comments to the candidate and the Advisory Committee. The external examiner is expected to participate in the final oral examination and to assist in evaluating all aspects of the candidate's performance.

Procedures: The thesis may be submitted at any time of the year, but candidates are advised to allow ample time for revision and examination. A copy of the schedule of deadlines should be obtained from Graduate Program Services by the candidate no later than the beginning of the semester in which the candidate intends to graduate.
     It is understood that, as the thesis is being written, the candidate will be in regular communication with the advisory committee. When a draft is completed which the advisory committee recommends for examination, the candidate, with the endorsement of the departmental chair, formally requests an examination. A copy of the final draft is then sent to the external examiner as fair copy of the thesis. Arrangements for the final oral examinations are made. It is understood that as a result of the final oral examination corrections may be necessary to produce a revised final draft of the thesis.

The Final Oral Examination: The final examination is devoted chiefly, but not necessarily entirely, to the defence of the thesis. It is a faculty (as distinct from a departmental) examination, for which the arrangements are made by the department and the college on behalf of the faculty in consultation with Graduate Program Services.
     The examination is conducted by a committee consisting of five members, as follows:

The chair of the program committee, who acts as chair of the examination committee;

The external examiner;

A member of the graduate faculty who is not a member of the advisory committee, selected by the department chair;

Two members of the student's advisory committee, selected by the advisory committee.

     The dean of Graduate Studies, or a designate, may attend a part or all of the examination. The examination is open to the public and members of the audience may question the candidate only upon invitation of the chair of the committee.
     The members of the examination committee, including the external examiner, report individually on the final examination and the thesis. The candidate is deemed to have passed if not more than one of the five examiners votes negatively. An abstention is regarded as a negative vote. Concurrently, the members sign the Certificate of Approval, to be submitted with the approved thesis in its final form to Graduate Program Services (see Submission of Thesis). The report to the dean of Graduate Studies will record the decision as unsatisfactory or satisfactory. If unsatisfactory, the candidate may be given the opportunity of a second attempt. A second unsatisfactory result constitutes a recommendation to the Board of Graduate Studies that the student be required to withdraw (see Establishment of Program and Prescribed Studies).

Copies of Thesis: Two unbound copies of the certified thesis must be submitted to Graduate Program Services by the deadline date shown in the Academic Schedule in the calendar. Both copies must include the Certificate of Approval signed by the external examiner and the members of the examination committee. Also included must be a copy of an abstract consisting of not more than 350 words and a copy of the circulation waiver and the copying licence.

Publication: The Certificate of Approval indicates that the thesis is suitable for publication. The university requires publication of the thesis in the following manner:
     One unbound copy of the thesis is forwarded to the National Library of Canada, together with an agreement form signed by the candidate authorizing the National Library to microfilm the thesis and to make copies available for sale on request. The National Library will film the thesis exactly as it is and will list the thesis in Canadiana as a publication of the National Library. The National Library's Microfilm Publication Agreement will be sent to the candidate prior to the final oral examination, to be signed and submitted to Graduate Program Services immediately after the successful completion of the examination.
     An abstract of not more than 350 words, prepared by the author and approved by the advisor, is forwarded by the National Library to the publishers of American Doctoral Dissertations. The abstract is printed in this work and the availability of the thesis in microfilm at the National Library announced.
     The candidate, in consultation with the advisor and the department chair, shall have the right to request that circulation and/or copying of the thesis in any form be withheld for up to one year.
     Publication in the above manner does not preclude publication of all or part of the thesis in journals or in book form.

Departmental Regulations
     Individual departments may have specified regulations additional to those described in this calendar. The student is responsible for consulting the department concerning any such regulations. University regulations, as specified herein, take precedence, and may not be overruled by any department regulation.

Graduate Diploma: International Rural Development Planning

     The School of Rural Planning and Development offers a Graduate Diploma program in International Rural Development Planning for professionals in this field.

Admission
     Admission to this program as a regular student is granted, on recommendation of the school, to:

the holder of a three-year or honours baccalaureate (Canadian equivalent, from a recognized university or college) with an average standing of at least ‘B' (second- class honours in the last four semesters or the last two undergraduate years. Significant responsible professional experience in rural development is also required; or

a student who has satisfied the requirements for transfer from provisional student category.

Minimum Duration
     At least three semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the diploma program. For a student registered part-time, the minimum duration period is based on the equivalence of three part- time semesters to one full-time semester.

Advising
     The student's program is established and progress kept under review by the school (see Enrolment and Registration). The day-to-day responsibility will rest with the advisor. There will be an advisory committee of at least two graduate faculty members. The chair of the committee is normally the advisor of the student's program. Graduate faculty members from other academic units may serve as members of advisory committees.

Courses
     The postgraduate diploma program requires the demonstration of a reasonable mastery of a concentrated field of study. This is attested by achieving satisfactory standings in a minimum number of graduate courses equivalent to 2.5 credits.

Prescribed Studies: The program requires the completion of five graduate courses (2.5 credits), including a major professional paper (0.5), as well as field studies course(s). At least three of the courses (1.5 credits) must be taken in the school. The courses selected must be acceptable to the school and the dean of Graduate Studies for graduate credit. These substantive courses comprise the candidate's prescribed studies, in which the student must obtain an overall weighted average grade of at least ‘B-' (see Establishment of Program and Prescribed Studies).

Additional Courses: In addition to these prescribed studies, the candidate may take ancillary courses supportive of the special discipline. These courses may be at either the undergraduate or the graduate level.

School Regulations
     The school may have specified regulations in addition to those described in this calendar. The student is responsible for consulting the school concerning any such regulations. University regulations, as specified herein, take precedence, and may not be overruled by any school regulation.

Graduate Diploma: Veterinary Specializations

     Graduate diplomas are awarded to those who successfully complete special postgraduate diploma programs offered by the Departments of Pathobiology and Clinical Studies in the Ontario Veterinary College.

Admission
     Admission to a postgraduate diploma program as a regular student may be granted on recommendation of the department to the holder of a recognized veterinary degree at the honours baccalaureate (or equivalent) level with at least second-class honours (‘B-') in the work of the final two years.

Minimum Duration
     At least three semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the diploma program. For a student registered part-time, the minimum duration period is based on the equivalence of three part- time semesters to one full-time semester.

Advising
     The student's program is planned and the student's progress is kept under review by the department.

Courses
     The postgraduate diploma program requires the completion of regular graduate courses together with special professional or applied courses. The curriculum for the graduate diploma is laid down by the department. In order to qualify for graduation, the student must obtain an overall weighted average grade of at least ‘B-' in the required courses (see Prescribed Studies). Details may be obtained from the chair of the Department of Pathobiology or the Department of Clinical Studies. A thesis is not required.

Master of Applied Nutrition

Admission
     Admission to the Master of Applied Nutrition (MAN) program as a regular student is granted, on the recommendation of the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, to:

the holder of an honours baccalaureate degree from a dietetic program accredited by Dietitians of Canada, or with equivalent academic content as judged by the Applied Human Nutrition faculty, with academic standing as set out in Admission Requirements, or
a student who has satisfied the requirements for transfer from the provisional student category.

Minimum Duration
     At least three semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the master’s program if the student is admitted as a regular student.

Completion
     Normally the program must be completed within twelve months of the completion of the minimum duration.

Advising
     The student’s program is established and progress is kept under review by the Department of Family Relations and Human Nutrition. The day-to-day responsibility will rest with the MAN Program Coordinator. There will be a MAN Advisory Committee of at least three graduate Applied Human Nutrition faculty, the chair of which is the MAN Program Coordinator.

Courses
     The MAN degree of the University of Guelph requires the demonstration of a reasonable mastery of a concentrated field of study. This may be attested by the achievement of satisfactory standings in a number of courses, as determined by the department. A thesis is not required.

Prescribed Studies: The courses selected must be acceptable to the school and to the dean of Graduate Studies for graduate credit. The candidate must obtain an overall weighted average grade of at least ‘B-' in order to qualify for the degree.
     A total of seven courses (6.5 credits) are required for the completion of this program, made up of three regular courses, three practicum courses and a major project.

Additional Courses: In addition to the prescribed studies, the student may take ancillary courses supportive of the special discipline. These courses may be at either the undergraduate or the graduate level.

Professional Competence
     Throughout the MAN program, students will document completion of the Dietitians of Canada Entry-Level Competencies. Graduates who have completed all required competencies success-fully, as assessed by the MAN Advisory Committee, can apply to write the examination and qualify as a member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario (CDO), or other provincial dietetics regulatory body.

Departmental Regulations
     The department may have specified regulations in addition to those described in this calendar. The student is responsible for consulting the department concerning any such regulation. University regulations, as specified herein, take precedence and may not be overruled by any department regulation.

Master of Arts, Master of Engineering, Master of Science and Master of Science (Aquaculture)

Admission
     Admission to a master's degree program as a regular student is granted, on the recommendation of the department concerned, to:

the holder of an honours baccalaureate or its equivalent, as set out in the Admission Requirements; or

a student who has satisfied the requirements for transfer from the provisional student category.

Minimum Duration
     At least two semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the master's program if the student is admitted as a regular student. A student admitted as a provisional student requiring two semesters in that category, must spend at least one additional semester as a regular full-time student. For a student registered part-time, the minimum duration period is based on the equivalence of three part-time semesters to one full-time semester.

Completion
     Normally, a thesis must be formally submitted (see Submission of Thesis) or the program otherwise completed, within forty-eight months of the completion of the minimum duration. Candidates must understand, however, that announced departmental policy may require completion of the degree requirements within a briefer time period.

Advising
     The student's program is established and progress kept under review by the academic unit in which the student is enrolled (see Enrolment and Registration). The day-to-day responsibility will rest with the advisor. There will be an advisory committee of at least two graduate faculty members, the chair of which committee is normally the advisor of the student's program. Departments and schools are encouraged to involve graduate faculty from other academic units as members of advisory committees.

Courses
     The MA, MEng, MSc, and MSc (Aqua) degrees of the University of Guelph require the demonstration of a reasonable mastery of a concentrated field of study. This may be attested by the achievement of satisfactory standings in a number of courses, as determined by the department. In most cases a thesis is also required.

Prescribed Studies: The proportion of weight attached to the research and thesis may vary, even within a department. Accordingly, the number of courses may correspondingly vary. Where the student's program requires a thesis, the number of credits will not be fewer than 1.5, which must be made up entirely of graduate level courses. Any courses selected which exceed the 1.5 minimum credits must also be acceptable to the department and the dean of Graduate Studies for credit towards the graduate degree. These "substantive" courses comprise the candidate's prescribed studies, in which the student must obtain an overall weighted average grade of at least ‘B-' standing (see Establishment of Program and Prescribed Studies).

Additional Courses: In addition to the prescribed studies the candidate may take ancillary courses supportive of the special discipline. These courses may be at either the undergraduate or the graduate level.

Degree by Courses: In some disciplines, the interests of a master's student may be better served through concentration on coursework rather than combining coursework with research. In such circumstances the prescribed studies will consist of courses. Where the student's program does not require a thesis, the number of course credits will not be fewer than 3.5 (6.5 for the MSc (Aqua)). One (1.0) or more of the credits must be for the satisfactory completion of a special project or, in some cases, a major essay or paper. In some departments the major research paper takes the place of 1.0 of the total credits required. OCGS by-laws permit a maximum of 1/3 of the credits to be taken from senior undergraduate courses; however individual programs may require a higher proportion of graduate courses.

Research
     In most disciplines, students may pursue their degree through coursework and independent research towards the completion of a thesis. In the total program of a degree by thesis, the equivalent of at least one full-time semester must be devoted to thesis research. To avoid undue prolongation of the student's program, the research topic should be identified early and approved by the advisory committee.

Thesis
     For the master's degree by thesis each candidate shall submit a thesis, expressed in satisfactory literary form, based upon research in some topic connected with the candidate's special discipline. The thesis must demonstrate the candidate's capacity for original and independent work, and should include a critical evaluation of work which has previously been done in the candidate's field of research. The thesis should emphasize any new conclusions which may be drawn from the candidate's own research.
     For purposes of equivalency calculations, a master's thesis is generally considered to be the equivalent of 2.0 credits.

Procedures: The thesis may be submitted at any time of the year, but candidates are encouraged to have the final examination well in advance of the deadline date for thesis submission. Candidates should be aware of the deadlines schedule, a copy of which may be obtained in Graduate Program Services. Candidates should discuss their thesis write-up with their advisors early in their final semester.
     As the thesis is being written, the candidate is expected to be in regular communication with the advisory committee. The draft thesis is sent to the members of the advisory committee.When a draft is completed which the advisory committee recommends for examination, the final draft is sent to the members of the master's examination committee and the final oral examination is held.
     Following the master's examination the candidate, if successful, arranges for the preparation of the thesis in final form, and for its submission to the dean (see below). The thesis in final form must include any minor corrections or revisions resulting from the examination. Approval of the thesis takes the form of a Certificate of Approval, signed by the examination committee.

The Master's Examination: The final oral examination, devoted chiefly to the defence of the thesis, is a departmental examination identified as the master's examination. The master's examination committee normally consists of three or four members appointed by the department chair, as follows:

A member of the graduate faculty of the department, who is not a member of the advisory committee, to act as chair of the master's examination committee and to make arrangements therefor;

A member of the candidate's advisory committee (normally, the advisor);

A member of the associated graduate faculty or of the graduate faculty who may be a member of the advisory committee;

A fourth member may be appointed from among graduate faculty from another department, from the department or from the advisory committee, according to departmental and/or examination requirements.

     If possible, a member of another department should be included on the committee.
     The department chair is responsible for notifying the dean of Graduate Studies of the composition of the committee, and for reporting to the dean the outcome of the examination.
     The examination is open to the public; members of the audience may question the candidate only upon invitation of the chair of the committee.
     The examination is passed and the thesis approved if there is no more than one negative vote. An abstention is regarded as a negative vote. The report to the dean of Graduate Studies will record the decision as unsatisfactory or satisfactory. If unsatisfactory, the candidate may be given a second attempt. A second unsatisfactory result constitutes a recommendation to the Board of Graduate Studies that the student be required to withdraw (see Unsatisfactory Progress and Appeals of Decisions).

Copies of Thesis: Two unbound copies of the certified thesis must be submitted to Graduate Program Services by the deadline date shown in the Academic Schedule in this calendar. Both copies must include the Certificate of Approval signed by the examination committee. Also included must be a brief abstract consisting of no more than 150 words, a copy of the circulation waiver, and the copying licence.

Publication: The university requires publication of the thesis in the following manner:
     One unbound copy of the thesis is forwarded to the National Library of Canada, together with an agreement form signed by the candidate authorizing the National Library to microfilm the thesis and to make copies available for sale on request. The National Library will film the thesis exactly as it is and will list the thesis in Canadiana as a publication of the National Library.
     The National Library's Microfilm Agreement form will be sent to the candidate prior to the master's examination, to be signed and submitted to the dean of Graduate Studies immediately after the successful completion of the examination.
     An abstract of not more than 150 words, prepared by the author and approved by the advisor, is forwarded by the National Library to the publishers of Masters Abstracts International . The abstract is printed in this work and the availability of the thesis in microfilm at the National Library is announced.
     The candidate, in consultation with the advisor and the department chair, shall have the right to request that circulation and/or copying of the thesis in any form be withheld for up to one year.

Department Regulations
     Individual departments may have specified regulations in addition to those described in this calendar. The student is responsible for consulting the department concerning any such regulation. University regulations, as specified herein, take precedence, and may not be overruled by any department regulation.

Master of Business Administration (Agriculture) (with Athabasca University)

     The University of Guelph and Athabasca University in Alberta jointly offer an electronically delivered MBA focussed on agriculture. Participants are linked from home or their workplace with a network of learners and professors.

Admission
     Admission as a regular student is granted, on recommendation of the department concerned, to:

the holder of an honours baccalaureate or its equivalent (from a recognized university or college) with an average standing of at least a ‘B' (second-class honours) in the last four semesters or the last two undergraduate years (full- time or equivalent). At least three years of managerial experience is also required.
the holder of:

a general degree and/or;

a diploma in agriculture and/or;

an acceptable professional designation, having completed at least five years of managerial experience showing progressive increase in responsibility.
     The university reserves the right to request Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) results in certain circumstances.

The applicant must have confirmed access to computer equipment, including a modem.

Program Duration
     Students normally complete the MBA in Agriculture in two to three years. Course modules are completed in pre-determined sequence within a phase schedule, and are typically two months in length. On average, students allot 20 to 25 hours per week for study and participation in the program.

Completion
Students must complete the program within six years.

Program Requirements
The MBA in Agriculture is completed in three phases:

Phase One, offered through Athabasca University, requires participants to complete six core management courses which provide a foundation for graduate management and accounting education. Phase One is normally completed within 15 months. Upon successful completion, students are awarded a Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM) from Athabasca University. Continuation into Phase Two of the MBA program is contingent upon successful completion of the GDM.

Phase Two contains a six-day intensive course on the University of Guelph campus, where participants meet to further develop the skills learned in Phase One and to prepare for Phase Two. This week focuses on the development of a full management plan for an agribusiness organization. Six courses in applied aspects of agricultural management are required for Phase Two.

Phase Three is comprised of a project-based dissertation in an applied agribusiness situation which is a major piece of research requiring data collection, analysis and the ability to link understanding of the problem with an appropriate body of literature.

Program Fees
     Tuition for the MBA in Agriculture program is payable at the beginning of each phase. Phase One tuition and admission fees, including software and software licences, are directed to Athabasca University. Tuition for subsequent phases, and registration and residency fees are payable to the University of Guelph. Phase Two tuition includes costs for accommodation and meals for the intensive six-day residency session. Contact the MBA in Agriculture office for details.

Master of Business Administration (Business Studies)

Admission
     Admission as a regular student is granted, on recommendation of the department concerned, to:

the holder of an honours baccalaureate or its equivalent (from a recognized university or college) with an average standing of at least a ‘B' (second-class honours) in the last four semesters or the last two undergraduate years. Two letters of recommendation from former professors and/or employers or colleagues are required. At least two years of managerial experience is also required. Or,

a student who has satisfied the requirements for transfer from provisional student category.
     Applicants are required to submit results of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) in addition to the normal documentation required for evaluation.

Minimum Duration
     At least three semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the master's program if the student is admitted as a regular student. For a student registered part-time the minimum duration period is based on the equivalence of three part-time semesters to one full-time semester.

Completion
     Normally, the program must be completed within forty-eight months of the completion of the minimum duration. Candidates must understand, however, that announced department policy may require completion of the degree requirements within a briefer time.

Advising
     The student's program is established and progress kept under review by the department concerned (see Enrolment and Registration). The day-to-day responsibility will rest with an advisory committee, consisting of at least two graduate faculty members, one of whom may be from outside the department. The student's advisor is chair of the advisory committee.

Courses
     The MBA degree of the University of Guelph requires the demonstration of a reasonable mastery of a concentrated field of study. This is attested by achieving satisfactory standings in a number of courses.

Prescribed Studies: The coursework-and-major-paper option requires 16 graduate courses (8.0 credits) plus a 1.0-credit major paper. There are nine core courses which must be taken by all MBA students. An additional nine courses (including the 1.0-credit major paper and electives) are determined according to the department of registration. The courses selected must be acceptable to the school and the dean of Graduate Studies for graduate credit. These substantive courses comprise the candidate's prescribed studies, in which the student must obtain an overall average grade of at least ‘B- ' (see Establishment of Program and Prescribed Studies).

Additional Courses: In addition to these prescribed studies the candidate may take ancillary courses supportive of the special discipline. These courses may be at either the undergraduate or the graduate level.

Department Regulations
     Individual departments may have specified regulations in addition to those described in this calendar. The student is responsible for consulting the department concerning any such regulation. University regulations, as specified herein, take precedence and may not be overruled by any department regulation.

Master of Business Administration (Hospitality and Tourism)

Admission
     Admission to a master's degree program as a regular student may be granted, on recommendation of the School of Hotel and Food Administration, to:

the holder of an honours baccalaureate or its equivalent as set out in the Admission Requirements; or

a student who has satisfied the requirements for transfer from provisional student category.
     Applicants are required to submit results of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) in addition to the normal documentation required for evaluation.

Delivery Method
     The MBA Program is offered in two different ways, as a one year residential program, and also electronically over a two year period to accommodate those professionals who are unable to take a full year away from their careers. For the electronic program, participants are linked from home or their workplace with a network of learners and professors. Tuition and related costs for the electronic program are managed by the School of Hotel and Food Administration; contact that office for details.

Minimum Duration
     At least three semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the master's program if the student is admitted as a regular student. Credit may be allowed for up to one semester of previous graduate study. For a student registered part-time, the minimum duration period is based on the equivalence of three part-time semesters to one full-time semester.

Completion
     Normally, the thesis must be formally submitted (see Submission of Thesis) or the program otherwise completed within forty-eight months of the completion of the minimum duration. Candidates must understand, however, that announced school policy may require completion of the degree requirements within a briefer time.

Advising
     The student's program is established and progress kept under review by the school (see Enrolment and Registration). The day-to-day responsibility will rest with the advisor. There will be an advisory committee of at least two graduate faculty members. The chair of the committee is normally the advisor of the student's program. The school is encouraged to involve graduate faculty from other academic units as members of advisory committees.

Courses
     Students may pursue the MBA degree either by a research-based thesis option or by major paper and coursework. The MBA degree of the University of Guelph requires the demonstration of a reasonable mastery of a concentrated field of study. This is attested by achieving satisfactory standings in a number of courses.

Prescribed Studies: The research-based thesis option requires at least nine graduate courses (4.5 credits) plus the thesis. At least five of the graduate courses must be taken in the school. The coursework-and- major-paper option requires ten graduate courses (5.0 credits) plus a 1.0-credit major paper. At least six of the courses must be taken in the school. The courses selected must be acceptable to the school and the dean of Graduate Studies for graduate credit. These substantive courses comprise the candidate's prescribed studies, in which the student must obtain an overall weighted average grade of at least ‘B-' standing (see Establishment of Program and Prescribed Studies).

Additional Courses: In addition to these prescribed studies the candidate may take ancillary courses supportive of the special discipline. These courses may be at either the undergraduate or the graduate level.

Research
     In the total program of the research-based thesis option, the equivalent of at least one full-time semester must be devoted to research in fulfilment of the thesis requirement. In order to avoid undue prolongation of the student's program, the research topic should be identified early and approved by the advisory committee.

Thesis
See Thesis for MA, MEng, and MSc degrees.

External Examiner: To advise on the thesis and to participate in the master's examination of students in the thesis option, an external examiner from outside the university may be appointed by the school director, in consultation with the advisor and the graduate co-ordinator. The external examiner will submit a written appraisal of the thesis to the school director. The external examiner is expected to attend the master's examination and to assist in evaluating all aspects of the candidate's performance.

The Master's Examination: The final oral examination, devoted chiefly to the defence of the thesis, is a school examination identified as the master's examination. The master's examination committee normally consists of three or four members appointed by the school's director, as follows:

A member of the graduate faculty of the school who is not a member of the advisory committee, to act as chair of the master's examination committee and to make arrangements therefor;

A member of the candidate's advisory committee (normally, the advisor);

A member of the associated graduate faculty or of the graduate faculty who may be a member of the advisory committee;

A fourth member may be appointed from among graduate faculty from another department, from the school or from the advisory committee, according to school and/or examination requirements. The fourth member may be an external examiner.

     If possible, a member of another department should be included on the committee.
     The department chair is responsible for notifying the dean of the composition of the committee and for reporting to the dean the outcome of the examination.
     The examination is open to the public; members of the audience may question the candidate only upon invitation of the chair of the committee.
     The examination is passed and the thesis approved if there is no more than one negative vote. An abstention is regarded as a negative vote. The report to the dean of Graduate Studies will record the decision as unsatisfactory or satisfactory. If unsatisfactory, the candidate may be given a second attempt. A second unsatisfactory result constitutes a recommendation to the Board of Graduate Studies that the student be required to withdraw (see Unsatisfactory Progress and Appeals of Decisions).

School Regulations
     The school may have specified regulations in addition to those described in this calendar. The student is responsible for consulting the school concerning any such regulations. University regulations, as specified herein, take precedence, and may not be overruled by any school regulation.

Master of Fine Arts

Admission
     Admission as a regular student may be granted, on recommendation of the School of Fine Art and Music, to:

the holder of a BFA degree (honours equivalent), or an honours BA or its equivalent in fine or visual arts, as set out in the Admission Requirements; or

in exceptional cases, the holder of a degree in another field who has completed a minimum of six one-semester courses in fine or visual art; or

a student who has satisfied the requirements for transfer from provisional student category.

     Each applicant must also submit a portfolio or other appropriate documentation of artwork.

Minimum Duration
     At least four semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the master's program if the student is admitted as a regular student. For a student registered part-time, the minimum duration is based on the equivalence of three part-time semesters to one full-time semester.

Completion
     Normally, the thesis must be formally submitted (see Submission of Thesis) or the program be otherwise completed within forty-eight months of the completion of the minimum duration. Candidates must understand, however, that announced school policy may require completion of the degree requirements within a briefer time.

Advising
     The student's program is established and progress kept under review by the school (see Enrolment and Registration). The day-to-day responsibility will rest with an advisor. There will be an advisory committee of at least three graduate faculty members. The chair of the committee is normally the student's advisor. The school is encouraged to involve graduate faculty from other academic units as members of advisory committees.

Courses
     The MFA degree at the University of Guelph requires the attainment of a professional level of studio practice and a detailed knowledge of the selected field of specialization.

Prescribed Studies: A total of twelve graduate courses (10.0 credits) are required for the completion of this program. In addition to individually oriented studio courses, students are required to complete four MFA seminars, two teaching practicum courses, and two graduate art history, theory or criticism courses. These substantive courses comprise the candidate's prescribed studies, in which the student must obtain an overall weighted average grade of at least ‘B-' (see Establishment of Program and Prescribed Studies). A maximum of two courses outside the School of Fine Art and Music may be substituted for the art history, theory and criticism courses with the approval of the school and the dean of Graduate Studies.

Additional Courses: In addition to the prescribed studies, the student may take ancillary courses supportive of the special discipline. These courses may be at either the undergraduate or the graduate level.

Exhibition/Paper
     Each degree candidate will complete a thesis. The MFA thesis consists of an exhibition, a brief supporting paper and an oral examination. Each degree candidate must present an exhibition, performance, or showing of the studio work, as well as a brief critical paper of approximately 1,000 words that articulates the aesthetic, historical and technical issues pertinent to the artwork. The submitted studio work must demonstrate a professional level of competence and a significant aesthetic investigation, as approved by the candidate's master's examination committee.

External Examiner: To advise on the exhibition/paper and to attend the master's examination, an external examiner from outside the university may be appointed by the school director, in consultation with the advisor and the graduate co-ordinator. The external examiner will submit a written appraisal of the exhibition/paper to the school director. The external examiner is expected to attend the master's examination and to assist in evaluating all aspects of the candidate's performance.

Procedures: The exhibition/paper may be completed at any time of the year, but candidates must bear in mind the desirability of having the final examination as much in advance of the deadline date as possible. Candidates should be aware of the deadlines schedule, a copy of which may be obtained in Graduate Program Services. Candidates should discuss their thesis write-up with their advisors early in the final semester.
     Following the master's examination, the candidate, if successful, will submit the paper and the photographic record of the exhibition to the school where they will be retained permanently.

The Master's Examination: At the time of the exhibition, the MFA candidate will be expected to successfully complete a final oral examination devoted chiefly to the MFA exhibition with reference to the supporting critical paper. This is a school examination identified as the master's examination. The master's examination committee normally consists of three or four members appointed by the school director, as follows:

A member of the graduate faculty of the school, who is not a member of the advisory committee, to act as chair of the master's examination committee and to make arrangements therefor;

A member of the candidate's advisory committee (normally, the advisor);

A member of the associated graduate faculty or of the graduate faculty who may be a member of the advisory committee;

A fourth member may be appointed from among graduate faculty from another department, from the school or from the advisory committee, according to school and/or examination requirements. The fourth member may be an external examiner.
     If possible, a member of another department should be included on the committee.
     The school director is responsible for notifying the dean of the composition of the committee, and for reporting to the dean the outcome of the examination.
     The examination committee is expected to review the exhibition and the critical paper. The student is examined orally on the contents of the exhibition and the paper. Viewing the exhibition may take place over several days; the oral examination should take place following the viewing and must involve all members of the examination committee, including the external examiner (if applicable), as well as the candidate. Both of these components constitute the master's examination. The examination is open to the public; members of the audience may question the candidate only upon invitation of the chair of the examination committee.
     The examination is passed and the exhibition/paper approved if there is no more than one negative vote. An abstention is regarded as a negative vote. The report to the dean of Graduate Studies will record the decision as unsatisfactory or satisfactory. If unsatisfactory, the candidate may be given the opportunity of a second attempt. A second unsatisfactory result constitutes a recommendation to the Board of Graduate Studies that the student be required to withdraw (see Unsatisfactory Progress and Appeals of Decisions).

Copies of the Paper: A photographic record of the exhibition and a copy of the critical paper is retained in the school.

School Regulations
     In addition to meeting the university MFA regulations regarding the thesis format, the candidate must submit appropriate visual documentation of the MFA exhibition as well as the supporting critical paper to the director of the school for inclusion in the school archives.
     The school may have specified regulations in addition to those described in this calendar. The student is responsible for consulting the school concerning any such regulation. University regulations, as specified herein, take precedence and may not be overruled by any school regulation.

Master of Landscape Architecture

Admission
     Admission as a regular student is granted, on the recommendation of the School of Landscape Architecture, to:

the holder of a BLA degree, or of an honours baccalaureate or its equivalent, as set out in the Admission Requirements, or
a student who has satisfied the requirements for transfer from provisional student category.

Minimum Duration
     At least four semesters of full-time study must normally be devoted to the master's program if the student holds a BLA and is admitted as a regular student. Holders of other degrees may require two additional semesters. For a student registered part-time, the minimum duration is based on the equivalence of three part-time semesters to one full-time semester.

Completion
     Normally, the thesis must be formally submitted (see Submission of Thesis) or the program otherwise completed within forty-eight months of the completion of the minimum duration.

Advising
     The student's program is established, and progress kept under review, by the School of Landscape Architecture (see Enrolment and Registration). The day-to-day responsibility will rest in an advisory committee of at least two members, one of whom may be from outside the school. The student's research advisor is chair of the advisory committee.

Courses
     The MLA degree of the University of Guelph requires the demonstration of a general mastery of the field of landscape architecture, and a detailed knowledge of the selected field of specialization.

Prescribed Studies: The courses selected must be acceptable to the school and to the dean of Graduate Studies for graduate credit. The candidate must obtain an overall weighted average grade of at least ‘B-' in order to qualify for the degree.
     The number of courses prescribed will depend upon the student's background.

For the holder of a BLA with several subsequent years of significant professional experience (as defined by the school), the prescribed studies will consist of at least five graduate courses (2.25 credits) , plus a thesis;
for the holder of a BLA without several years of significant professional experience, the prescribed studies will consist of at least seven graduate courses (3.25 credits), plus a thesis;
for the holder of degrees other than the BLA, the prescribed studies will consist of at least thirteen graduate courses (6.25 credits), plus a thesis.

Additional Courses: In addition to the prescribed studies, a student may take courses outside the discipline. These courses may be at either the undergraduate or the graduate level. The standings obtained in them will not affect the average grade of the prescribed studies.

Research
     Students may expect to devote at least the equivalent of one full-time semester to their research. To avoid undue prolongation of their program, students are expected to have their thesis proposal prepared and approved at least two full semesters in advance of their anticipated degree completion date.

Thesis
     The School of Landscape Architecture encourages students to undertake scholarship of discovery, integration, application, and/or communication. This work typically includes identification of clear goals, adequate preparation, selection and application of appropriate methods, identification and discussion of significant results, effective written and graphic communication, and reflective critique.
     For the master of landscape architecture degree each candidate shall submit a thesis, communicated in an appropriate form, based upon scholarship on a topic related to landscape architecture. The thesis must demonstrate the candidate’s capacity for original and independent work, and should include a critical evaluation of work that has previously been done in the candidate’s area of investigation. The thesis should emphasize any new conclusions resulting from the candidate’s scholarly investigation. Special emphasis should be placed on the communication of how the results inform design.
     See thesis procedures for Master of Arts, Master of Engineering, Master of Science, and Master of Science (Aquaculture).

School Regulations
     The School of Landscape Architecture has specified regulations in addition to those described in this calendar. The student is responsible for consulting the school concerning these regulations. University regulations, as specified herein, take precedence, and may not be overruled by any school regulation.

The Office of Graduate Studies has attempted to ensure the accuracy of this on-line Graduate Calendar. However, the publication of information in this document does not bind the university to the provision of courses, programs, schedules of studies, fees, or facilities as listed herein. Other limitations apply.