Program Requirements

Both the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs are research based, and require a minimum number of courses. Your advisory committee may require courses in addition to the minimum prescribed for your program.

Normally, these courses are selected from the Biology listings, but you may take a course from any department on campus, or from other universities, provided that it is approved for credit by your advisory committee. At least two of the required courses must come from within the Biology Department listings. However, students in the Water program must take one Biology course in addition to the two required Water courses.

Only students in the Biology M.Sc. programs are able to apply one 400-level course (0.5 credit) toward their program requirements with the approval of their supervisor and advisory committee. If you plan to take a 400-level course, you will be required to submit a Graduate Studies Drop/Add Form, signed by your supervisor and the course instructor, to the Graduate Coordinator. 

Biology Ph.D. students cannot use a 400-level course towards their degree requirements.

All programs require that graduate students take the Graduate Academic Integrity Module. This is an online course that must be completed within the first 8 weeks of your first term and will be listed on your transcript. You will be contacted by the Integrity Office to complete this online module. This is not the same as the Academic Integrity Workshop Milestone, which is also required.

Biology Program

*accepted for graduate credit by the Department of Biology

Collaborative Water Program

Please review the joint-venture Collaborative Water program information available. The Graduate Calendar contains the most current requirements.
 

*accepted for graduate credit by the Department of Biology

If a Ph.D. (Water) student has a M.Sc. (Water) Degree (and has completed WATER 601 and WATER 602 as part of that degree), the requirements are:

• a minimum of two one-term courses accepted for graduate credit by the Department of Biology. One of which will be a graduate-level water course from outside Science and agreed to by your supervisor and the Collaborative Water Program director.

• the following milestones:
  • Ph.D. thesis proposal examination (refer to Appendix I)
  • Biology Ph.D. seminar
  • Water Research Seminar 2
  • Ph.D. comprehensive exam (refer to Appendix II)
  • Collaborative Water Program Academic Contribution
  • Ph.D. thesis defence

Doctor of Philosophy, Direct Entry (BIOLD3)

The department requirement for the Ph.D. Direct Entry degree consists of:

• a minimum of four one-term graduate courses (minimum of 2 Biology courses) accepted for graduate credit by the Department

• the Graduate Academic Integrity Module
• the following milestones:
  • Academic Integrity Workshop
  • Ph.D. thesis proposal (refer to Appendix I)
  • Ph.D. seminar
  • Ph.D. comprehensive exam (refer to Appendix II)
  • Ph.D. thesis defence

The option of transferring directly from the M.Sc. program to the Ph.D. program, without needing to write and defend an M.Sc. thesis, is open to students with:

1. good academic standing, which requires a minimum of 2 completed graded graduate courses; the student cannot be on probation or carry incomplete course grades
2. significant progress in a research project that could be expanded to a Ph.D. project
3. demonstrated scientific writing skills

An application for a transfer to the Ph.D. program must be done before the end of term four, and usually is initiated after the M.Sc. thesis proposal. The decision to allow a transfer is made at a meeting of the advisory committee with the added presence of the Associate Chair, or a departmental delegate (chosen by the Biology Graduate Office). At this meeting, the student will give a short presentation of their PhD thesis proposal and then answer questions. The Committee will assess the student’s ability to manage a PhD program by indicating “Accept” or “Deny”. The discussion should be documented in the comments and must address progress and suitability with respect to all 3 criteria, whether Accepted or Denied. Failure to demonstrate sufficient progress in all 3 criteria will result in the transfer being Denied. In the case that the opinions of the committee and the Chair diverge, the Chair can, with documented concerns, suggest an alternative outcome to the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies (ACGS). In this case, the decision of the ACGS will be final. If approved for a transfer, the student must submit a Program/Plan Change form.

Students who transfer from the M.Sc. to the Ph.D. program will not be allowed to transfer back into the M.Sc. program. If the Ph.D. is not successfully completed, then no degree will be awarded.

* accepted for graduate credit by the Department 

Probationary students MUST achieve a minimum grade in each of the required courses that were noted in the offer letter. Probationary courses are in addition to the degree requirements, unless otherwise stated, and must be completed within the student’s first term. Satisfactory completion of the probationary requirements will result in a transfer to the regular program. Probationary status is available for M.Sc. candidates only. Students with probationary status are not eligible for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) during the probationary term.