The Master of Science may be pursued with full-time or part-time attendance by a combination of both coursework and the completion and presentation of a thesis. Students must meet the normal criteria for admission to MSc studies, and a faculty member willing to act as supervisor must be identified. Admission and degree requirements are outlined in the following information.
Admission requirements for students admitted to the master's of science program are as follows:
- A 75% overall standing in the last two years, or equivalent, in an Honours Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent.
- Three letters of reference, at least two of which must be from academic sources.
- Proof of competency in English (if applicable). A score of at least 580 minimum overall on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), plus 4.0 minimum on the Test of Written English(TWE). A score of at least 237 is required on the computer version of the TOEFL, plus 4.0 minimum for the Essay. TOEFL is the standard test but other university-approved tests may be accepted - see Academic Regulations - English Language Proficiency Certification) for other acceptable tests of English.
- Applicants holding degrees from institutions outside Canada may be required to submit Graduate Record Examination scores (GRE, Analytical and Quantitative) with their application. (Effective September 2007).
Students who do not meet the requirements outlined above may be considered for admission to a transitional, probationary or qualifying program depending on their academic background. (See Graduate Studies Calendar - Academic Regulations - Categories of Admission to the Master's Program). The initial program of study of a probationary student is specified and the student's performance is monitored by the Graduate Officers in consultation with the supervisory committee. Satisfactory completion of the probationary term(s) will result in a transfer to the regular program. Probationary status is available for MSc candidates only.
Before completing an application form, students are strongly advised to establish contact with potential supervisors. It is a good strategy to identify whether the potential supervisors you want to undertake research with have available positions and can fund your research.
There is no specific deadline to the Master's program; however, the student should apply 4-6 months before the term in which they propose to start graduate studies.
Degree Requirements
Degree requirements for students in the Master of Science program are as follows:
- A minimum of three one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses accepted for graduate credit by the Department
- Completion of Master's Thesis Proposal
- Completion of Master's Graduate Seminar requirement
- Submission and defence of a thesis