Fall 2019 Graduate Calendar

MASTER'S PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Residence: Residence requirements are intended to provide for each student an adequate contact with the University, faculty in the field of specialization, the library, laboratories, and with other facilities for graduate study. It is expected, therefore, that every full-time student in a program leading to the Master's degree will undertake a full program of study at the M2 level for a minimum of one calendar year or its equivalent. Application and interpretation of the residence requirement is the responsibility of the Dean of Graduate Studies. If a student does not expect to fulfill the residence requirement in the normal way, reasons for departing from the norm should be submitted in writing to the Dean and approval secured for the plan before beginning the graduate program. See also the section on "Duration of Study" below.

The residency requirement is not intended to apply to students admitted to graduate programs on a part-time basis.

Duration of Study: The minimum duration of study for the Master's degree is one calendar year beyond the honours Bachelor's degree, or its equivalent.

Transfer credits will only be granted at the time of admission, and recommendations must be included with the offer of admission. Normally, credits must have been received in the last 5 years with a minimum grade of 70%, and no credits used towards a previously completed certificate, diploma, or degree or used as a basis of admission will be approved as credit toward a Windsor graduate degree. A maximum of 50% of the Windsor course degree requirements will be approved for transfer credit, excluding internship/practicum, thesis, dissertation, or comprehensive examination courses.

If transfer credit is granted, the student may be required to take additional courses. Residency still applies. Approved transfer credit will appear on the student’s transcript.

Time Limit: Work on a Master's degree must be completed within three consecutive calendar years after the student's first registration, except for certain Master's programs available on a part-time basis. In these latter programs, the time limit will depend on the nature of the program, but will not normally exceed five consecutive years.

If an extension of these time limits becomes necessary, the student should address a petition to the Dean of Graduate Studies giving reasons for the request and plans for the completion of the work. A student who exceeds the time limit may be required to take additional qualifying examinations or additional course work, or both.

Course of Study: Course requirements are specified in the program listings. Planning and direction of the student's course of study are the responsibility of the program area. A specific program of study should be worked out at the time of the student's first registration, in consultation with the program area. Students are directed to obtain the approval of the program area for changes in the program of study. Training in methodology may be required, at the discretion of the program.

In consultation with their program, all students must complete an Annual Report which is to be submitted to their program by May 31 of each year.

Students working toward the Master's degree must maintain at least a 70% average in all course work. See also Senate Policy on Grading and Calculation of Averages for details including restrictions on repeating courses.

Committees: Research undertaken as part of a Master's program is normally directed by a faculty supervisor and advised by a Master's committee. By the end of the first term of registration in the thesis, the program will recommend the appointment of members of the Master's committee, whose appointments must be approved by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. At the same time the candidate will be required to validate the Non-Exclusive License to the University of Windsor authorizing the University to archive, reproduce, and distribute the thesis.

The Master's thesis committee will include as a minimum an advisor from the program, who is a member of graduate faculty, and two other University of Windsor faculty members, one of whom shall belong to a program other than the one in which the student is obtaining the degree. Additional members may be added with the approval of the program and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The majority of the members of an advisory committee must have graduate faculty status and the supervisor must have graduate faculty status. In the case of co-supervision one of the co-supervisors must have graduate faculty status, see Senate Policy on Graduate Faculty Designation.

The Master's committee is also charged with conduct of the final examination of the Master's candidate (see below).

If the research involves information gathered from or about human participants (including primary data collection, use of human biological materials, and secondary uses of information), the faculty supervisor and graduate student are responsible for the ethical conduct of the study, the completion of the project as described in the ethics application cleared by the Research Ethics Board (REB) and the protection of the rights and welfare of human participants. The supervisor ensures that all required clearances and permissions are obtained prior to commencement of the research. The graduate student and faculty supervisor submits an application to the REB. Research involving human subjects, cannot begin until ethics clearance has been obtained. (Consult with REB.)

All research conducted at the University of Windsor is subject to the institutional policies as described in Research Integrity and the Responsible Conduct of Research and University of Windsor Guidelines for Research Involving Human Research Participants. If the research involves animal care, biohazards, health and safety, radiation, or any other procedure that requires certification, the supervisor of the research is responsible for obtaining prior approval from the respective committees. (Consult with the Office of Research and Innovation Services)