PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH
MASTER'S

1.6.2 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Residence: Residence requirements are intended to provide for each student an adequate contact with the University, with the faculty in the field of specialization, and with the library, laboratories, and other facilities for graduate study and research. It is expected, therefore, that every 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 and Research. If a student does not expect to fulfil 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 normal minimum duration of study for the Master's degree is one calendar year beyond the honours Bachelor's degree, or its equivalent. Credit for no more than one-half of the required courses for program taken at another university may be given at the discretion of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, upon the recommendation of the program coordinator.

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 generally exceed five consecutive years. Please consult individual program regulations for information concerning the time limit given on a part-time basis.

If an extension of these time limits becomes necessary, the student should address a petition to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research 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 coordinator or a designated advisor. A specific program of study should be worked out at the time of the student's first registration, in consultation with the program coordinator or an advisor. Students are directed to obtain the approval of the program coordinator or designated advisor for changes in the program of study.

In consultation with their advisor or the program coordinator, all students must complete an annual report which is to be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research by May 31 of each year.

Training in methodology may be required, at the discretion of the program. Students working toward the Master's degree must maintain at least a B- average in all course work. A candidate for the Master's degree who does not obtain graduate credit in any course may repeat the course once only, and not more than one course may be repeated. Normally, graduate credit will be given only for A or B standing in a course. Concerning credit for C grades, see 1.4.3. Letter grades or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory may be assigned for theses and major papers, depending on individual program policy.

After consultation between student and professor and authorization by the latter's program coordinator, a graduate course may be recorded as INC (Incomplete) when:

1) the student has completed the class work but is unable to take the end of course examination because of illness or other acceptable reason, or

2)
(a) the student is unable to complete the work for the course because of illness or other acceptable reason, and
(b) the student has done satisfactory work in the course, and
(c) in the opinion of the professor, the student can complete the normally required work in the course without repeating the course in class.

Committees: Research undertaken as part of a Master's program is normally directed and supervised by a Master's committee. The program coordinator will recommend the appointment of members of the Master’s committee, whose appointments must be approved by the Executive Committee of the Graduate Council.

The Master's committee will include as a minimum the chief 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 coordinator and the Executive Committee of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. The member(s) from outside the program need not participate in the direction of research but shall contribute a judgment on its completion.

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

If the research involves human ethics, animal care, or biohazards, the supervisor of the thesis is responsible for obtaining prior approval from the respective committees governing the above topics. (Consult the Office of Research Services.)