UofC

Location: Social Sciences Building, Room 222
Program number: 403.220.5623
Fax: 403.210.8164
Email address: gradprog@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL: commfilm.ucalgary.ca/graduate

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Arts (MA), thesis-based
Master of Communications Studies (MCS), course-based

Note: Admission to the MCS program has been suspended as of July 1, 2016.

The MA degree may be completed on a full-time or a part-time basis.

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Graduate program in Communication and Media Studies requires:

Master of Arts

a) A statement of research intent (250-500 words).

b) Two samples of written work.

c) A detailed curriculum vitae.

d) A completed baccalaureate degree in Communications Studies, Culture Studies or related field.

e) Two completed Reference Forms.

There is no assurance of consideration for funding for part-time students.

Master of Communications Studies

The Department is not currently accepting applications to the Master of Communications Studies.

a) A statement of research intent (250-500 words).

b) Two samples of written work.

c) A detailed curriculum vitae.

d) A completed baccalaureate degree in Communications Studies or related field.

e) Two completed Reference Forms.

Note: Master's students must take 9 units (1.5 full-course equivalents) in each of fall and winter terms in the first year of their program to be considered full-time.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) A statement of research intent (500-1000 words).

b) Two samples of written work.

c) A detailed curriculum vitae.

d) Completed baccalaureate and master’s degrees in Communications Studies, Culture Studies, or equivalent.

e) Two completed Reference Forms.

The deadline for the submission of complete applications is January 15 for September admission.

Advanced credit may be granted to students admitted to the PhD program. Approval of the Graduate Program Director is required.

Advanced credit is not available to MA applicants.

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Graduate Program in Communication and Media Studies requires the following:

Master of Arts (18 units or 3.0 full-course equivalents)

a) Nine units (1.5 full-course equivalents): Communication and Media Studies 601, 613 and 615.

b) Nine units (1.5 full-course equivalents) electives.

c) Three units (0.5 full-course equivalent) of the electives may be selected from other graduate programs; 3 units (0.5 full-course equivalent) of the electives may be Communication and Media Studies 711, Directed Studies.

Master of Communications Studies (30 units or 5.0 full-course equivalents)

a) Nine units (1.5 full-course equivalents): Communication and Media Studies 601, 605, and 615.

b) Fifteen units (2.5 full-course equivalents) electives.

c) Three units (0.5 full-course equivalent) of the electives may be selected from other graduate programs; 3 units (0.5 full-course equivalent) of the electives may be Communication and Media Studies 711, Directed Studies.

d) Six units (1.0 full-course equivalent): Communication and Media Studies 790, Master's Project.

Doctor of Philosophy (18 units or 3.0 full-course equivalents)

a) Nine units (1.5 full-course equivalents): Communication and Media Studies 601, 615 or equivalent, and 713.

b) Nine units (1.5 full-course equivalents) electives.

c) Three units (0.5 full-course equivalent) of the electives may be selected from other graduate programs; 3 units (0.5 full-course equivalent) of the electives may be Communication and Media Studies 711, Directed Studies.

Note: PhD students who can show that they have taken Communication and Media Studies 601 or equivalent may substitute an elective.

None.

Credit for undergraduate courses toward a master’s program will be given only in the case of the course being developed for graduate-level work. Students in the doctoral program will not be given credit for undergraduate courses.

Expected completion time is two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study for the Master of Arts degree and four years for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Maximum completion time is four years for the Master of Arts degree and six years for the Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

An interim advisor is assigned by the program in the first year. The student must choose a thesis supervisor by the beginning of the second year.

Doctor of Philosophy

By June of the first year in program, the student must submit their proposed field of research and the name of a proposed supervisor for approval by the program. The supervisory committee must be appointed no later than three months after the appointment of the supervisor.

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Department requires:

Candidacy

Doctoral candidacy examinations have a written and an oral component. Students have three weeks to write papers in three areas relevant to their proposed research. The student’s supervisory committee sets the areas and the examination questions in consultation with the candidacy committee. The oral examination takes place one week after the completion of the written papers.

Revised candidacy requirements will be posted in the 2016-2017 academic year.

Thesis Examination

Scheduling of the Examination

All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s draft thesis document before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee

The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

Students whose research involves human subjects must receive approval from the University of Calgary Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board before beginning data collection.

Master of Arts – Thesis supervisor must approve proposal.

Doctor of Philosophy – In consultation with the supervisory committee, before the candidacy examinations, each doctoral student is required to submit a preliminary thesis proposal that may serve as an additional basis for questioning. A more detailed, Final Thesis Proposal (including an Application for Ethics Approval where relevant), approved by the supervisory committee must be submitted to the graduate director within six months of the successful completion of the candidacy examination.

Revised candidacy requirements will be posted in the 2016-2017 academic year.

None.

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on Awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar and grad.ucalgary.ca/awards.

Students applying for the Graduate Awards Competition must submit their applications to the Department of Communication, Media and Film Graduate Programs Office by January 15.

Inquiries concerning specific questions about the program and degree requirements should be directed to: Department of Communication, Media and Film, Graduate Programs, Social Sciences 222, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4.

The active research interests of current faculty can be found at commfilm.ucalgary.ca/graduate/facultyexpertise.

Note: Courses that are considered electives will be offered on the basis of student needs and contingent upon the availability of staff resources.