Program/Course Requirements

Completion requirement

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the MDR must include completion of the following academic requirements:

a) Core required courses:

Complete ALL of the following Courses:

APLA670 - Design Research Methods
AND APLA672 - Design Research Writing
AND APLA674 - Design Innovation

b) A minimum of 3 units of elective credit at the graduate level that is relevant to the student's area of research, chosen in consultation with their supervisor.

c) A thesis proposal approved by the supervisor (or supervisory committee for those students who have chosen to have a committee).

d) A written thesis.

e) Thesis examination.

Attendance at orientation for first year students is expected.

Reappraisal of Academic Assessments (Final Grades)

Students enrolled in SAPL graduate credentials must request a Reappraisal of Academic Assessments (Final Grades) within 5 business days of the start of the subsequent term.

Reappraisal of Academic Assessments (Final Grades) in SAPL graduate credentials must be completed at least one day before the drop date of the subsequent semester.

Additional Program Information

Completion requirement

Advanced Credit

A student may apply for advanced credit for previous courses that have not been used to satisfy the requirements of any other degree or diploma program. See Advanced Credit.

Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)

Students admitted to the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape will not be allowed to request the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade) for any course that is applicable to their degree; or apply any course awarded a grade of CG towards their graduation requirements.

Students may choose the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade) for courses outside of SAPL that permit the CG Grade and are taken extra to load.

The use of the CG grade will affect students' eligibility for internal awards.

Credit for Undergraduate Courses

Only undergraduate courses numbered 500-599 may be considered for graduate-level credit and are subject to approval by the Program Director.

Time Limit

Given the post-professional nature of the MDR degree, students are expected to complete their degrees within four terms. Note that Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations require that students must complete all degree requirements within four registration years. See Time Limits.

Supervisory Assignments and Required Examinations

Completion requirement

Supervisory Assignments

At the time of admission, each MDR student will be assigned a supervisor.

MEDes students are only required to have one supervisor. MDR students may, in consultation with their supervisor, choose to have a committee. If so, then within three months of admission, MDR students must establish, in consultation with their supervisor, a supervisory committee. The supervisory committee must include at least one other member in addition to the supervisor and co-supervisor, if applicable. This additional member must be from outside of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape.

Required Examinations

Thesis Examination

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements for Thesis Examinations, the program requires:

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.

Thesis Proposal Requirements

The supervisor (or the supervisory committee, if applicable) will approve final thesis proposals. Thesis proposals should clearly describe the project in terms of Title, Objectives, Background, Methodology and Expected Outcomes. Students are encouraged to include an explicit interventionist or problem-solving component.

Financial Assistance

Completion requirement

Financial assistance may be available to highly qualified students but cannot be guaranteed. For information on admission and academic awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar, the SAPL website and the Awards Database on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.

Master of Design Research (MDR)

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