Master of Arts (MA) Thesis-based in Geography

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

a) Twelve units in a two-year period, including History and Philosophy of Physical or Human Geography, and at least one graduate-level methods course in Geography.

b) Four semesters of course (Graduate Research Seminars). Students may be exempted from a portion of this requirement as determined by the Graduate Program Director.

c) An approved thesis proposal completed within the first year of the program.

For detailed information on courses and program requirements please refer to: geog.ucalgary.ca.

Full-time status is expected. In some situations thesis programs may be completed on a part-time basis with approval from the Graduate Program Director.

For thesis-based students, departures from regular departmental program/course requirements may be recommended on an individual basis by the supervisor with approval from the Graduate Program Director.

Advanced Credit

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission.

Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)

The department of Geography will not permit the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade) for any course offered by the Department of Geography.

Students may not choose the CG grade for a course taken extra to load.

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

Credit for Undergraduate Courses

No more than one half of a regular thesis graduate student’s coursework can be at the undergraduate level. Eligible undergraduate courses must be at 500 level. Requests for courses at other levels must receive approval of Graduate Program Director. Programs requiring a larger ratio of undergraduate courses must receive approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies at the time of admission.

Time Limit

Expected completion time is two years. Maximum completion time is four years.

Supervisory Assignments

Each thesis-based graduate student has a supervisor appointed upon entry to the program.

Research Proposal Requirements

Thesis-based Master’s students normally complete a written thesis proposal, approved by the supervisor and two additional examiners, within twelve months of registration in the program.

Thesis Examination

Thesis examinations are open.

Scheduling of the Examination

All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

Normally, the review of the research by the Supervisory Committee will be by presentation and discussion of the student’s thesis research at a Supervisory Committee Meeting supported by a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis. For master’s students that do not have a Supervisory Committee, the Supervisor will review the research.

Composition of the Committee

The Internal Examiner must be external to the home program.

Department funding is available to highly ranked thesis students. Financial assistance may be available to qualified thesis students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar or check the Graduate Awards Database: grad.ucalgary.ca/awards.

Unless otherwise stated, awards are available only to full-time students in thesis programs.