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Timeline

Ideally, you will progress through the MES program as outlined below. Full-time registration is required – there is no part-time option for the MES program.

Because of the diversity of research projects in the Faculty, there is some variation in how and when MES students move through these stages.

Term 1 (year 1 fall)

MES I

  • Enroll in ENVS 5100 Interdisciplinary Research in Environmental Studies
  • Prepare your initial Plan of Study
  • Enroll in other courses/learning activities that help you start to explore your Area of Concentration
  • At the end of the fall term, you will have your first General Examination, where your Advisor formally reviews your Plan of Study to determine its appropriateness/achievability

Your Plan of Study must be approved in order for you to move forward to MES II
Terms 2 – 4 (year 1 winter to year 2 fall)

MES II

  • As determined by your Plan of Study, enroll in courses/other activities in order to gain essential knowledge about your Area of Concentration
  • In consultation with your Advisor, continue to revise your Plan of Study as appropriate
  • At the ends of both terms 2 and terms 3, you will have General Examinations where your Advisor formally reviews your Plan of Study and the work you have completed towards achieving your goals in order to prepare for the upcoming term
  • In term 4, enroll in ENVS 6102 3.0: Transitions in Environmental Studies in order to work with your Advisor/Supervisor on the Proposal for your Major Paper/Project/Thesis
  • At the end of term 4, you will have a MES II-III Examination evaluating your Proposal and final Plan of Study

Your Proposal and Plan of Study must be approved in order for you to move forward to MES III
Terms 5 – 6 (year 2 winter to year 2 summer)

MES III

  • Research and writing of Major Paper/Project/Thesis

Final Exam that reviews your substantive knowledge of your Area of Concentration and an assessment of the completion of your Plan of Study

Time limit

The maximum time allowed for completion of the MES degree is 12 terms/4 calendar years (not including leaves of absence and other exceptional circumstances). Registration as a full-time student is normally limited to 6 terms/2 calendar years – after that your status is automatically changed to part-time. If you still working on the your Major Paper/Project/Thesis after 4 years, you can withdraw in good standing and petition for readmission for one term only to complete your Final Exam.

Under certain circumstances you can petition for permission to not register/pay fees in a specific term and the term will not be counted as part of your 4 year limit. For details please see Sections 16 and 22 of the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations.