PhD > Dissertation

Following successful completion of the comprehensive examinations, students will advance to the dissertation stage. Students following both Option 1 and Option 2 will proceed to enroll in the Doctoral Seminar and begin preparation of a dissertation proposal. As part of this process, several steps must be completed by the student in concert with the Supervisor:

• A Supervisory Committee must be established within one month of beginning the comprehensive period of study (or no later than the eight term of study). Students may establish this committee at any point prior to this deadline, but must have the agreement by this point of at least three and no more than five eligible faculty members (including the Supervisor). All committee members must be appointed to the York Faculty of Graduate Studies. Normally, one member will be outside the School of Social Work.

• Within 60 days of completion of the Doctoral Seminar (by January 31, in term 8), Option 1 students are expected to have developed a dissertation proposal, to be approved by the Supervisory Committee. Option 2 students must develop a proposal within five months of completing their comprehensive examinations (by April 30, in term 8). If relevant, the proposal must include ethics approval by the York University Ethics Committee. Students cannot proceed to work on the research study until these approvals are granted.

• A research study and written dissertation must be completed by the student. The Supervisory Committee provides guidance to the student, and must meet with the student a minimum of three times prior to the defense to ensure sufficient support for the project. The project, however, must demonstrate original research carried out by the student.

• The student must successfully defend the dissertation at an oral examination presided over by an Examination Committee. This committee will consist of six members: three members of the Supervisory Committee; a member from outside the School of Social Work but within York University, chosen for familiarity with the student’s subject area; one member from outside of York University; and a Dean’s representative. The membership of the Examining Committee must be approved by the School’s Graduate Program Director and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.