Overview

Graduate Programs

Faculty of Graduate Studies program descriptions outline fundamental aspects of graduate program types at the university specific to master’s and doctoral degrees. Serving as foundational parameters which articulate general norms and characteristics, the program descriptions are designed to help distinguish between various offerings when such differentiation is constructive – and with the understanding that general descriptions always allow for exceptions.

For instance, regarding graduate funding, scholarship, and award opportunities, students in master’s and doctoral programs are normally eligible for funding packages and for internal and external scholarships and awards. For professional master’s and professional doctoral programs, students are not eligible for funding packages, and are eligible for specified internal and external scholarships and awards.

Given the breadth of graduate offerings at the institution and the focus of all program types on academic excellence, research, innovation, and career-ready education, it is plausible for some graduate offerings to overlap on several discernible program characteristics. In all instances, specific contexts must be considered to situate the application of Faculty of Graduate Studies’ program descriptions to guide discussions and decision-making processes.

Master’s Programs

York University master’s programs focus on advanced study through research, scholarly, and/or creative ventures. Comprised of a variety of requirements including thesis-based, research paper/project-based, or coursework-based, they provide students the opportunity to make original contributions to knowledge and address complex challenges, in preparation for a range of academic and career pursuits.

Professional Master’s Programs

York University professional master’s programs focus on preparation for careers in specific fields and/or the professional enhancement of current practitioners through robust academic study. Normally a terminal degree and often including a work focused experiential education component, and typically without a requirement to conduct original academic research, they integrate theory and practice and provide students the opportunity to undertake specialized learning for application in certain professional settings.

Master’s Degree-Level Expectations

Included below are degree level expectations for master’s programs offered at York University. Program-specific learning outcomes are expected to be consistent with and build upon degree-level expectations. The structure and requirements of master’s programs are intended to support the achievement of degree-level expectations and program-specific learning outcomes.

This degree is awarded to students who have demonstrated the following:

1. Depth and Breadth of Knowledge

A systematic understanding of knowledge, including, where appropriate, relevant knowledge outside the field and/or discipline, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study, or area of professional practice.

2. Research and Scholarship

A conceptual understanding and methodological competence that

1. Enables a working comprehension of how established techniques of research and inquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline;
2. Enables a critical evaluation of current research and advanced research and scholarship in the discipline or area of professional competence; and
3. Enables treatment of complex issues and judgments based on established principles and techniques; and,

On the basis of that competence, has shown at least one of the following:

1. The development and support of a sustained argument in written form; or
2. Originality in the application of knowledge.

3. Level of Application Knowledge

Competence in the research process by applying an existing body of knowledge in the critical analysis of a new question or of a specific problem or issue in a new setting.

4. Professional Capacity/Autonomy

The qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:

1. The exercise of initiative and of personal responsibility and accountability; and
2. Decision-making in complex situations;
3. The intellectual independence required for continuing professional development;
4. The ethical behaviour consistent with academic integrity and the use of appropriate guidelines and procedures for responsible conduct of research; and
5. The ability to appreciate the broader implications of applying knowledge to particular contexts.

5. Level of Communications Skills

The ability to communicate ideas, issues and conclusions clearly.

6. Awareness of Limits of Knowledge

Cognizance of the complexity of knowledge and of the potential contributions of other interpretations, methods, and disciplines.

Program Structure

A candidate for a master’s degree shall pursue at York University, under the direction of a graduate program, an advanced course of study approved by the director of the sponsoring graduate program.

The minimum requirements for master’s degree programs are normally comprised of:

1. at least 12 credits in graduate-level coursework and an acceptable thesis; or
2. at least 18 credits in graduate-level coursework and an appropriate research paper, project or review essay; or
3. at least 24 credits of graduate-level coursework.

These are minimum requirements, and individual graduate programs may have additional requirements, such as comprehensive examinations, practicum, fieldwork, language requirements, etc.

Program Length and Minimum Period of Registration

All master’s programs must specify a program length in terms, which is normally the shortest period of time a student must be registered in a program in order to qualify for the degree and which normally predetermines the minimum total academic fees that a student must pay prior to graduation. Master’s students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of three terms of full-time registration, except in programs where a longer program length is specified. (This does not apply to master’s programs in the Schulich School of Business.)

Time Limits

All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student, in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies Registration Policies, including the requirement of continuous registration. Terms in which students are registered as General Leave of Absence, Family Care Leave of Absence, or No Course Available Leave of Absence are not included in these time limits.

Annual Progress Reports

A thesis supervisory committee shall meet annually with the student, normally in the Spring, to evaluate the Report on Progress submitted by the student and submit a completed copy of the Report on Progress to the graduate program director after the meeting. In accordance with program requirements and procedures, students in non-thesis program options may be required to submit a progress report to the graduate program director. Reports to the graduate program director of unsatisfactory progress may require a student to withdraw from a program of studies, or withdraw from the graduate program in which the student is enrolled.

Coursework

In addition to those courses specified individually by the sponsoring graduate program for each student as constituting the minimum required program of studies, students with permission of the program director may elect, on registration, to enrol in additional courses.

A minimum of two-thirds of the course requirements for a master’s program should be completed from among graduate-level courses.

Graduate students may not take or receive credit for an integrated course at the graduate level if they took it at York or elsewhere at the undergraduate level.

Following initial registration in a graduate program and prior to completion of the first term of study, graduate students may request transfer credit (advanced standing) for graduate-level courses completed at York University or another institution that have not been used to fulfill the requirements of another degree program or graduate diploma. Credit for such work will be determined by the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, on the recommendation of the program concerned. Transfer credit accepted towards the fulfillment of the degree program to which the student has been admitted may count for up to 50% of the coursework requirements for the York graduate diploma or degree program.

Major Research Paper/Project/Review Essay

A major research paper/project/review essay is a milestone component of a program that requires independent research. The academic requirements, format and length of master’s research papers/projects/review essays should be consistent with master’s degree-level and program-specific expectations.

In accordance with program-specific requirements and processes, a master’s research paper/project/review essay should be on a topic approved by the program, normally including submission and approval of a proposal, as well as appropriate ethics review and approval. Supervisors for each master’s research paper/project/review essay must be approved no later than the end of the second term of master’s study. In accordance with program-specific requirements and processes, evaluation of master’s research papers/projects/review essays may include a second reader and/or oral examination. Master’s research papers/projects/review essays are normally graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

Language of Major Research Papers/Projects/Review Essays and Thesis

A major research paper/project/review essay or thesis should be written in English but approval may be given to a written request from a student for a major research paper/project/review essay or thesis to be written in French or in the language of any Aboriginal/First Nations people in North America, subject to confirmation from the director of the graduate program concerned that relevant supervision and sufficient support for the completion of such written work can be provided.

Language and Cognate Requirements

Requirements with respect to language facility (other than language competency required for admission), technical skill (e.g., statistics or computer techniques), and/or cognate subjects are determined by individual graduate programs with the approval of the Faculty of Graduate Studies Council.

Work Focused Experiential Education

Individual graduate programs may require students to undertake work focused experiential education to apply theory to a concrete experience in a manner that advances the learning objectives of a course or program:

Course-based Placements (CBP)

Students engage in activities where they practice course specific competencies; they receive course credit, but (generally) are not paid.

Program-based Placements (PBP)

Students are given the opportunity to develop competencies and skills in organizational work environments that augment the theories/concepts learned in academic program settings.

Internships

Internships are paid, full-time, one-time, supervised work experiences. The student produces a work term report which is reviewed and graded by the faculty supervisor.

Co-operative Education Programs

Students alternate between periods of paid, full-time, supervised work experiences and academic terms. Co-op programs provide students with the opportunity to integrate their classroom learning with hands-on work experience related to their field of study in which they alternate periods of paid, full-time, supervised work experiences with their academic terms.

Master’s Thesis and Graduate Supervision Regulations

Please visit Master's Thesis and Graduate Supervision.