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About the University of Calgary
Graduate Studies Calendar 2014-2015 Program Descriptions Interdisciplinary Graduate Program IGP
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program - IGP
Contact Information

Location: MacKimmie Tower, Room 213
Program number: 403.220.4997
Email address: igpgrad@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL: http://www.ucalgary.ca/igp

1. Degrees and Specializations Offered

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Arts (MA), thesis-based
Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based

Please note that specializations are determined by the Supervisory Committee in consultation with the Director of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. Students are encouraged to select specializations as early as possible, preferably before beginning their programs of study.

2. Admission Requirements

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program requires:

a) A statement identifying at least two academic disciplines or interdisciplinary degrees that will be integrated in the MA, MSc or PhD degree.

b) For MA and MSc admission an undergraduate degree in one of the academic disciplines or interdisciplinary degrees that will be integrated in the master’s degree. For PhD admission the master’s degree must be thesis (research)-based (or equivalent) and in one of the academic disciplines or interdisciplinary degrees that will be integrated in the PhD degree. Please note that applicants who hold non-thesis-based master’s degrees must present clear evidence of research experience (e.g., peer-reviewed papers in the research literature) that is equivalent to a thesis (research)-based degree.

c) A grade point average of 3.50 or higher (on the University of Calgary four-point system). For MA and MSc admission this is based on the last two years of the undergraduate degree (minimum of 10 full-course equivalents). For PhD admission the overall GPA from the master's degree will be considered.

d) Applicants required to prove proficiency in English must fulfill this requirement in one of the following three ways:

  • a TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based test) including at least 5.0 on the Test of Written English (TWE), and a score of at least 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE)
  • a TOEFL score of 100 on the Internet-based test
  • an IELTS score of 7.5

e) Three reference letters on the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program’s reference letter forms.

f) An up-to-date curriculum vitae. Please separate refereed and non-refereed research contributions.

g) A concise statement of reasons for applying to the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, including its fit with career objectives.

h) A research statement (maximum of 1500 words (5 pages)). Please note that this research statement must include the following sections: Background, research questions, literature review, research methodology, intellectual merit of the proposed research, and broader impacts of the proposed research. The research statement should also indicate if ethics approval is required to carry out the proposed research.

i) A statement of interdisciplinarity that:

  • sets out what makes the proposed program of study interdisciplinary
  • specifies how each academic discipline or interdisciplinary degree will inform the research and why each is essential to answering the proposed research questions
  • provides clear evidence that the proposed program of study cannot be undertaken in any other disciplinary or interdisciplinary degree at the University of Calgary

Please note that insufficient academic preparedness for another disciplinary or interdisciplinary degree and absence of an MA, MSc, or PhD program at the University of Calgary in an established disciplinary or interdisciplinary degree are not adequate reasons for pursuing a degree in IGP.

j) Proposed coursework as set out below in Program/Course Requirements.

k) A proposed Supervisory Committee. For MA and MSc admission the Supervisory Committee must consist of at least two people (Supervisor plus one person), one from each identified academic discipline or interdisciplinary degree (maximum of three members). For PhD admission the Supervisory Committee must consist of at least three people (Supervisor plus two people), at least one from each identified academic discipline or interdisciplinary degree (maximum of four members).

l) The proposed Supervisor must provide a letter that:

  • confirms his/her willingness to supervise the applicant through to completion of the degree
  • supports the proposed research and statement of interdisciplinarity
  • confirms that the proposed research cannot be carried out in his/her program
  • sets out how the proposed courses and research project will ensure sufficient disciplinary rigor within the program of study
  • explains how the selection of other members of the Supervisory Committee will ensure a balance of interdisciplinary and disciplinarity
  • confirms department/program approval for his/her role on the Supervisory Committee for this student
  • includes a curriculum vitae that provides evidence of his/her expertise and experience relevant to the proposed research

m) Each proposed Supervisory Committee Member must provide a letter that:

  • confirms his/her willingness to serve on the Supervisory Committee through to completion of the degree
  • supports the proposed research and statement of interdisciplinarity
  • confirms that the proposed research cannot be carried out in his/her program
  • sets out how the proposed courses and research project will ensure sufficient disciplinary rigor within the program of study
  • includes a curriculum vitae that provides evidence of his/her expertise and experience relevant to the proposed research

n) A proposed completion schedule. The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program does not offer a part-time registration status option. Expected completion time is two years for the MA degree and the MSc degree and four years for the PhD degree. Maximum completion time is four years for the MA degree and the MSc degree and six years for the PhD degree.

o) A funding plan that provides evidence of sufficient financial resources to carry out the program of study. For MA and MSc admission a two-year funding plan is required. For PhD admission a four-year funding plan is required. Applicants must be eligible to hold awards administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. Please note that statements signalling an intention to apply for funding are not sufficient.

p) A statement of availability of, and access to, all resources that are required to carry out the proposed research (e.g., equipment, data, access to respondents, funding for fieldwork).

3. Application Deadline

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program admits students for a September start through a four-step admissions process. Each step requires specific documentation by a specified date. The decision not to recommend admission can be made at each step in the process. Successful applicants at each step will move to the next step. Unsuccessful applicants at each step will receive a letter informing them that they will not be recommended for admission to the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program.

Step 1 Assessment of eligibility.

Deadline for submission of required documentation: 4:00 pm (MST) January 15

Required documentation:

  • online application
  • application fee
  • academic transcripts for all previous programs of study
  • TOEFL or IELTS score (where required)
  • up-to-date curriculum vitae
  • specification of two academic disciplines or interdisciplinary degrees that will be integrated in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
  • a statement confirming that at time of first registration you are eligible to hold graduate awards administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program

Step 2 Assessment of proposed program of study, supervision and funding plan.

Deadline for submission of required documentation 4:00 pm (MST) March 1

Required documentation:

  • statement of career goals and fit with proposed program of study
  • research statement
  • statement of interdisciplinarity
  • proposed coursework
  • proposed completion schedule
  • funding plan
  • statement of availability of, and access to, resources necessary to carry out proposed research
  • three reference letters
  • Supervisory Committee package (letters of support from the supervisor and members of Supervisory Committee; curriculum vitae of supervisor and each member of the Supervisory Committee)

Step 3 Admissions Seminar held within three weeks of assessment of proposed program of study, supervision and funding plan.

Step 4 Recommendation to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

4. Advanced Credit

Requests for advanced credit must be made 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. Advanced credit requests may not exceed one-third of the course load identified at the Admission Seminar. PhD applicants may not receive credit for undergraduate courses.

5. Program/Course Requirements

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Program requires:

For the MA degree and the MSc degree:

  • a minimum of four graded half courses, two per academic discipline or interdisciplinary degree integrated in the program of study
  • additional courses in methodology and statistics as needed
  • a maximum of one directed reading course
  • at least 75 per cent of the coursework must be at the graduate level

For the PhD degree:

  • a minimum of four graded graduate-level half courses, two per academic discipline or interdisciplinary degree integrated in the program of study
  • additional courses in methodology and statistics as needed
  • a maximum of one directed reading course

Copyediting of students’ theses is not allowed.

6. Additional Requirements

None.

7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses

None.

8. Time Limit

Maximum completion time is four years for a master's program and six years for a doctoral program.

9. Supervisory Assignments

All students must have an approved supervisory committee at the time of admission.

10. Required Examinations

The doctoral candidacy examination has a written component and an oral component. The written component consists of three questions set by the Supervisory Committee. The student has three weeks to complete the written component. The oral component of the candidacy examination will take place one week after the submission of the answers.

Questions on the thesis research proposal will not be included in the oral candidacy examination.

Final thesis examinations are open.

11. Research Proposal Requirements

All students must have a thesis research proposal approved by their Supervisory Committees. For PhD students the thesis research proposal must be approved before the candidacy examination.

12. Special Registration Information

Course registration must be completed manually by completing the Faculty of Graduate Studies Change of Registration form.

13. Financial Assistance

Applicants will not be admitted to the MA degree or the MSc degree without an approved two-year funding plan. Applicants will not be admitted to the PhD degree without an approved four-year funding plan.

Students are required to apply for external and internal awards for which they are eligible. For information on awards and application deadlines, see the Faculty of Graduate Studies website. Students should also check with the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for internal deadlines.

Applicants: Please note that award deadlines may fall before the application deadline for admission.

Financial assistance may be available from the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. Priority will be given to students in the first two years of a master’s degree or the first four years of a PhD degree. This funding may include an Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Scholarship, a Graduate Teaching Assistantship and/or a Graduate Teaching Fellowship.

Eligibility:

  • may not hold or accept full-time employment
  • may not hold or accept paid employment that entails 600 or more hours per year

Application:

MA students and MSc students

  • apply directly to the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program on its Awards Competition form
  • Deadline: 4:00 pm (MST) January 15

PhD students

  • apply to the Faculty of Graduate Studies – Graduate Award Competition
  • Deadline: 4:00 pm (MST) January 15
14. Other Information

None.