(1) All Candidates are required to take the PhD core course.

(2) All Candidates must take the Research Methods Workshop [unless they can demonstrate equivalent background*]

(3) Candidates must select a Major field (minimum of two one term courses) and Minor (minmum of one one term course), which may be in a related programme. Candidates will be required to take the foundation course for the Major and Minor, unless they can demonstrate equivalent background.

PhD Pro-Seminar in Communications Research and Practice [non-credit]

PhD students must demonstrate an overall command of the field and of the major and minor areas of concentration by passing a written comprehensive examination. The examination is normally taken by end of the second year of registration. The examination will test the student's grasp of the history of the field, its central themes and major debates, and the key theoretical and methodological issues. The examination will reflect the diversity of perspectives in the field and its transdisciplinary nature.

The successful completion of the examination indicates that the student is qualified to teach at the university level and has the level of knowledge in his/her area of specialization needed to begin work on the dissertation.

As part of the preparation for the qualifying examination, the student will prepare a dissertation proposal, under the direction of an advisory committee of Program faculty, consisting of:

(1) a description of and rationale for the research question or problem;
(2) a survey of relevant literature and a discussion of the debates to which the research will contribute;
(3) a discussion of research design, plans, and methods;
(4) a proposed table of contents;
(5) a select bibliography;
(6) a work plan or timetable.

The proposal will be defended in the pro-seminar and formally approved as part of the comprehensive exam.

Students will be required to demonstrate competence in those languages and research techniques essential to their research and preparation of their dissertation.  Supervisors will be required to write to the Program Director confirming the student's proficiency in necessary language or research techniques.