The PhD program, offered on a full– and part–time basis, is intended to develop research and teaching scholars who can accomplish major, independent research projects, who are able to advance the substantive and theoretical debates in the discipline through professional discourse and publication, and who are able to teach the basic perspectives in the discipline and at least two more specialized fields at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Duration of the PhD Program
All requirements for the PhD must be completed within six years of first registering as a doctoral student. During this period, continuous registration at York must be maintained.
Part–time study does not entitle students to extra time. Part–time doctoral study is feasible only if the student can collect data for the dissertation as part of their job, or if the student can switch to full–time study for a year or two.
A reasonable rate of progress for a full-time doctoral student who can study throughout the summer terms would be roughly:
| PhD Starts | ||
| Fall Year 1–2021 Coursework PhD Seminar 1 insert course selections |
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| Winter Year 1–2022 Coursework Insert course selections | Summer Year 1–2022 Coursework insert course selections | Fall Year 2–2022 Coursework insert course selections First Comp might begin here |
| Winter Year 2–2023 PhD Seminar 2 First comp begins, continues or is completed Second Comp might begin PhD Supervisor MUST be identified and paperwork submitted to Grad Program Office Coursework completed | Summer Year 2–2023 First Comp is completed Second Comp begins continues or is completed | Fall Year 3–2023 Second Comp is completed Comprehensive Exams completed |
| Winter Year 3–2024 Dissertation proposal and ethics begins Full supervisory committee must be identified and paperwork submitted to Grad Program Office | Summer Year 3–2024 Dissertation proposal and ethics Dissertation Research data collection and analysis Dissertation proposal and ethics approved | Fall Year 4– 2024 Dissertation Research data collection and analysis |
| Winter Year 4–2025 Dissertation Research data collection, analysis and chapter writing | Summer Year 4–2025 Dissertation Research analysis, chapter writing, revisions | Fall Year 5–2025 Dissertation Research analysis, chapter writing, final revisions |
| Winter Year 5–2026 Dissertation Research Final revisions Defence | Summer Year 5–2026 Dissertation Research Final revisions Defence PhD Ends |
If a student has not finished at the end of their sixth year (18th term), they will have to withdraw from the program and seek reinstatement when they have completed all outstanding work and have an examinable dissertation. In exceptional circumstances, an extension may be granted, and the student will be required to register as a part–time student. Such an extension requires formal approval by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and is not granted routinely. Students need the support of their committee supervisor and the Graduate Program Director. In addition, students must write a petition outlining why they have been unable to finish within the normal time period and submit a detailed work plan for finishing the dissertation within the requested extension period.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for the PhD degree must fulfil the following requirements: (i) doctoral seminar; (ii) course work; (iii) comprehensives; (iv) dissertation proposal; (v) dissertation,
