Completion of Graduate Programs at a Glance

What follows is a triad of sequences, two for the M.A. program (thesis and project options), and one for the Ph.D. While these sequences by no means prescribe rates of work towards completion, they offer patterns intended to be useful to students planning their graduate studies in this department.

1. Schedule Towards Completion of the M.A. Thesis Option

Year One

  • Complete intermediate language requirement.
  • Complete a total of 15 cu course work  (12 cu electives at the 800-level and ENG 801.3).
  • Satisfy Eng. 990 requirements.
  • Complete GSR 960 Ethics and Integrity (online course).
  • Find a thesis supervisor and notify Grad Chair by January 15.
  • Submit thesis proposal by May 1.
  • Carry out thesis research and writing over summer months. 

    [Note: the College of Graduate Studies and Research has the following policy on vacation time: "Graduate students are entitled to a minimum of two weeks of vacation per year, in addition to weekends, statutory holidays and regularly-scheduled university breaks (e.g. December and February breaks). Students planning to take vacation should so inform their supervisor and Graduate Chair in writing in advance of the planned absence. If possible, an e-mail address and telephone number where the student can be reached while on vaction should be provided. The student is expected to plan vacations in consultation with the supervisor, and to make appropriate arrangements for care of ongoing research projects if necessary."]

Year Two

2. Schedule Towards Completion of the M.A. Project Option

Year One

  • Complete a total of 18 credit units (15 cu electives at the 800-level and ENG 801.3).
  • Satisfy Eng. 990 requirements.
  • Complete GSR 960 Ethics and Integrity (online course).
  • Choose project paper and notify Grad Chair by April 30.
  • Carry out project research and writing over summer months. 

    [Note: the College of Graduate Studies and Research has the following policy on vacation time: "Graduate students are entitled to a minimum of two weeks of vacation per year, in addition to weekends, statutory holidays and regularly-scheduled university breaks (e.g. December and February breaks). Students planning to take vacation should so inform their supervisor and Graduate Chair in writing in advance of the planned absence. If possible, an e-mail address and telephone number where the student can be reached while on vaction should be provided. The student is expected to plan vacations in consultation with the supervisor, and to make appropriate arrangements for care of ongoing research projects if necessary."]
  • Submit the formatted paper (as approved by the supervisor) to the Grad Chair for distribution to the second reader by:
    • August 15 - if the student wishes to meet the deadline for Fall Convocation;
    • November 30 - if requirements for spring convocation are to be met without paying Term 2 tuition;
    • April - if the student wishes to meet the deadline for Spring Convocation.
  • Apply to graduate by August 31 for Fall Convocation (or by March 31st for Spring Convocation).
  • Prepare thesis according to CGPS guidelines and submit ETD to the CGPS by the April and September deadlines listed in the Academic Calendar.

3. Schedule Towards Completion of the Ph.D.

Year One

  • Complete language requirement, if this has not already been done.
  • Complete a minimum of 18 cu at the 800-level; in addition, complete English 801.3 if you have not taken a course in Textual Scholarship in your M.A. program or at another university.
  • Satisfy Eng. 990 requirements.
  • Complete GSR 960 Ethics and Integrity (online course).
  • Choose an area of study for the thesis, find a thesis supervisor, and notify Grad Chair by May 15.
  • Carry out dissertation research over summer months. 

    [Note: the College of Graduate Studies and Research has the following policy on vacation time: "Graduate students are entitled to a minimum of two weeks of vacation per year, in addition to weekends, statutory holidays and regularly-scheduled university breaks (e.g. December and February breaks). Students planning to take vacation should so inform their supervisor and Graduate Chair in writing in advance of the planned absence. If possible, an e-mail address and telephone number where the student can be reached while on vaction should be provided. The student is expected to plan vacations in consultation with the supervisor, and to make appropriate arrangements for care of ongoing research projects if necessary."]

Year Two

  • Complete a dissertation proposal and submit by October 31.
  • Study for and take the Field Examination in May.
  • Continue research and begin writing dissertation.
  • Satisfy Eng. 990 requirements.

Year Three

  • Continue writing dissertation.
  • Satisfy Eng. 990 requirements.

Year Four

  • Give Eng. 990 Works-in-Progress seminar based on dissertation work.
  • Complete the writing of the dissertation.
  • Complete the examination and defence through the following process:
    • the supervisor agrees that the dissertation is ready to go forward;
    • the candidate supplies digital copies of the dissertation (Word and PDF) to the Chair of the Graduate Committee, who then distributes the dissertation to the specialist, departmental, and cognate examiners (the candidate will also supply a printed copy for any of the examiners who requests one);
    • the specialist examiner submits a report to the Chair of the Graduate Committee copied to the student, supervisor, departmental examiner, and cognate examiner (reading and writing a report on the dissertation normally takes at least three weeks); 
    • when all three examiners have agreed that the dissertation is ready for defence, the candidate supplies digital copies of the dissertation to the Chair of the Graduate Committee, cc'd to the Divisional Assistant, and two printed copies to the Divisional Assistant for distribution to external examiner and Dean's designate;
    • the external examiner reads the dissertation and submits a report, including agreement that the dissertation is ready for defence (reading and completing the written assessment normally takes four to six weeks);
    • the candidate provides a Dissertation Summary to the CGPS at least seven days prior to the defence;
    • the candidate defends the dissertation in an oral examination by the examining committee;
    • the examiners provide written copies of any requirements they have for the dissertation to the Chair of the Graduate Committee (within one week of the exam);
    • the candidate revises the dissertation according to examiners' instructions (the supervisor and the chair of the examination are responsible for seeing that the candidate carries out the changes);
    • the candidate submits the approved dissertation electronically to the CGPS.

    Note: during the school year, the time from submission of dissertation to defence is two to three months; after May 15 it can take much longer.

English Department Program Dates and Deadlines

These dates are meant to supplement those in the current College of Graduate Studies and Research Calendar.

August 31

September 1

  • All students with teaching duties beginning in the Fall Term are on campus by this date. A teaching orientation is held.
  • All registration for the upcoming regular session is complete by this date.
  • Students who defend after September 1 must register for T1; tuition refunds are pro-rated to the month of completion (inclusive of defense and submission of documents and bound or electronic thesis).

September - October

  • All students in the program meet with their supervisor and the Chair of the Graduate Program to discuss their annual report.

October 1-15

  • Students applying for SSHRC doctoral fellowships should order all transcripts, draft their proposals, consult with supervisor, and find two referees.

October 15

  • The Chair of the Graduate Committee receives students' applications for SSHRCC Doctoral Fellowships by this date.

October 31

  • This is the deadline for receipt by the Chair of the Graduate Committee of dissertation proposals by Ph.D. students in the second year of the program.
  • Students proceeding directly from the M.A. into the Ph.D. this year are to complete all requirements for the M.A. by this date.

January 31

  • Ph.D. students writing the field examination in May have given their reading list to the Chair of the Graduate Committee for distribution to the examining committee by this date.

March 31

April

mid-April

  • Applications for admission to the graduate program in English will not be guaranteed consideration for the coming year beyond this date.

mid-May

  • The Graduate Committee selects students for Graduate Teaching Fellowships, Prescott, Daykin, Green, and Mackenzie Scholarships, and Writing Centre Tutorships.

May 31

  • Students who have been awarded University Graduate Scholarships or Graduate Teaching Fellowships will in most cases have been notified about the award by now.

June 30

  • Students wishing to begin the graduate program in the upcoming year have let the Department and College know their intentions by this date.

CGPS Convocation Timelines and Requirements

Dates to Remember:

Spring Graduation:

  • An Application to Graduate has been returned to the CGPS by March 31.
  • Thesis or dissertation has been defended and documents have been submitted by both the department and the student to the CGPS office by the April deadlines listed in the Academic Calendar.

Fall Graduation:

 

It is mandatory to submit the dissertation electronically to the CGPS. Consult the CGPS page on Electronic Theses and Dissertations for details.

Department Responsibility

  • Departments should ensure that a completed, current, and correct Program of Studies has been approved by the CGPS. The request for defense (which must come from the department) has been submitted to the CGPS at least three weeks in advance for a Master's defense and four weeks for a Ph.D. defense. The paperwork for the award of the degree must be sent to the CGPS by the appropriate deadlines. Please note that the date of submission of these forms affects the amount of tuition refund for students. The format, layout, and style of the thesis conforms to the CGPS regulations as indicated in the Guidelines for Preparation of a Thesis. A student's registration must be current and complete prior to the defence. Prior to the request for a defence, the department must have filed a completed, current and correct Program of Studies. The department must submit a recommendation that a degree be awarded. A student has a certain number of years to complete the following to find which applies to you:
  • Masters' students have 5 years and Ph.D. students have 6 years from first class credited to their degree.
  • Students transferring from Master's to Ph.D.'s must remember that their timeline continues from the start of their Master's degree. It does not stop at the point of the transfer and restart with the beginning of the Ph.D.
  • All outstanding accounts to the University must be paid. This includes student fees and library fees! Any students with an outstanding account will be notified by Convocation, Student and Enrolment Services prior to Convocation.

Student's Responsibility

  • The format, layout, and style of your thesis conforms to CGPS regulations as indicated in the Guidelines for Preparation of a Thesis.
  • Students must be registered in the term they defend and maintain registration until all requirements for degree have been met.
  • Bring your thesis into the CGPS office to have it checked for proper formatting before it goes for final printing. NOTE: Do not include ANY signed forms in the CGPS copy of the bound thesis.
  • Be within the timeline for completion of your degree. Your timeline starts with the first class credited towards your degree.
  • Notify your department upon completion of all required coursework so that the convocation paperwork can be submitted to the CGPS.
  • If you miss any of the deadlines, you will be required to register in the following term.
  • Effective September 1, 2000, thesis (only) refunds will be pro-rated on a monthly basis. The refund is not automatic. Forms are available only at the CGPS office. In order to receive this refund, ALL the requirements listed under "Dates to Remember" must be complete.
  • All outstanding accounts to the University must be paid. This includes student fees and library fees! Any students with an outstanding account will be notified by Convocation, Student and Enrolment Services prior to Convocation.
  • If you require a letter for Visa or job purposes, you must request the letter an absolute minimum of three days (NO EXCEPTIONS) prior to pick-up of the letter. A three-dollar charge is due upon request of the letter.
  • A timeline extension is given in four month blocks only. A request must include: a request from yourself (with a detailed timetable outlining when the degree requirements will be completed) and a letter of support from the department.

For information regarding Convocation visit this link:
https://students.usask.ca/academics/graduation.php

Contact

Department of English
University of Saskatchewan
9 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A5
Canada

 lindsey.banco@usask.ca
(306) 966-8438
(306) 966-5951

Graduate Administrative Coordinator
Nadine Penner
 asg.graduateprograms@usask.ca
Arts 518