There are two routes of entry into the doctoral program. The first requires a Master's degree in geography or equivalent. Normally, only a Master's student with at least an 80% (A-) average on all graduate work will be admitted. The second route allows exceptional students to enter the PhD program directly from the Master's program. Such applicants must have completed all MA/MES requirements except the thesis, have demonstrated a superior academic record and satisfied other conditions (details of which can be obtained from the Director of the Program).
Deadline for applications to the Doctoral program should be made as early as possible in the fall. The Program Admissions Committee begins to consider and evaluate applications at the beginning of February
A score of at least 600 is required in the Test of English as a Foreign Lanuage (TOEFL) and 4.0 on the TWE. A score of 250 is required on the computerized version. (SeeAcademic Regulations - English Language Proficiency Certification for other acceptable tests of English.)
The course load at the doctoral level is normally one research seminar (selected from GEOG 600, 620, 630, 640, 660) and GEOG 691. Additional coursework may be assigned subject to the needs of individual candidates.
For doctoral students, failure to obtain a grade of 77% (B+) or better in each course they take means an automatic review of the student's status in the Program. The review committee will consist of the student's advisor, the Program Director, and the Graduate Officer. The review committee may require that the student withdraw from the Program.
Geography 691 , while in residence, all doctoral candidates are expected to attend colloquia and guest lectures. All doctoral candidates in the Waterloo-Laurier Geography Graduate Program are required to give a seminar in a class setting after completion of the comprehensive examination and before defending their dissertations. Those doctoral candidates who have completed a Master's degree in the Waterloo-Laurier Joint Program are exempted from 691.
In addition, the candidate must pass a comprehensive examination and complete a thesis . Students will automatically be enrolled for these two courses during the first term of their graduate program
At least two members of the Comprehensive Examining Committee and the Thesis Committee must be members of the Waterloo-Laurier Graduate program in Geography.
For more information on Ph.D requirements see the Waterloo-Laurier Graduate Program in Geography Guide for Prospective Applicants.