Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Geography - Aeronautics

The program information below was valid for the winter 2023 term (January 1, 2023 - April 30, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
  • Winter
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Program type 
  • Collaborative
  • Doctoral
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Thesis

• Minimum requirements 
  • A Master's degree in geography or equivalent, with at least an 80% average in all graduate work.
  • Exceptional students may be allowed to enter the PhD program directly from the Master's program. Such students must have completed all Master of Arts (MA)/Master of Environmental Studies (MES)/Master of Science (MSc) 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).
• Application materials 
  • Résumé
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    academic references are required unless a professional reference is specified.

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Thesis option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must successfully complete the following graduate level courses (0.50 unit weight per course):
  • GEOG 800 Professional Skills Development for Doctoral Students
  • Aeronautics core courses:
    • AVIA 601 Interdisciplinary Aeronautics
    • AVIA 802 Interdisciplinary Aeronautics Project - PhD Level
• Students who have already completed AVIA 601 and AVIA 602 as part of their Masters Aeronautics degree, must complete the following course requirements:
  • GEOG 800 Professional Skills Development for Doctoral Students
  • AVIA 802 Interdisciplinary Aeronautics Project - PhD Level or 1 elective graduate course that is applicable to aeronautics (approved by their supervisor with support from the Director of the Collaborative Aeronautics Program)
• Additional coursework may be assigned subject to the needs of individual students.
• Failure to obtain a final grade of at least 77% in each course will result in an automatic review of the student’s status in the program, which may require that the student withdraw from the program.
• This degree is offered through the Collaborative Aeronautics Program. This program, jointly offered by a range of departments/schools across several academic faculties, promotes the development of interdisciplinary perspectives on aeronautics. Collaborative Aeronautics Program students complete their specialist training in their respective home departments/schools, while working with colleagues from a variety of other departments/schools in core interdisciplinary courses (AVIA 601 and AVIA 602/802).

Link(s) to courses

• Geography (GEOG) courses
• Aviation (AVIA) courses

PhD Comprehensive Examination

• Students are required to meet the University-level PhD Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements outlined in the “Minimum requirements for the PhD degree” section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar (GSAC).

• In addition to the University-level PhD Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements, students in the PhD in Geography program are also required to meet the following requirements:

  • The Comprehensive Examination includes both a written and an oral component. Normally the Examination involves the student writing answers to a question or questions over a period of three weeks. The answer(s) will not exceed 10,000 words, excluding the bibliography, abstract, figures and tables. In the oral component of the Examination, which normally lasts no longer than three hours, the student defends the written document. The topics to be covered and the format of the Examination are determined by the student’s Comprehensive Examination Committee, in consultation with the student. With the approval of the Supervisor and Graduate Officer, alternative formats for the Comprehensive Examination process may be permitted, provided they meet the objectives of the Comprehensive Examination.

  • The Comprehensive Examining Committee will consist of the student’s Advisor and three additional Examiners, one of whom must have a primary appointment outside the Department of Geography and Environmental Management (normally, this person will be internal to the University of Waterloo). The committee must contain at least one member with a primary appointment inside the Department of Geography and Environmental Management.

PhD Thesis Proposal

• Students develop a thesis proposal applicable to Geography and Aeronautics that will be approved by their Supervisor and Comprehensive Examining Committee, normally before the end of the second year.

PhD Thesis

• Upon approval of the thesis proposal, students will then proceed to the research and writing of the thesis applicable to Geography and Aeronautics. Normally, students should complete and defend the thesis within four years of starting the program.