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S93-41

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Office of the Vice-President, Academic

MEMORANDUM

To:

Senate

Subject:

Department of English -

Changes to Ph.D. Program

From: ?

Date: ?

the Senate Committee on Academic

Planning

and the Senate Graduate

Studies Committee gives rise to the following motion:

Motion: ?

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors, as set forth in S.93 -41 the changes to the Ph.D. Program in

English."

Current Ph

.D. Program ?

Proposed Program

Depart.men t of EIish

Department of Englisb

1. ?

COURSES and 810/811

3 COURSES and 810/811

2. ?

MINOR FIELD

(or 2 courses

essay

oral within 2 weeks of marking essay

INI)tVIDUALIZEI) FIELD

EXAMS

and ?

Take-home or sit down

THESIS ORAL

reading list and thesis project

Thesis ?

Thesis

1)EPAR'IMENT OF ENGLISH ?

Ph.D. Program Pioposat

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Interdisciplinary Studies

0 ?

Ph.D. PROGRAM ALTERATION AND RATIONALE

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

FROM:

Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. program in English assumes in the student a background in English or

comparative literature equivalent to our MA;

this

is the condition of admission to the

program. The student is required to do a minimum amount of course work to fill any

gaps or satisfy any needs. The major emphasis of the program is on personal supervision

in one primary and one secondary area and the production of a doctoral thesis. The

program is designed to encourage innovative studies. All applicants are expected to

describe their study plans in detail.

The program should be completed in 9-12 semesters though the University provides an

outside limit of eight years.

TO: ?

Ph.D. Program

The English Department at Simon Fraser University has a small Ph.D. program. Students

interested in applying should have a well-thought out project that can be integrated into

the department's areas of specialization. The department is open to cross-disciplinary

proposals and innovative studies. Students are expected to contribute their input at all

stages of the program.

The department has expertise in major areas of English literature and language with

special strength in the twentieth-century. The S.F.U. Library's Contemporary Literature

Collection has the largest single collection of post-war experimental and avant-garde

poetry in Canada. It also contains a substantial Wordsworth Collection and William

Blake drawings, illuminations and engravings in facsimile.

Admissions

For admission to the doctoral program students are required to have an M.A. degree or

equivalent with high standing from a recognized university. Students entering the

program are expected to have a good background in English studies. To fill any gaps,

students may be required to do make-up courses at the undergraduate or graduate level.

To apply, students must submit transcripts, three letters of reference, two samples of

academic writing, and a 1-2 page description of their doctoral project. This program has

been approved for part-time status.

Application Deadline

February 1

Residence Requirement

B. ?

Students must complete two courses by the end of their fourth semester. Their choice of

courses will be directed by their Senior Supervisor in consultation with the Graduate

Program Committee.

TO: ?

Program Requirements

The first two years of the program are designed to provide a necessary grounding for

students before they pursue their particular thesis project; in the third year, students will

engage in the research and writing of their dissertation. Upon admission, the student will

be assigned an advisor until a supervisor and supervisory committee are selected.

The doctoral program has three stages:

Courses ?

Students shall complete four courses by the end of the third

semester three courses of their choice plus 810,

(Graduate Professional Development

Seminar),

a required graduate course. The senior supervisor in consultation with the

Graduate Program Committee will advise students in their choice of courses.

Field Exams and Thesis Oral ?

Students must write their Field

Exams by the end of the sixth semester, and complete their Thesis Oral by the end of the

seventh semester.

The Thesis

Students complete their research and proceed with the

writing of their thesis. Students have 9-12 semesters to complete their degree.

RATIONALE: ?

See attached.

C. ?

FROM: ?

Primary Field of Study

The primary field is an area encompassing the projected thesis. It may be defined

generically, historically, or methodologically, or by a combination of these. It should be

broad enough to provide an adequate context for the projected theses and focused enough

to be useful as a context for a research project.

The definition of the field, the rationale for its organization, and the literature to be

included in it must be prepared by students in co-operation with their Supervisory

Committee and submitted to the Graduate Program Committee for approval.

Students should finish this study and be examined in it by the end of their sixth semester.

Secondary Field Study

The secondary field may have some indirect connection with the thesis or be a quite

independent area that the student wishes to study in depth. This field may be narrower in

scope than the primary area and may be covered by the work of a single author of major

•

importance. A proposal and a reading list must be drawn up by the student in

consultation with a supervisor chosen for this area and submitted to the Graduate Program

Committee for approval. Work in this area should be completed by the student's third

semester.

Requirements for the secondary field of study may be satisfied by taking two additional

graduate courses.

Examinations

The examination in the secondary field study should be taken before the end of the

student's third semester. The examination will be conducted by the supervisor for the

field and another examiner proposed by the supervisor and approved by the Graduate

Program Committee. The examination may take one of two forms: (a) a paper on an

assigned topic to be completred within ten weeks of the assignment, or (b) a paper on a

topic proposed by the student and accepted by the supervisor. Both examiners will read

the paper and submit a report to the Graduate Program Committee.

The examination in the primary field should he taken before the end of the student's sixth

semester. it will be conducted by the Senior Supervisor and another examiner proposed

by her/him and approved by the Graduate Program Committee. It will be in the form of

questions set by the examiners and answered by the student within a limited period of

time, normally a week. Variations to this may be permitted by the Graduate Program

Committee if the examiners are persuaded that they need a special format.

Oral Examinations

After each examination (including essays) the student must meet with the examiners and

• ?

Senior Supervisor to discuss the exam within two weeks after the exam has been marked.

Depending on the results of the written exam, the oral may be a relatively brief, informal

discussion, or a more formal examination, particularly when the mark has been deferred

until the oral (failed written exams will not normally be followed by an oral). In cases

where the mark has been deferred, the oral exam will be chaired by the Graduate Program

Chair or her/his deputy.

TO: ?

Individualized Field Exams

Each candidate will write two Field Exams. The student may choose either to a) sit a

four hour exam (closed book), or b) take home the examination question and complete it

within 7 days. The submitted examination paper should be no more than 30 pages. There

will be no oral defence. .

In each Field Exam area, a partial reading list will be prepared by the faculty specializing

in the area. Students are expected to add to the reading list. The completed reading list.

must be approved by two of the faculty in the area and the Graduate Prograhi Committee.

Current Field Reading Lists may beobtairied from the Department.

A student who fails a field exam may be allowed to repeat it once not later than the

following semester. A second failure will lead to elimination from the program.

Thesis Oral

The purpose of the thesis oral is to ensure coverage in the thesis area. Upon successful

completion of Field Exams, the student will submit a reading list by September 15 on the

background readings for the thesis area to the Senior Supervisor. The Supervisory

Committee for the Thesis Oral will consist of (lie Senior Supervisor and one of the other

supervisors. The committee must respond to the proposed reading list by October 1. The

final reading list must be approved by the Graduate Program Committee

The oral examination on the thesis area and background material will take place by

December 15. The oral exam will he approximately two hours in length.

The oral will be graded pass/fail. In exceptional cases a distinction will be recognized.

A student will be accepted in the Ph.D. program if a faculty member is willing to

supervise her/his studies. Upon the student's admission, the faculty member will be

assigned by the Graduate Program Committee as her/his Senior Supervisor. Before the

end of the student's second semester, the Graduate Program Committee will set up the

student's Supervisory Committee, consisting of the Senior Supervisor, and two other

faculty members with competence in the student's primary field.

The Senior Supervisor is responsible for directing the student's choice of courses, helping

the student to organize her/his fields of study, suggesting faculty members who might

supervise the secondary field, monitoring the student's progress, and conducting the

supervision and examination of the primary field.

TO: ?

Delete (incorporated into other sections)

RATIONALE: ?

See attached.

FROM: ?

Interdisciplinary Studies

The Ph.D. program in English is designed not simply to tolerate, but also to foster studies

in areas outside traditionally designated fields. Normally, such studies may be carried on

within the departments when availability of staff and resources permit. When this is not

possible, or when the applicant specifically seeks an interdisciplinary degree that includes

study in more than one, department, such a course of study may 'be worked out through

special arrangements with the Dean of Graduate Studies. (See Graduate General

See

All students registered in the Ph.D. program will be required to demonstrate a reading

ability in one language other than English that is acceptable to the students' Supervisory

Committee. Ability will be determined by a time-limited examination consisting of the

translation of a passage of literature or criticism in the particular language. A dictionary

will be permitted.

The Department of French and the Department of Spanish and Latin American Studies

offer courses to help graduate students meet language requirements. Students interested

in courses in German or Russian should consult with the Office of the Dean of Arts

For further information and regulations, refer to the Graduate General Regulations section

. ?

Prior to undertaking the thesis, students must submit a prospectus and a bibliography of

about

5-10

pages in all. The proposal will be considered in an oral examination by the

Supervisory Committee together with a member of the Graduate Program Committee.

The purpose of this exam is to determine the feasibility of the thesis topic and to ascertain

the student's command of the subject. Students must have the approval of this committee

before proceeding further with their thesis.

The completed thesis will be defended in oral examination. Judgement will be made by

an Examining Committee.

For the composition of the Examining Committee and other details governing the

program as a whole, see the Graduate General Regulations section 1.9.4 and passim.

•

. TO: ?

The Thesis.. ?

. ?

In consultation with the Graduate Program Committee, the student willcreate a

•

supervisory committee consisting of a senior supervisor and two readers (one of whom

may be from another department). By his/her third semester, the student must submit the

proposed supervisory committtee and a thesis proposal to the Graduate PrOgram

•

committee for approval.

? .

•

The completed thesis will be defended in an oral examination. The final (defence)

examining Committee shall consist ofa chair (normally the Graduate Program Chair,

• ?

- . ?

. members

the members of the Supervisory Committee (Senior Supervisor and at least, two other

pfihe Department), a University faculty member external to the English:

Dcpartment, and an External Examiner (not a member of Simon Iraser University

I ?

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•• ?

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•-:• ?

.-.

From the time of the appointment of the Supervisory Committee, the student and his or

her Senior Supervisor should meet regularly (at least three times a semester) through the

Field Exam

period,

the semester of the Thesis Oral, and the period of thesis research and

writing.

It is the student's responsibility to take the initiative in setting up a schedule of meetings.

If the Senior Supervisor is to be away from campus for more than a month, she/he should

inform the Graduate Program Committee and arrange for another member of the

Supervisory Committee to meet regularly with the student. All students engaged in

research (899) should give the supervisor a written report on their research at the end of

every semester. This is particularly important for students who are not in the process of

submitting chapters of their work. Any changes in direction or new developments should

be discussed.

Students may make changes to their Supervisory Committee in cases where, for instance,

the development of a more refined topic indicates a different faculty member would be

more appropriate for the Committee. Changes made for any reason must be formally

approved by the Graduate Program Committee and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

RATIONALE: ?

See attached.

Department of English

New Ph.D. Program Proposal

ii. ?

Rationale

Currently the doctoral requirements are two courses and Engl. 810/811, a minor field (to be

completed by the fourth semester), and a major field (to be completed by the sixth semester).

There are oral exams in each field and a preliminary thesis oral. These must be passed before

the student proceeds with the thesis. Note: Students may substitute two courses for the minor

field.

Several years ago, the doctoral program was revised and one of the minor fields was replaced

by two courses and Engl. 810/811 became a required course. This was an improvement since

participation. in courses ensured that students now felt part of a scholarly community, and had

opportunities to meet faculty and find their bearings before embarking upon individual study

through the minor and major fields.

However, the program still requires improvements and changes. The reasons lie in

1. ?

historical circumstances

2. ?

practical problems with the current program.

1. ?

Historical Circumstances

The Graduate Program Committee is responding to the dramatically changing constituency

and needs of our students. When the doctoral program began in 1974 it was intended to be a

very small and specialized program; the students applying to the program and the students

subsequently accepted into the program were primarily mature and local students who were

highly self-directed and who had a clearly defined project in hand. You can see the successful

results from the appended list of graduates.

Twenty years later, both the, student body and the graduate situation have changed. This year

we have over'25 applications; we have 15 Ph.D. students currently active in the program.

Many students now enter straight from a Master's program. The Graduate Program,

Committee feels that we must be sensitive to this changing constituency, and that we need to

respond to developments in English Studies and in our profession

Practical Problems with the Current Program

Many faculty members and gradu ?

ate ?

udents have expressed concern-'about.the vagueness

•

and indeterminancy of our doctoral program students have lelt uncertain about expectations

and requirements; faculty have felt unclear about the nature of the minor and major fields.

Moreover, students often take longer than they should in the preliminary stages, owing to their

uncertainty about requirements.

The major and minor fields have created problems for both students and faculty -- the criteria

are vague and vary greatly from student to student. Some students do their two fields in

different areas, others do them both in their thesis area, some students cover a vast area, eg.,

Shakespeare, others a very narrow area, eg., Canadian women's poverty narratives 1930-1990.

In response to student and faculty concerns we have devised a more structured program in

which nevertheless each student will have his/her own significant input.

The strengths of this new program are:

The course work and Field Exams will ensure that the student has knowledge in areas

other than the thesis, and will therefore be able to teach in at least three different fields.

This is very important to students currently in the program who are thinking of their

future employment.

Because of its more focused and equitable nature this program will facilitate the

progress of the student. Currently the major-minor fields are often long and drawn

out, and the scope and expectations of fields vary too widely among students and

supervisors.

The new proposed system

should require less intensive supervision and fewer

supervisory hours by faculty.

As all students follow a similar schedule and program, it should foster a closely knit

group of students progressing together.

It emphasizes the professional nature of the degree by ensuring coverage and

preparation.

f. ?

It provides an early warning system, for students who are in difficulty before they are

well into thesis work.

Ph.D. Graduands from English

Graduated ?

Present position/

Location

Okanagan College, Kelowna

Jean Mallinson

? 81-1 ?

Contract teacher

Kwantlen College, Richmond

Diana Relke

86-2 ?

tenure-track'

Women's & Gender Studies

U of Saskatchewan

Marian Scholtmeijer ?

89-2 ?

Limited term Asst. Prof.

Foundation, Vancouver

MEMORANDUM ? 

W.A.C. Bennett Library, Simon Fraser University 

?

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6 

Date: 13 April, 1993 

From: Ralph Stanton (Collections Management Office) 

To:

?

June Sturrock, Acting Chair, Department of English, 

Graduate Programme 

Re: ? 

Revised Ph.D. Programme 

Thank-you for your memorandum of April 6, 1993. We agree 

that the new programme as described in the accompanying 

documents should not place new demands on the Library. If 

any courses are added to the programme please notify us 

early in the process so we will have time to respond. 

Doc is ENGLPHD 

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