S.90-18
.
S
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM
To: ?
Senate ?
From:
L. Salter
Chair, SOAP
Subject:
Departments of Chemistry and
?
Date: ?
November 16, 1989
Physics - Curriculum Revisions
SCAP 89-67
Action undertaken by the Senate Committee on Academic Planning/Senate Graduate
Studies Committee gives rise to the following motion:
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of Governors
as set forth in S. 90-18 curriculum revisions in the Department of Chemistry
including
New courses ?
CHEM 801 - 2
?
Student Seminar I
CHEM 802 - 2
?
Student Seminar II
CHEM 805 - 4
?
M.Sc. Research Seminar
CHEM 806 - 4
?
Ph.D. Research Seminar
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of Govenors
as set forth in S. 90-18
?
changes in the requirements for admission from
a Master's Program to the Ph.D. Program in the Department of Physics"
0
New Graduate Course Proposal Form
CALENDAR INFORMATION:
Department:
Chemistry
?
Course Number:
801
Title:
Student Seminar I
Discussion of Recent Literature in Chemistry Through Student Seminars
DescriptiOfl_
Credit Hours:
—
2
?
Vector: ?
Prerequisite(s) if any:
-
ENROLLMENT AND SCHEDULING
Estimated Enrollment: 12 (+8 in
?
When will the course first be offered:
90-1
dIEM 802)
Bow often
will the course be offered:
Annually, in the Spring Semester.
JUSTIFICATION:
This course would be required by all M.6c. students in Chemistry, under the proposed
new departmental requirements for graduate programs. Its inception was recommended
by the External Review of Chemistry, held in the Spring, 1988.
PPSOIIRCRS:
Which
Faculty member will normally teach the course: A team
of 4, drawn from
Xbe
organic,
inorganic, bio- and physical/nuclear divisions of chemistry.
What are the budgetary implications of mounting the course:
No new facult y
or
resources are required. The present cumulative examination system will be dropped.
Are there sufficient Library resources (append details): Yes
Appended: a) Outline of the Course
b)
An indication of the competence of the Faculty member to give the course.
c)
Library resources
Approved: Departmental Graduate Studies Committee:
?
L) .rt....Q Date:J
1d '}
Faculty Graduate Studies Committee:
?
Date:
Faculty:
?
_C_.---
Date:
17
4_
rQ
Senate Graduate Studies Committee:
?
Date:_____________
Senate:
?
- ?
Date:_____________
New
Graduate tourse rropoeaL ruiw
CALENDAR INFORMATION:
Department
?
Chemistry ?
course Number:
802
Title: ?
Student Seminar II
Description:
Discussion
of Recent Literature in Chemistry Through Student Seminars_
(identical to CHEM 801).
Credit Hours:2 -
? Vector: ?
Prerequisite(s) if any:
C HEM
801
or Master's Degree.
ENROLLMENT AND SCHEDULING*:
Estimated Enrollment:
8
(+12 in
?
When will the course first be offe red:
_90-1
CHEM 801)
How often will the course be offered:
Annuall y.
In the Sprin
g
Semester.
CHEM 801 and 802 would be mounted as one course.
JUSTIFICATION:
_See CHEM 801. A separate course number (802) is required to permit Ph.D. students
to take the seminar twice.
RESOURCES:
Which Faculty member will normally teach the course:
Ateamof4,drawnfromtheorganic,
inorganic, bio- and physical/nuclear divisions of Chemistry.
What
are the budgetary implications of mounting the course:
No new facultyor resource s
are required. The present cumulative examination system will be dropped.
Are there sufficient Library resources (append details): Yes
Appended: a) Outline of the Course
b)
An indication of the competence of the Faculty member to give the course.
c)
Library resources
Approved: Departmental Graduate Studies Committee:
P.t '
J.
?
Date:
16
b
Faculty Graduate Studies
Committee:
?
[2._
Faculty:
_K
1a te
Senate Graduate Studies Committee:
?
,_.-
?
_'
Date
Senate: ?
- Date:
.
?
Course Outline:
CHEM 801 Student Seminar I / CHEM 802 Student Seminar II
CHEM 801 is a required course for all students in the M.Sc. program in
Chemistry, and must be taken before the end of the 4th semester of
registration.
CHEM 802 is a required course for all students in the Ph.D. program in
Chemistry, and must be taken before the end of the 7th semester of
registration (4th semester for those entering with a Master's degree).
CIIEM 801 and 802 will meet as a single seminar class, and will be graded by
a common team of instructors, one each from the organic, inorganic, bio- and
physical/nuclear divisions of chemistry.
Each student must present one seminar on a subject outside the immediate
area of his/her research. Seminar titles will be assigned by the
instructors, no more than 3 weeks prior to the presentation. A single page
abstract including source citations must be distributed by the student one
week prior to the presentation.
A typical seminar topic would be the discussion of some recent major
innovation or step forward in a particular branch of chemistry. Students
will need to search and read primary research literature, and to summarize
•
?
their findings in a coherent oral presentation.
Students will be graded on the content and presentation of the seminar, and
also on their ability to answer questions posed by other students and the
instructors.
so
3
New Graduate Course Proposal Form
CALENDAR INFORMATION:
Wpartment:
Chemistry
?
Course Number:
805
Title:
M.Sc. Research Seminar
Description:
Critical Evaluation of Written and Oral Research Reports.
Credit
Hours: ?
4 ?
Vector: ?
Prerequisite(s) if any:
-
ENROLLMENT AND SCHEDULING
Estimated Enrollment:_12 (+8 in
?
When
will the course first be offered:
90-3
Uti1fl SUb)
How often
will the
course be offered:Annually, in the Fall Semester.
JUSTIFICATION:
This course (and/or the equivalent CHDI 806) would be required by all graduate students
inChemistry,asproposedbythenewdepartmentalrequirementsforgraduate
Its inceptionwasrecommendedbytheExternalReviewofChemistry,heldinSpring1988.
RESOURCES:
Which Faculty member will normally teach the course:
A team of4. normally
_drawn
_from
the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee.
What are the budgetary implications of mounting the course:
Nonewfacultyorresources
are required. The present cumulative examination system will be dropped.
Are there sufficient Library resources (append details): Yes.
Appended: a) Outline of the Course
b)
An indication of the competence of the Faculty member to give the course.
c)
Library resources
Approved: Departmental Graduate Studies Committee:
___
.
Rrc_r.Sc?.
Date:
II,4i?1
Faculty Graduate Studies Committee:
?
t3
?
Date:.3.
.t.
Faculty: ?
CkkV 'I
?
Date: 17
IOt_Q
g'
Senate Graduate Studies Committee:$'
?
Ti
?
Date:
Senate:
?
--
?
Date:_____________
New Graouate
W
U
L
DC r&
CALENDAR INFORMATION:
Department: Chemistry
?
Course Number:_806
Title: Ph.D. Research Seminar
Description: Critical Evaluation of Written and Oral Research Reports.
Credit Hours:
-4 -
? Vector: ?
_Prerequisite(s) if any:
dliL 805
ENROLLMENT AND SCHEDULIN
G:
Estimated E.nroliment:8 (+12 in
?
When will the course first be offered:90-3
CHEI4 805)
Nov often will the
course
be offered: Annually, in Fall semester. CHEM 805 and 806
would be mounted as one course.
JUSTIFICATION:
See CHEM 805. A separate course number (806) is required to allow Ph.D. students to
take this seminar a second time, if 805 was taken for the M.Sc. degree.
RESOURCES:
Which Faculty member will normally teach the course: A team of 4, normally drawn from
the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee.
What are the budgetary implications of
mounting
the course: No new faculty or resources
are required. The present cumulative examination system will be dropped.
Are there sufficient Library resources (append details): Yes.
Appended: a) Outline of the Course
b)
An indication of the competence of the Faculty member to give the course.
c)
Library resources
Approved: Departmental Graduate Studies Committee:.tJ. P.re._Date:.._i_?l-__
Faculty Graduate Studies Committee:
?
Date:
__L
Faculty:
?
Date
Senate Graduate Studies
Committee: ?
^te:
Date:
Senate:
5,
Course Outline: ?
CHEM 805 M.Sc. Research Seminar / CHEM 806 Ph.D. Research Seminar
CHEM 805 is a required course for all students in the M.Sc. program in
Chemistry. It must be taken at the first opportunity following two
semesters registration in the graduate program. It will normally be
scheduled in the Fall semester.
CHEM 806 is a required course for all students in the Ph.D. program in
Chemistry except those who have transferred (with credit for CHEM 805) from
the M.Sc program. It must be taken at thefirst opportunity following two
semesters registration in the Ph.D. program.
CHEM 805 and 806 will meet as a single seminar class, and will be graded by
a common team of instructors, one each from the organic, inorganic, bio- and
physical/nuclear divisions of chemistry.
Each student must prepare a short (no more than 10 pages) written report on
his/her research to date, make an oral presentation, and defend the plan of
research and any results to date in an oral examination. The written report
must be submitted no later than 1 week prior to the oral presentation.
In case of unsatisfactory performance in either the written or oral report
the student will be permitted to resubmit the report before the end of
semester. Failure to pass CHEM 805 or CHEM 806 will be considered evidence
of unsatisfactory progress and the student will be required to withdraw from
.
?
the degree program.
fl
'7
. ?
PROPOSAL
CHEMISTRY GRADUATE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
M.Sc. Program
a)
Course Work
12 semester hours of graduate course credit, including
CHEM 801-2 (Student Seminar I) and
CHEM 805-4 (M.Sc. Research Seminar). CHEM 805 must be
taken at the first opportunity following two semesters
registration in the program.
b)
Research
A major part of the Master's degree program will be devoted to
original research. A thesis describing this research must be
submitted and defended at the conclusion of the degree program.
Ph.D. Program
a)
Course Work
For students entering with a B.Sc. or equivalent:
20 semester hours of graduate course credit, including
CHEM 801-2 (Student Seminar I) and
. ? CHEM 802-2 (Student Seminar II) and
CHEM 806-4 (Ph.D. Research Seminar). CHEM 806 must be
taken at the first opportunity following two semesters
registration in the program. CHEM 805 will be
accepted in place of CHEM 806 for students who have
transferred from the M.Sc. program.
For students entering with a Master's degree:
12 semester hours of graduate course credit, including
CHEM 802-2 (Student Seminar II) and
CHEM 806-4 (Ph.D. Research Seminar). CHEM 806 must be taken
at the first opportunity following two semesters registration
in the program.
b)
Research
The major portion of the Ph.D. program will be devoted to
original research. A thesis embodying new and significant
results must be presented and defended at the conclusion of the
degree program.
Transfer from the M.Sc. to the Ph.D. Program
In addition to satisfying the University requirements, students wishing
to transfer from the M.Sc. program to the Ph.D. program without submitting a
..
Master's thesis will be judged by the Graduate Program Committee on the
research reports submitted in CHEM 805.
7
JUSTIFICATION for REVISION of CHEMISTRY GRADUATE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
?
and CONCOMITANT INTRODUCTION of CHEM 801,802,805 and 806
The Chemistry graduate programs were reviewed as part of the External
Review of the Chemistry Department carried out in Spring 1988. The
Department has accepted most of the criticisms and proposals from the
Review, and the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee has proposed
revisions designed to enable the Review recommendations.
The Review criticized the average time required to graduate, and
suggested that one factor is the onerous examination and course work
requirements of our degree programs. The present cumulative examinations
(one for M.Sc., three for Ph.D.) each include a written document, an oral
presentation and oral examination by the Supervisory Committee. Although
the work required for each examination is at least as much as a regular
lecture course, no course credit is given, nor is there tangible recognition
of the quality of an individual's efforts (the exams are graded pass/fail).
Valuable elements of the present cumulative examination system include:
literature research, design of a research plan, reading outside the
immediate area of research, and practice in oral presentation and oral
examination. All these are retained in the proposed new courses.
Since it is proposed that all Chemistry graduate students will have to
take the new courses, it will be easier to rank the students for purposes
such as fellowship selection. Performance in CHEM 805 would be particularly
valuable as a criterion for use in applications to transfer from the M.Sc.
to the Ph.D. program.
There is more opportunity for the students to learn from each other in
a regular seminar series than under the present system, where cumulative
examinations are scheduled at irregular intervals and are often poorly
attended.
0
CHANGESTO THE CALENDAR ENTRY FOR THE PHYSICS DEPARTMENT - GRADUATE PROGRAMS
"The criteriafor early transfer from the
M.Sc. to the Ph.D. program be changed
from the present calendar entry:
Admission from a Master's Program to the
Ph.D. Program
The department does not encourage
students to proceed to a Ph.D. without
first, obtaining an M.Sc.; however, a
student who so desires may be admitted
from an M.Sc. program to a Ph.D. program
with a grade point average of at least
3.8, the approval of the student's
Supervisory Committee, and the approval
of the Department Chairman and the Senate
Graduate Studies Committee. A student
who does not meet these criteria but
meets the minimum university require-
ments, may apply to the department for
such an admission; the application will
then be discussed at a departmental
meeting where it will be either approved
or denied.
to the following:
Admission from a Master's Pro g ram to
the Ph.D. Program
The department does not encourage
students to proceed to a Ph.D. without
first obtaining an M.Sc.; however, a
student may be admitted from an M.Sc.
program to a Ph.D. program with a
cumulative grade point average of at
least 3.67 calculated over a minimum of
15 graduate level credits, and the
approval of the student's Supervisory
Committee, the approval of the Physics
Department Graduate Studies Committee,
the Department Chair and the Senate
Graduate Studies Committee.
RATIONALE
The new calndar entry takes into
account the changes in the graduate
grading system from A, B, Pass to A,
S
?
A -
I
B, B, B, C.
