MEMO
    Dean of
    Graduate Studies
    STREET ADDRESS
    Maggie Benston Student
    Services Centre 1100
    Burnaby BC V.sA 1S6
    Canada
    MAILING ADDRESS
    8888 University Drive
    Burnaby BC V.sA iS6
    Canada
    SFU
    S. 12-82
    TO
    Senate
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    FROM Wade Parkhouse, Dean, Graduate Studies
    L
    &&
    RE Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
    [GS2012.12]
    CC Paul Budra
    DATE 23 April 2012
    For information:
    Acting under delegated authority at its meeting of 16 April 2012, SGSC approved the
    following curriculum revision:
    Effective Date is September 2012
    Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
    Department of Gerontology (GERO)
    PhD Program:
    i) change to language re: comprehensive exams
    [GS2012.12|
    Senators wishing to consult a more detailed report of curriculum revisions may do so by going
    to Docushare: https://docushare.sFu.ca/dsweb/Vie\v/Collection-12682
    If you are unable to access the information, please call 778-782-3168 or email
    shelley_gair(g)sfu.ca.
    SIMON PHASER UNIVERSITY
    ENGAGING THE WORLD
    Gerontology PhD Calendar Changes
    Summary of Changes
    •
    Removal of requirement to defend PhD comprehensives orally, except when requested by
    supervisory committee
    •
    All re-examinations will be defended orally
    • Modification of 1st sentence to make it more succinct
    From:
    Comprehensive Examinations
    After completion of all course work with a GPA of at least 3.25, students will write two comprehensive
    examinations, which are multidisciplinary and comprehensive in nature and that necessitate independent
    study beyond course requirements based on reading lists developed with their supervisory committee.
    These are to be defended orally.
    One exam will cover the substantive literature in the dissertation field. The second will be determined by
    the supervisory committee based on the current and anticipated research needs of the student. It will
    typically cover one or a combination
    of the following: a secondary area of gerontological knowledge;
    design and methods; or theoretical knowledge.
    A student who fails a comprehensive exam will have one chance for re-examination. Students failing
    either comprehensive exam more than once will not be allowed to continue in the program. When the
    exams are successfully completed, the student must successfully defend their dissertation proposal before
    being officially admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree.
    To:
    Comprehensive Examinations
    After completion of all course work with a GPA of at least 3.25, students will write two comprehensive
    examinations based on reading lists developed with their supervisory committee.
    One exam will cover the substantive literature in the dissertation field. The second will be determined by
    the supervisory committee based on the current and anticipated research needs of the student. It will
    typically cover one or a combination of the following: a secondary area of gerontological knowledge;
    design and methods; or theoretical knowledge.
    A student who fails a comprehensive exam will have one chance for re-examination. Failure to pass a
    second time will result in immediate withdrawal from the program. On the first set
    of comprehensive
    examinations, the supervisory committee may require that the student orally defend their comprehensive
    examination if clarification or elaboration is required to determine a pass or fail based on the written
    material. All re-examinations will require that the student orally defend their comprehensive examination.
    When the exams are successfully completed, the student must successfully defend their dissertation
    proposal before being officially admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree.
    Rationale
    The requirement of all students to defend comprehensive exams orally was removed to allow the
    supervisory committee more flexibility in the evaluation process. Some students will be required to
    defend orally before a determination of pass or fail is made, but some may be passed or failed on the basis
    of their written exam. The supervisory committee will request an oral defense of a comprehensive exam if
    clarification is required, or if the written exam is deemed to be border line. This process will be explained
    to students in an internal document.
    The description of the comprehensive examinations in the first paragraph was shortened since that level
    of detail is provided to students in an internal document and is not necessary for the purposes of the
    calendar.
    dujieLtxr
    Gerontology Doctor of Philosophy Program
    Department of Gerontology \ Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
    Simon Fraser University Calendar 2012 Spring
    Comprehensive Examinations
    After completion of all course work with a GPA of at least 3.25, students will write two comprehensive
    examinations, which are multidisciplinary and comprehensive in nature and that necessitate independent
    study beyond course requirements based on reading lists developed with their supervisory committee.
    These are to be defended orally.
    One exam will cover the substantive literature in the dissertation field. The second will be determined by
    the supervisory committee based on the current and anticipated research needs of the student. It will
    typically cover one or a combination of the following: a secondary area of gerontological knowledge;
    design and methods; or theoretical knowledge.
    A student who fails a comprehensive exam will have one chance for re-examination. Students failing
    either comprehensive exam more than once will not be allowed to continue in the program. When the
    exams are successfully completed, the student must successfully defend their dissertation proposal before
    being officially admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree.

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